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No favouritism! Each elected member to get $300K for COVID-19 affected constituents

Legislators sitting on the Opposition, from left: Leader of the Opposition Honourable Marlon A. Penn(R8), Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) and Hon Julian Fraser RA(R3) will each get $300,000 from the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government’s Economic Stimulus Plan to help their COVID-19 affected constituents, the same amount of allocation the elected representatives on the Government’s side will get. Photo: VINO/Facebook
Legislators of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government will each get $300,000 to help their COVID-19 affected constituents. The Members of the Opposition will get the same amount. Photo: Facebook
Legislators of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government will each get $300,000 to help their COVID-19 affected constituents. The Members of the Opposition will get the same amount. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has announced that every elected member in the House of Assembly (HoA) will receive an additional $300,000 to help persons in the Territory facing hardships brought on by the Novel Coronavirus pandemic.

Dubbed the ‘Special COVID-19 allocation,’ it will be in addition to the regular assistance grants called the District Fund. The Premier said it would enable members to “respond to needy cases, directly and swiftly.”

“Your Government has been hearing the feedback from the ground. We have also heard the concerns of the Opposition and let me assure you that COVID-19 is a time for unity and to have all hands on deck, where we put politics behind and the needs of the people and the Territory in front,” Hon Fahie noted.

No member disadvantaged

He continued: “This allocation has been divided equally. No Member is advantaged, and none are disadvantaged. All are enabled to help you the people, especially when it comes to some of the simpler, less complicated issues,” he remarked on Thursday, May 28, 2020, during a live broadcast to present his government’s $62.9 million economic response plan.

“And, just as these funds are allocated without favouritism, we expect that favouritism and political allegiances will be put aside. It matters not who you voted for; if you have a need and can justify it during this COVID-19 era, please contact your district representative, and of course, check out the other programmes that were announced this evening.”

The Premier said the total sum allotted for this initiative is $3.9 million, and it is in addition to the other assistance that persons in need can access.

“So, if you live in District 1, then you contact me, Andrew Alturo Fahie, and I will be setting up a special contact number for this initiative. If you live in District 2, then you contact Honourable Melvin 'Mitch' Turnbull. If you live in District 3, then you contact Honourable Julian Fraser. If you live in District 4, then you contact Honourable Mark Vanterpool. If you live in District 5, then you contact Honourable Kye Rymer. If you live in District 6, then you contact Honourable Alvera Maduro-Caines. If you live in District 7, then you contact Honourable Natalio Wheatley. If you live in District 8, then you contact Honourable Marlon Penn. If you live in District 9, then you contact Honourable Vincent Wheatley.”

He said persons could also reach out to the four At Large Representatives, Honourables Sharie B. DeCastro, Carvin Malone, Shereen L. Flax-Charles and Neville A. Smith.

$$ to be audited

In the meantime, Premier Fahie said, these funds will not go unaudited.

“Please note that transparency and accountability still apply to these special funds. The funds will be audited monthly by the internal auditor,” he stated.

19 Responses to “No favouritism! Each elected member to get $300K for COVID-19 affected constituents”

  • hmmmmmm (29/05/2020, 08:51) Like (18) Dislike (3) Reply
    $2.7M - for 9 districts

    These funds will not go unaudited. Set the audit date and let the 9 recipients know that paperwork is required for every cent including justification details for giving amounts to a particular person(s).

    Too much waste and injustices in the place because it has people working who do not need to get any funds of any kind whilst the poor still go poor.
    • @hmmmmmm (29/05/2020, 11:44) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      I would agree, every penny of the 300K should be accounted for.
      • smh (29/05/2020, 15:35) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
        Yes, a slush fund is a slush fund is a slush fund.
        Trying to disarm both the people and the Opposition, especially the people.
    • in awe of the esteemed one (02/06/2020, 23:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      actually $3.9m with the $300k to the 4 at large reps.

      but question, since dey giving out all dis money, does the honorable esteemed one get $300k too.
  • Outsider (29/05/2020, 08:54) Like (6) Dislike (11) Reply
    BS, and government workers can't get their increments?? More hand outs like the food program. Mr. Govenor you need to inform the Queen about this??
    • i feel for you (02/06/2020, 23:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      mr or mrs civil servant, I feel for you. you ain getting that til next election and then it will only be half.
  • hmmmmmm (29/05/2020, 08:57) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    "He said persons could also reach out to the four At Large Representatives, Honourables Sharie B. DeCastro, Carvin Malone, Shereen L. Flax-Charles and Neville A. Smith."

    What is the possibility of persons going to both their district rep and the at large reps for the same thing? What control measures are in place to avoid this? Why the At Large reps need $300K each since they do not represent a district?

    I am smelling a rat and I hope that before funds are given by at large reps., these at large reps. contact the district rep first. Smelling money too and when certain persons smell money they smell greed & corruption.
    • Yep (29/05/2020, 10:02) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      You're going to get the same greedy people at SS, their Rep and the At large Reps. What's to stop that from happening.
  • Global Agenda (29/05/2020, 08:58) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
    Part of this agenda is to spend as much so eventually you can tell the people that you can’t sustain giving out stimulus check and other monetary things... Just wait on it because the worst is yet to come, it’s still the first phase
  • Ms. Rabsatt (29/05/2020, 09:00) Like (6) Dislike (11) Reply
    This appears to be a more suitable plan than Hon Penns'
  • lol (29/05/2020, 09:06) Like (7) Dislike (8) Reply
    THAT IS HUSH MONEY TO KEEP THEM QUIET
    • @LOL (29/05/2020, 11:38) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      Hush money for what and from whom. The money is to assist the residents in each District if in need or assistance.
  • Umm (29/05/2020, 10:21) Like (8) Dislike (5) Reply
    listen, reading these blogs hurt my eyes and head. They do, we complain, they don't do, we STILL complain.
    • @Umm (29/05/2020, 12:41) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
      Are they all complaining? Or have a few pointed out that control measures are needed to avoid injustices and corruption?

      Wow, the blogging of avoiding injustices and corruption hurts your eyes. It must if you are wicked.
  • clown (29/05/2020, 10:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    300k 4 Time 1.2mill
  • Commentator (29/05/2020, 11:35) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    It will be interesting to see who gets money from the representatives. This one is ticklish.Did you vote for me ?

  • ?? (29/05/2020, 12:21) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    How is the rollout of stimulus packages being controlled where monies are not received from two, three or four locations?

    For example, if an individual approaches the social security for stimulus, social development for stimulus, electricity for stimulus, and their district rep for stimulus, how is one person receiving from four areas being controlled, supervised and accessed??

    I am hoping that checks and balances are in place because this can get out of hand really quickly and persons not needing receiving monies that can be saved for rainy days or areas that need it most.

    The premier made a valid point of hurricane season being upon us and the uncertainty of the future. Can some of this monies be held on to in these instances, especially that of district reps for later in the year if needed?

    This approach to stimulus must be balanced, controlled and fair to everyone.

    Have we considered as well, with schools and universities closing and an influx of locals returning home, how this will affect our country? If universities and schools are closed in America for the remainder of the year, that means persons that are returning home and staying for God knows how long. Will these individuals not need to be employed? Will they not want jobs? Has our labor minister considered this and balancing the work force with work permit holders?

    These are things that need to be thought out and evaluated.
  • down2earth (31/05/2020, 21:42) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Hon Premier, are you serious? This plan lacks wisdom and vision!


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