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Opposition Leader says HoA running a 'limousine service'

- questions need for HoA requiring 4 new vehicles
Four new vehicles have been procured for the Office of the Virgin Islands House of Assembly, located in the Richard C. Stoutt Building in Road Town, Tortola. Photo: VINO/File
Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie and Opposition Leader Marlon A. Penn (R8) at the July 31, 2019, sitting of the House of Assembly (HoA). Photo: VINO
Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie and Opposition Leader Marlon A. Penn (R8) at the July 31, 2019, sitting of the House of Assembly (HoA). Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Following questioning from Opposition Leader Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8) over the number of vehicles purchased by the Administration since taking office, Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) revealed that the House of Assembly (HoA) purchased a total of four new vehicles for its office.

Alluding to the HoA as running a 'limousine service' at yesterday's, July 31, 2019, Sixth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA), Hon Penn then moved to have a trade off with the Premier after a follow-up questioning as to who the vehicles were assigned to.

According to the Premier, vehicles procured for the HoA were "Great Wall H9 - $41,500; Honda HRV LX - $26,500; Honda Pilot - $37,500; and a GMC Yukon SLT costing $79,995," leading to the Opposition Leader asking the reasons for the HoA requiring new vehicles. 

'I don't run the HoA' - Premier Fahie 

Premier Fahie in his response then told the Opposition Leader, "I'm not in charge of the House of Assembly," however, he was unable to say which departments the new vehicles were assigned to but promised to get the information if the Oppositin Leader so required. 

"I answered the question based on the best of my knowledge if the member wants some other information and he asks subsequently, I'll try to find out for all the Vehicles, who driving it, how many times they drive it, how much hours they drive it, and who all sharing it... if he wants all of that I could bring that back to the House," Premier Fahie said. 

The Premier noted that outside of the lone vehicle procured for the Premier's office, vehicles are assigned to departments, and as such, are being driven by various staff in those departments.

The Opposition Leader, in firing back said, "Mr Premier, I only want what I asked, and I didn't get what I asked."

The Premier said the Opposition Leader knows vehicles are assigned to departments rather than specific people in the offices and hence his line of questioning was 'loose' rather than being specific.

20 Responses to “Opposition Leader says HoA running a 'limousine service'”

  • HMMM (01/08/2019, 15:18) Like (15) Dislike (27) Reply

    The opposition leader is a modern day j***a**

  • vip heckler (01/08/2019, 15:55) Like (20) Dislike (26) Reply
    at least with the VIP we know where the money went...with NDP 8 years of corruption and thieving tell Surmf go talk that
  • pirate (01/08/2019, 16:51) Like (13) Dislike (8) Reply

    I can’t believe a Great Wall cost that much money and when it leaves the lot you you resell not even for $5000. Dollars. Now I see why T*** with the new government. Advantage will never done.

    • Outspoken (01/08/2019, 18:18) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
      @pirate, to be honest I am wondering the same thing. Since when a GreatWall cost so much money. I had to look good to see if they were talking about the GreatWall around the High School. But on a serious note that price for a GreatWall sounds ridiculous.
      • Customer (02/08/2019, 10:34) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
        Its not just an ordinary cheap Greatwall vehicle. Its probably one of the big ones with all the nice accolades. I drove one. They are awesome
    • voter (02/08/2019, 22:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Pirate you must be a real pirate and knows nothing about vehicles. I can certainly see you are from The Insurance company. Poor boy.
  • wize up (01/08/2019, 18:23) Like (9) Dislike (4) Reply
    member for the six needs to get a grip: he has no foundation to stand upon when it comes to being critical about government spending: he might have justified causes but this young man sat among his peers for 8 mucking years while his NDP went all rouge with spending tax money and said nothing; as a matter of fact he did not even join PVIM(he stayed onboard MV NDP)
  • matt (01/08/2019, 18:44) Like (17) Dislike (4) Reply
    I don’t want a Great Wall even if it was freely given. But on a serious note, why would the House of Assembly need so many vehicles and why an $80,000.00 Yukon?
  • YES SIR (01/08/2019, 21:46) Like (15) Dislike (5) Reply
    Why the house needs a $80,000 vehicle.
    • wize up (01/08/2019, 23:35) Like (11) Dislike (6) Reply
      @ yes sir: the house needed a 80,000.00 vehicle the same how the NDP lost 7.2million on an aeroplane(play the tape!!!!) we can see the vehicles but were is that plane(all now pilot can’t find the beef islands airport).....
      • Carli (02/08/2019, 19:10) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
        Is that the goal to get to $7M before slowing down. You will soon be there at this rate. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Then why fuss if you intend to do the same thing.
    • Happy tax payer (02/08/2019, 15:15) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
      I just happy it has not reach 7miillon plus
  • asking for a friend (02/08/2019, 07:31) Like (9) Dislike (6) Reply
    I just want to know when someone will go to jail for the wall or PLANE
  • &wize up (02/08/2019, 08:01) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why are you so stupid? If the VIP should do the same as the NDP why vote them out? This airport story is so stale. Move up and move on, this country is getting more stagnant and slimy like the dirty water all over the place. About time it get clean up and leave the past in the past. How can there be prosperity when we keep looking back
    • wize up (02/08/2019, 17:17) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      & wize up: your issues is not with me so don’t take your frustrations out on the the people dem child: however when you reach home ask mother why I am so stupid she will fill you: likewise you should run of political office come next election: have a joyous & safe festival(I am been called so much muck over the past 62 years, so your jive talk is taken with love)
  • drummer (02/08/2019, 09:01) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    The premier was well aware of the fact that the expensive vehicle are for the speaker of the house and other select members of his government. I don't see why he need to beat around the bush with his response.
  • 3 Suzukis (02/08/2019, 11:09) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    $80K ought equal 3 Suzuli Vitaras...
    Didn't the the Speaker also score a new $85,000 vehicle as perk? A free Suzuki wasn't good enough?
  • Really Marlon?! (05/08/2019, 22:46) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Really Marlon of all the challenges in our small communities u stuck on who driving what?!! As opposition leader your party misspent for years!! Stop the madness find a challenge that will b beneficial to the ppl of this territory and focus on it and come up with a sound solution then choose another challenge!! #workingmynerve!


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