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Is NDP afraid of an investigation if they had kept Ports MD? - Hon Fahie

- called for Auditor General to audit landside development of cruise project
Senior Opposition member Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has dared Government to keep embattled former Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) Claude O. Skelton-Cline at his post and face any investigations that may result. Photo: VINO/File
He was making his contribution to the debate on a motion raised by Leader of the Opposition Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3) on April 18, 2016 during the Eighth Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly. Photo: VINO/File
He was making his contribution to the debate on a motion raised by Leader of the Opposition Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3) on April 18, 2016 during the Eighth Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly. Photo: VINO/File
The cruise pier development project during the construction phase. Photo: BVIPA
The cruise pier development project during the construction phase. Photo: BVIPA
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Senior Opposition member Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has dared Government to keep embattled former Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) Claude O. Skelton-Cline at his post and face any investigations that may result.

He was making his contribution to the debate on a motion raised by Leader of the Opposition Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3) on April 18, 2016 during the Eighth Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly.

There have been several allegations levelled against Mr Skelton-Cline during his helm at BVIPA, although the former Managing Director sought to dismiss those allegations during a press conference he called on April 12, 2016 and which was broadcast live on CBN Channel 51 and 90.9FM.

Mr Skelton-Cline is currently suing the members of Cabinet, along with the Attorney General Baba Aziz and the Governor John S. Duncan OBE, since his contract was not renewed although he was reportedly given the assurance it would be renewed following the June 2015 elections.

Baffling that MD fired after doing good job

"Whether they like him now or some back him or not, I couldn't understand how a court case, involving the same immediate former Managing Director, [is] allowed to be discussed in the House. It prejudices the government 's position in court,” said Honourable Fahie.

Honourable Fahie mused at the disclosure that the Cabinet voted against returning Skelton-Cline to the post after he was told that he had done a good job in executing the project.

“The very same Managing Director, we were told did such a good job, well if that is the case, five people that vote in Cabinet are the ministers,” Honourable Fahie said.

"I cannot understand how the government can say or at least some that they are behind the former Managing Director for doing such a wonderful job down by the ports and go down to Cabinet and vote to take him out...because the only people vote in Cabinet are the ministers, so I would say we need to have the record for Cabinet to see who voted and who abstained and if you cannot get these documents and records, don't come up here championing no cause,” he said.

Was there a threat of investigations?

According to Honourable Fahie, "And everybody and their mother know that its only the five Ministers vote down there. What is the reason, if the man did such a good job to take him out? If it is that they were told that if you put him back there you will be investigated, well this government said it has nothing to hide, well put him back and [let] the investigation fly.”

Hon Fahie said the Acting Auditor General should audit the land side even as KPMG does an audit of the project as the Premier ordered.

"I don't see the need for KPMG, because I feel given all with this project it should have been done from an independent source of the government. I maintain that you cannot look into yourself. I feel that it is time for the acting Auditor General to do their share, that is a constitutional body that cannot be directed by anyone," Honourable Fahie said.

"[The AG] should do an audit of land side by themselves and KMPG do theirs. But this project every time you don't want to go back to it something else comes up. It's like the project saying see me here, see me here, look into me to free the people because the country under siege because of me,” he said.

9 Responses to “Is NDP afraid of an investigation if they had kept Ports MD? - Hon Fahie”

  • Skin peeling (20/04/2016, 09:05) Like (29) Dislike (0) Reply
    Keep the Pressure on Fahie; the onion is peeling slowly but surely. Let us get to all the crony bank accounts and shell companies where our hard earned tax money when into.
  • tretretrete (20/04/2016, 09:05) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well said Fahie
  • Wait (20/04/2016, 09:08) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    Fahie you know that you making sense. Only the 5 NDP Ministers vote in Cabinet. Only they had the power to give CSC back his job & they didn't. So what is all the public show for now?
  • Watching on.. (20/04/2016, 09:14) Like (26) Dislike (1) Reply
    Duncan himself needs to be investigated
    • @ Watching on.. (20/04/2016, 12:54) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
      I second the motion
    • Wrong about Duncan (20/04/2016, 18:01) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      Duncan is on the tax payers side...Duncan is doing under cover investigation and compiling evidence to send England... It will soon go down and get messy..
  • Yes (20/04/2016, 19:01) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    I'm quite sure they are afraid. If they go under investergation, who don't come down with the early morning shakes will come down with a bad case of the hives.

  • LOL, you crack me up everytime… (20/04/2016, 20:09) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    LOL, they might just declare a Zita Virus Outbreak just to distract us; this gang is capable of anything at this point.
    • Yes (21/04/2016, 10:20) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      With all the things they are doing, the only thing you can do is crack the jokes and LYAO. Yeah they are shaking in there boots. Trust me, the early morning shakes is no joke. LOL.


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