Premier flip-flops again! Now admits VI in a recession!
Premier Smith’s answers to the robust question have evolved, with him saying a few weeks ago that “when persons are laid off it does not necessarily affect the economy for they may be hired in other areas”.
During a press conference held on November 12, 2013 the Premier was asked whether he maintains his position of the economy being robust. “I would not use the term robust because robust is a misunderstood and misused term…,” he told reporters.
However, at today’s second sitting of the third session of the second House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands, while answering questions posed to him by Third District Representative Honourable Julian Fraser RA, he admitted the economy is in recession.
This is something that the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) led Opposition has been saying for the past two years and that people are hurting.
Third District Representative and Opposition Member, Hon. Julian Fraser RA projects that the economy of the Virgin Islands will worsen over the next 12 months if the Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr. D. Orlando Smith fails to act. This was expressed in a press statement released early last week by Hon. Fraser.
The former Minister for Communications and Works pointed out that unless Premier Smith does what he has advocated for the last 18 months, which is to inject capital into the economy, the economy will continue to struggle.
Our people are hurting, Hon. Fraser said, “but people in authority do not seem to understand why, despite the obvious occurrences of job losses, company closures, and downsizing, they continue to take money out of citizens’ pockets which reduces their liquidity and further hurts the economy.”
Hon. Fraser called on Premier Smith to sit with business leaders to find out where government can play a role in keeping people employed. “There are incentives that government usually gives to businesses in times like these. He needs to eliminate certain government fees, which would make it easier on mothers with children,” Hon. Fraser argued in his statement.
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39 Responses to “Premier flip-flops again! Now admits VI in a recession!”
Robust????? come to he sences as I know of both mother and child who are hungry and cannot pay their rent, light bills and buy food