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MP Bellingham should produce facts of “badly stretched” finances – Hon. O’Neal

- Former Premier & Finance Minister responds to MP’s statement on Territory’s finances after his administration left office
MP Bellingham (left) stated that Hon. O’Neal’s party left the country’s finances badly stretched when the NDP took office. Photo: VINO
 There is a lot of confidence from Mr. Bellingham that Premier Smith will keep the VI afloat. Photo: VINO
There is a lot of confidence from Mr. Bellingham that Premier Smith will keep the VI afloat. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Opposition Leader and 9th District Representative Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal OBE, is charging that United Kingdom Member of Parliament (MP) Henry Bellingham should have produced the facts to back his declaration that the Territory's resources were “badly stretched” when the new Government – the National Democratic Party (NDP) – took office.

On Monday April 23, 2012, MP Bellingham during a press conference to sign the Protocols on Effective Finance Management between the United Kingdom (UK)and Virgin Islands (VI) governments told journalists, “When the Premier [Dr. D Orlando Smith] came into power he found the finances of this country had been badly stretched. He found that there have been commitments made that needed to be honoured, and so the incoming government did what any responsible incoming government would have done, and that is put in place measures to face up to those fiscal challenges, and I have every confidence that the Premier is doing that.”

The NDP Government took office in November 2011 following the Virgin Islands Party’s defeat at the November 7, 2011 General Election.

However, Hon. O’Neal, the Territory’s former Premier in an interview with this news agency, expressed his dissatisfaction over the comment and called on MP Bellingham to produce the facts. He also asked the reporter why no one had asked the Member of Parliament “to clarify and show proof”.

Unfortunately, it was a “one question per media house” press conference.

Commenting on the Territory’s budget, which is no longer required to be sent to the UK, Hon. O’Neal opined that sending the budget to the UK was something he was never comfortable with.

He recalled prior to the November 7, 2011 General Election “a document was sent to us and I sent it back with recommended changes because there were certain things I could not live it.”

According to Hon. O’Neal, the VI has been providing funds for its own budget for the past 35 years, adding that after they were passed in the House of Assembly (HOA), copies were usually sent to the UK.

“So to send our budget to the UK to be pre-approved was very, very insulting,” the former Premier added.

21 Responses to “MP Bellingham should produce facts of “badly stretched” finances – Hon. O’Neal”

  • valley (26/04/2012, 07:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Tell dem uncle dem tink you asleep
    • street man (26/04/2012, 22:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      b 4 dey UK go get dem own house in order dem down here minding BVI biz...shootman
  • man down (26/04/2012, 07:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The uk is two faced when uncle ralph government was in the fco dude visited the bvi and praised how wonderful the bvi was measuring its finances. Now the ndp in they come back talking cocka may may but ndp met finances stretched!!! Now people seriously can we ever trust them???? Pure spin and politricks
  • Thank you Uncle (26/04/2012, 08:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We want an understanding how the finances were so stretched. We want an understanding if they were so stretched why so many Different contracts were approved right after the new government got in. We want answers, stop trying to poke answers down the throat. we can analyse just like you all. tell us about the stretching man. tell us.
  • META WORLD PEACE (26/04/2012, 09:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    wow.... Mr. Oneal really loosing it now.....even a blind old man could see that your party wasted money and stretched the finances to the max. for example: petty contracts that made no sense before elections to get votes. white envelops handed out. meaningless projects to fill ur friends pockets while neglecting the needs of the islands. even your own district you neglected. sold out half the island to foreigners. go sit mr. x premier.. u have no argument!!
    • pipe (28/04/2012, 10:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Mr oneal you are on the money again keep the pressure on the lying spin doctors
  • mother hen (26/04/2012, 09:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Those weak ndp kiss up reporters and anti vip talk show host did not have the gusto to ask the hard questions
    • DarkVader (26/04/2012, 21:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      So why did you not submitt your questions? I guess you would say you did not hear the ad that you could submitt any questions you wanted for the man to answer. Those contracts that the bloger "Thank you uncle" blog about were there when NDP got into power. The honoured some of them because the country has to continue to run inspite of all the bloops and blonders the previous government made. People must eat and pay the bank.
  • same old (26/04/2012, 09:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    ralph you should have called a press confrence yourself and challege the UK man
  • local tourist (26/04/2012, 10:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Some times i wonder if ralph is that nieve or he thinks the public is? How sad at time to hear this man.
  • parent (26/04/2012, 13:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    thanks Mr. O'Neal for always setting the record stright from these set of cowbirds telling lies about your record.
    • Real Talk (26/04/2012, 14:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      If Ralph allowed the Auditor General's reports to be completed for 2008, 2009 and 2010 they would be public documents and we won't be having school children argument. Hey, let's publish these and talk done!!
  • Quiet Storm (26/04/2012, 15:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is a big to do about a low level issue. Instead, we should focusing our time, energy, effort and resources with a laser focus on sustaining tourism and financial services and building new economies; improving healthcare; fixing the roads; improving the reliability and quality of potable water system; improving the sanitary sewer system;moving education from "great" to superb ; arresting and controlling crime; protecting the environment and natural resources. The election is over and some issues are water under the bridge. Stop the blame game and play the hand that you were dealt. The UK is normally adroit in diplomacy. But in this instance they may have let their guard down. Now it appears as if they are picking sides in local politics. They needed to be neutral in this intern al squabble. The agreement should been negotiated and signed minus the politics. This is not a political issue for both NDP and VIP appear to despise having to get pre-approval. Further, did not the FCO state just before the election that BVI was doing relatively good inspite of the downturn in the economy. And in a few months things have to hell in a hand basket? What is the truth? Was the truth being told just before the election or now? We need to keep it real and stop going where the wind blows.
  • Lilly (26/04/2012, 16:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What a mess we now have on our hands regaarding the NDP and the high power people? I truly can't understand if the FCO stated that the country was on the right track and leveling before and something is now wrong? Then it's this Government of the day we really have to be on High alert with cause them know how to twist things about.
  • in the news (26/04/2012, 18:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    the VIP save this country for yeas how can anyone say or ever think otherwise...thank god for Ralph and Lavity
  • tricks (26/04/2012, 23:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ok ralph are you saying that dr smith is lying and the budget must still go to the uk?
  • holowane (27/04/2012, 06:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    So after all the hoop law and spin the budget still going to fco jah
  • good to great (27/04/2012, 17:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    so then why dr smith was calling around and saying it does not?
  • off shore (28/04/2012, 10:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This whole thing is wishee washee


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