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House of Assembly resumes March 15, 2018; It’s Budget Day

- Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith will deliver the 2018 Budget Address
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) will be delivering the Budget Address on March 15, 2018. Photo: VINO/File
Former Legislator and National Democratic Party (NDP) spokeswoman Eileene L. Parsons OBE is one of the NDP members who strongly believe that Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) should give up the portfolio of finance. Photo: VINO/File
Former Legislator and National Democratic Party (NDP) spokeswoman Eileene L. Parsons OBE is one of the NDP members who strongly believe that Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) should give up the portfolio of finance. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Despite loud calls from his own front and back bench elected members and a letter written by National Democratic Party (NDP) spokeswoman and former legislator Eileene L. Parsons OBE for the Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) to give up the finance portfolio because of the Territory’s grave financial situation, Dr Smith still maintains the title.

Although weakened as the Minister of Finance, Premier Smith will deliver his budget address to the people of the Virgin Islands (VI) on Thursday March 15, 2018 when the House of Assembly meets for its Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Third House of Assembly (HoA).

Order Paper not public; Vote on UK framework?

Members of the House will meet at the Chambers in Road Town at 10:00 AM. While our newsroom has not had sight of the Order Paper, it is unclear what the other business of the HoA will be. Many persons are anticipating a showdown over the vote on the terms and conditions of the loan guarantee as the ruling party is split over the conditions.

The two Opposition Members Hons Andrew A. Fahie (R1) and Julian Fraser RA, (R3) are expected to vote “no.”

Premier Smith blamed members of his own NDP for erecting a sign in the capital city, Road Town, last month, asking residents to call their elected representatives to ask them to vote “no” on the UK Framework for the BVI recovery plan.

The HoA Meeting will be carried live on CBN Radio Station's 90.9 FM.

22 Responses to “House of Assembly resumes March 15, 2018; It’s Budget Day”

  • vex (12/03/2018, 13:45) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    More blah blah blah blah
  • ndp youths (12/03/2018, 13:52) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ms p is still correct today as the first time she wrote the letter
    • To NDP youths (13/03/2018, 09:11) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      The NDP corruption not IRMA is what put this country on its knees & this man cannot lead us out of this because he put us in it and want to put us further in it.
  • Open for Business (12/03/2018, 13:53) Like (16) Dislike (5) Reply
    I hope we are ready for franchising of American business in the territory. 2 Virgin Islanders have invested almost $1m in bringing the Subway franchise and is awaiting the Premier's approval for their trade license to operate the American sandwich experience, one in Nanny Cay and another in town area. The Premier said the country is open for business, so these VIslanders have invested there money already. Another person is also waiting for the go ahead to launch it Food Hub Center a subsidory of the Price Mart Group to introduce strictly wholesale shopping via Club membership. Are we ready better, we better be ready competition for Rite Way and One Mart.
  • Johnny take u pressure pill (12/03/2018, 14:21) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lawd send help. More budget no audited accounts for years. How much more man got to deal with. Ok man.
  • wize up (12/03/2018, 14:42) Like (18) Dislike (3) Reply
    some of us calling for the current health member to take over Finance: some will recall the good gentleman held that post in the past; however he did such a wonderful job that he was not even re-elected(can you recall...the record is there)..one of his first mandates while functioning as minister for finance was to stop helping our own people build their back walls....at the end of that term only 2 NDP candidates were recognized(the two doctors...nothing personal the history will recall) stop playing political games with our people....
    • Love for My Country (12/03/2018, 17:44) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
      @ Wize Up: It is such a shame to read that all you can say that the former NDP Minister of Finance stop helping people from building back walls. That is why we are in the mess we are in today - too much of the tax payers money going to help private projects. You forget that people of the BVI during that same Minister's tenure were able to get a break from paying income tax on their first $10,000.00 and that is still the case today. Even the Representative for the 3rd is now realizing that the country cannot continue to give handouts for he, using an NDP phrase, said in Virgin Gorda"that you must teach people how to fish so that they can sustain themselves" Check it out on VINO!
      • wize up (12/03/2018, 18:34) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
        @@ Wize Up: can you say re-election: not all of us sit and wait on government hand outs so we have a different spin on certain matters while some of we have to be partisan....just my spin don’t hunt me down....keep the faith
  • ... (12/03/2018, 15:47) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    What budget?
  • i just dont know (12/03/2018, 15:55) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    why the leader of govt must always believe he/she has to be the minister of finance unless they are not accountable and has something to hide.There are many persons who have the skill and knowledge of such affairs and are capable of handling the financial part. It is no wonder many countries are crying out for deep deep losses instead of gains and weak economies
  • public purse (12/03/2018, 16:11) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    another feeding frenzy for the NDP sharks
  • Street reporter (12/03/2018, 16:20) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Its always best for the head to control the country's finances because at the end of the day he is accountable to the people don't matter who has it.. Ms P memory is very short the person she is campaining for held it at one time and people were upon here doing the same blogging begging the premier to take it. We need a shuffle but.That's not the shuffle we need. The Premier made mistakes by trusting people he now knows he cannot trust..
  • Hmmmm (12/03/2018, 18:26) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    I now agree that Hon. Andrew A. Fahie was correct when he brought that vote of "NO CONFIDENCE" in the Minister of FINANCE. If the others had supported it then we the people wouldn't be suffering under this incompetent man.
  • BREAKING NEWS (12/03/2018, 21:27) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dr. Pickering is not running in the upcoming election new young energetic candidate coming in the 7th
    • @BREAKING NEWS. How Nice (13/03/2018, 03:44) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
      I hope the new fresh blood is Sonil Pickering. If he is still an NDP. He is the real deal. His own Party screw him turn their back on him when he needed them sfter the company dug up all kind of dirt and look for evdry reason to let him go and put a Guyanese in his posifion ss security chief.. Where was NDP. Kedrick and Myron? Seems like they are afraid of the Wrong Way or the whiteness....
  • Boo (12/03/2018, 22:49) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    2019 Budget? Boss a whole quarter of the year nearly done.
  • Me (13/03/2018, 00:09) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    What happens when the voters say ‘no’ to emotional weak government next election?
  • Diplomat (13/03/2018, 00:37) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why what is in the order paper a secrtet? Lack of transparency and accountability are the Achilles Heel of this government; too much damn secrecy. The people has a right to know in a timely manner what is on the HOA agenda, do they not? Why do they have to find out at the last minute what is on the agenda? It is neither a top secret nor a sensitive document; it is the people’s business. It needs to be put in the VI charter that HOA agenda is published at least 3 business days before a meeeting, unless it is a genuine emergency. People have to demand transparency or do not complain.
  • New Amended labour Law (13/03/2018, 03:50) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hope we get that New amended labour law pass before the upcoming hurricane season. Give workers some comfort and peace of mind...No more victimization by a law that gives heartless employers the green light..
  • wize up (13/03/2018, 08:24) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    a good politician is rewarded for his/her good job simply be votes on Election Day: it’s is called being re-elected....
  • NickGame (13/03/2018, 11:59) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Br. Virgin Islands Budget 2018

    Breakdown of budget figures:
    Anticipated revenue from local operations $330,000,000.00
    Anticipated loan funds (741,000,000/5yrs.) $148,200,000.00
    UK/EU grant $10,000.000.00

    TOTAL $488,200,000.00

    Betts on.
  • Ghost (13/03/2018, 15:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    all the money gone in ndp bank


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