NDP mum on $7.2M giveaway to BVI Airways & runway expansion
It was around 2016 that Premier Smith announced he had committed tax payers money to restoring the bankrupt BVI Airways that left the Territory in 2014 after financial hardship, owing the BVI Airports Authority (BVIPA) close to $100,000 in fees.
$7.2 M down the drain?
However, Dr Smith told the people that his over $7 million giveaway was in exchange for direct flights from Miami, Florida to the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport at Beef Island. The Premier also changed his tune, first saying it was an investment then later calling it a subsidy. Dr Smith also told the people the amount was $7M, to be given to the airline over a three year period, as per the agreement now a public document, but instead it turned out that all the funds were given in just six short months and it moved from $7.M to some $7.2M in the hands of the airline and its foreign investors.
The Government also told the people that flights will start in October 30, 2016, a date that never happened. Further, the public was told two other flight dates- that of November and December 30, 2016- but those never came to pass.
Miami International Airport had also announced that direct flights would commence in July of this year. However, BVI Airways announced in July 2017 that it had again been cash strapped and it had to lay off all workers, including pilots and flight attendants.
In an unusual twist, they also blamed the Dr Smith Administration for the situation; however the Premier fired back saying Government had kept its side of the deal. The impasse continues and to date there has been silence from the government on the status of the people’s money.
Another $6.2 M on airport runway, zero results
Meanwhile, the much talked about urgent project of the airport runway extension has been pushed under the rug.
There was public fallout when rebel backbenchers spoke out against the project happening now, a first for the normally disciplined NDP. There has been internal public opposition before like when the controversial Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL) opposed his boss, saying Dr Smith had given the public wrong information over the cost of his $1.2M high school wall, now the subject of an investigation.
But the backbenchers’ opposition to the runway project taking place at this time was a blow to some in the front bench, a project that was said to be a “done deal” and would be a “game changer” to airlift in the Virgin Islands.
However, Premier Smith had announced from last year that the Communist state-owned China Communications Construction Company had been the choice of his government over another company with local partners.
Answering a question in the House of Assembly in April of this year, Dr Smith promised an update on the airport extension project; however, to date- like BVI Airways- the public is left waiting. So far, the Administration has spent some $6.2M on consultancy over this airport expansion project.
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29 Responses to “NDP mum on $7.2M giveaway to BVI Airways & runway expansion”
Well who is laughing now? It sure aint the taxpaying public.
This entire deal needs to go to a special prosecutor as it stinks and somebody made a LOT of money on this.
we have been lied to for years and the record needs to be set straight on who got what!
even I cant follow the paper trail on this one and I have a lot of contacts still in the airline industry.
Please continue reporting the deception practiced by this "administration" that benefits those who already have much and ignores those who have little.
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There is an old proverb that "if you eat a little you will live long rather than eat plenty and choke". We need the airport development. However, because of the economic situation, it is not feasible now. Also we do not have adequate medical facility to deal with massive emergencies as well as hotel rooms to accommodate an influx of visitors. These are factors that one should consider when thinking of expansion of the airport and direct flights from Miami.