It's Premier Fahie's turn to face questions on $7.2M failed BVI Airways deal!
The outspoken legislator, now in his sixth term in the HoA, had famously said that Premier Fahie—at the moment of becoming Premier—was responsible for all actions of his predecessor and as such, will be made to answer questioning for wrongdoings, including the botched BVI Airways project that happened under the previous National Democratic Party (NDP) government.
Failed BVI Airways
“Oh, yea, you are going to tell us where the money for the plane went, oh yea,” were the words of Hon Fraser during the inaugural sitting of the Fourth HoA in March 2019.
Back in 2006, former Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon D. Orlando Smith, had signed a $7M ‘give-away’ to the airline, in exchange for direct flights between Miami International Airport and Beef Island.
After missing three deadlines, it was revealed in the HoA, by then Premier Smith, that an additional $200,000 was added to the ‘pot,’ to open a Special Account.
With the initial $7M investment and the additional $200,000, taxpayers had lost a total of $7.2M with nothing to show. This resulted in an alleged cover-up by the then NDP government that became a bombshell scandal with several proceeding court cases.
“Mister Speaker, for several years the Opposition has been stonewalled and at times downright refused answers relating to BVI Airways and a related missing $7.2 million of Government funds," Hon Fraser said in the HoA order paper released yesterday, May 14, 2019.
Now, the veteran legislator is wasting no time with regards to the line of questioning that will commence at the Friday, May 17, 2019, Third Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth HoA of the Virgin Islands (VI).
Where is the Money? – Fraser
"Could the Premier and Minister of Finance please… Provide this Honourable House with the breakdown of those Funds Disbursements to BVI Airways [and] Provide this Honourable House with the breakdown of BVI Airways disposed of said funds,” will be the first line of questioning, according to the Order Paper.
Fraser at the inaugural Sitting of the Fourth HoA, had further said, “Premier [Hon Fahie] who asked a million questions when you were Leader of the Opposition, I hope that you present those answers to us [Opposition members] when we ask them to you,” he beseeched in relation to the missing funds.
Further, Hon Fraser is seeking an inventory of goods and services acquired by the $7.2 million and wants an update with regards to investigations started by the former Premier.
“Mister Speaker, the former Premier and Minister of Finance told this Honourable House that he had issued instructions to the Attorney General [Baba F. Aziz] to initiate proceedings with the recovery of the $7.2 million from BVI Airways. Could the Premier and Minister of Finance please: Present this Honourable House with a copy of those instructions? [and] inform this Honourable House as to the actions taken by the AG?”
Hon Fraser will further grill the Premier on the names of the shareholders of BVI Airways as well as the names of the Directors and what fees were paid to each of them.
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