Premier fires back @ Hon Fahie over ‘missing’ $2B of public funds
Dr Smith told by advisors to respond
At the time of Hon Fahie’s statement in the HoA Premier Smith did not have a response to the scathing attack on the inability of the National Democratic Party (NDP) Administration to manage public funds and stop the reckless spending.
However, Hon Smith's advisors told him that Hon Fahie’s statement was gaining ground in public opinion, which led Dr Smith to release a statement in response.
The Premier in his statement of late yesterday December 21, 2016 claimed that the new Virgin Islands Party Chairman’s “aspersions about the public’s purse were irresponsible….. this is a deliberate and gross distortion of the truth,” Dr Smith’s speechwriters told the public though him.
Reckless spending confirmed by Governor
In being pressured by the United Kingdom appointed Governor John S. Duncan OBE, the Opposition, civil society and the media about no audited financial statements since his administration took power in 2011, the Premier and Minister of Finance said “…these statements have been worked on, and those that are ready will be submitted at an upcoming sitting of the House of Assembly.”
The Smith Administration has been under fire for its out of control spending of public funds, lack of transparency and alleged corruption and conflict of interest by the public.
However, in his statement Premier Smith told the residents “let me reiterate. My Government is doing its part to bring regular quarterly financial reports to this Honourable House for examination and public viewing.”
Just this year Governor Duncan wrote to Premier Smith and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office complaining bitterly about the reckless spending of the Smith Administration. The letters were obtained by the local media.
Governor Duncan warned if this behaviour did not stop he would not be able to represent the Virgin Islands position with the UK Secretary of State.
However, Dr Smith maintained in his statement of yesterday that his government “remains committed to transparency of the fiscal affairs of our Territory and its good governance.”
See link to related story:
http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/who-took-our-whose-hands-in-the-cookie-jar-2b-missing
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19 Responses to “Premier fires back @ Hon Fahie over ‘missing’ $2B of public funds”
Further, why have no audited financial statements been issued since 2006 or more specifically none since the NDP took/regain office in 2011? Any Finance Dept that cannot deliver audited financial statements annually should be relieve for poor performance. Is the Finance Dept so "less" that it cannot deliver? Or the information is so embarrassing that it is less damaging not to deliver them. Is this a situation similar to Trump not releasing his tax returns during the recently concluded US presidential election?
The people needs to know how its $2B was expense? Was the $2B spent for its intended purpose? Is it not a constitutional requirements that financial statements should be issued annually? Audited financial statements should be available for the public's perusal. The public should be able to examine them for itself. It should not have to depend on the spin from those that have a vested interest in presenting the info in a positive light. For the HOA, bring year 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.