'I am ready for a debate on Biwater'- Julian Willock
Mr Willock appeared on the International Morning Ride Show hosted by Paul A. Peart aka ‘Gadiethz’ on ZROD 103.7 FM this morning, Monday August 14, 2017.
The businessman, during the show, repeated previous statements that it is his desire to see accountability and transparency by Government as well as empowerment for the people of the Virgin Islands.
One caller to the show said he agreed with some of what Mr Willock was saying but noted that he wasn’t sure whether the Biwater deal was in the best interest of the people of the Virgin Islands.
“When Biwater story come up and I think the Minister [Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) said at the time that Biwater was introduced to he (Minister) by the Permanent Secretary [Willock], and I don’t think that match what he is saying about empowering BVIslanders. So he needs to remember what he is saying,” the caller stated.
Biwater was not paid a dime until water came
Responding to the caller, Mr Willock said he was involved in "advising on Biwater" but he “took an oath of secrecy” and he never says in public what his advice is; however, he added that Biwater was a Cabinet decision and Cabinet at the time made the best decision with the best information they had.
“But let’s compare Biwater with BVI Airways if we want to have a serious debate, because with Biwater, if it was implemented and not stalled and the political class didn’t play politics with it, we would have had a 24 hour supply of water in the Virgin Islands.”
The former Permanent Secretary and former Director of Water and Sewerage Department (W&SD) noted that “there are tremendous stories that show that the architects of Biwater were already vindicated” and with the Biwater Agreement the company did not receive a dime until water was pumped to homes.
“BVI Airways, $7.2M dollars gone flying and not a plane cleared for take-off.
With an apparent fallout between BVI Airways and the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government it seems that the $7.2M dollars already paid up to BVI Airways for direct flights between Miami International Airport in the USA and Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island can be counted as a loss since, according to the controversial agreement, Government cannot get back a dime if BVI Airways never gets off the ground.
‘Biwater deal was superior to BVI Aiways deal’
“So if we want to have a serious debate about Biwater and BVI Airways and with the BVI Airways deal, he [caller] is talking about local versus foreign, there has been a local company, VI Airlink, that approached the Government that could have done that same deal, so they have no credibility to talk to anybody about Biwater because with the Biwater deal not a dime was paid until water was running in the pipes,” Mr Willock argued.
The regular guest of the International Morning Ride Show, Mr Willock, said the excellent thing about that Biwater deal is that the company threw in two sewerage treatment plants and that for the first time in over 30 years there is no raw sewerage running in Slaney.
“The Biwater deal is far superior to BVI Airways, so I am ready for that debate,” Mr Willock stated.
The Biwater deal was used by the National Democratic Party (NDP) as a platform for propelling them to election victory against the Virgin Islands Party in 2011 as they were able to persuade voters that the deal was going to be an albatross around the necks of the people for many years.
Supporters of the NDP had even marched in protest against the deal; however, it seems that it was only a political stunt as now the NDP has committed a “graver sin” against the people of the Virgin Islands but not one soul has found the courage to march against it.
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24 Responses to “'I am ready for a debate on Biwater'- Julian Willock”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Mr. Willock your own VIP ran away from Biwater, I love our stand!
On the other hand, government give $7.2M of taxpayers money to BVI Airways, a broke, bankrupt, and dead beat airline, to start a direct flight from Miami to Beef Island. To date, BVI Airways has not flown 1 seat mile. In fact BVI Airways has laid off all staff and claimed that it is broke and cannot get airborne. It is demanding more money from government. Where are the Marchers against this bad deal? The Marchers against Bi-water are as silent as a church mouse? Where are the Opposition Marchers against BVI Airways? They too are silent as a church mouse. No pain, no gain. Everyone wants change but no one wants to sacrifice. Everyone is sitting twiddling their thumbs hoping that someone else will act. While we twiddle our thumbs, the VI is going to hell in a wasteful ship. Where are the next generation of Noel Llyodds? Noel Llyodd personal sacrifices bore fruit. Today, we want to pick the fruit but we do not want to "wuk" ground.
willock look like he kicking @&&