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