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Public meeting on UK Loan Guarantee tonight @ HLSCC

- Gov’t wants public aware of full UK imposed conditions
Inside the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium where consultations on the United Kingdom (UK) Recovery and Development Loan Guarantees will be held from 7:00 pm today, August 20, 2019. Photo: GIS/File
The Virgin Islands is at a crossroads as to whether to hand over financial control to the United Kingdom through the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) by accepting the $300M Loan Guarantee or find other means of getting funds to aid in the rebuilding process following the destruction of Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017. Photo: VINO/File
The Virgin Islands is at a crossroads as to whether to hand over financial control to the United Kingdom through the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) by accepting the $300M Loan Guarantee or find other means of getting funds to aid in the rebuilding process following the destruction of Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017. Photo: VINO/File
With growing tensions between the Unelected United Kingdon appointed governor, Augustus J.U. Jaspert and Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) over the terms of the conditions imposed by the UK Recovery and Development Loan Guarantees, the administration is moving ahead with its public consultations on the matter. Photo; GIS/File
With growing tensions between the Unelected United Kingdon appointed governor, Augustus J.U. Jaspert and Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) over the terms of the conditions imposed by the UK Recovery and Development Loan Guarantees, the administration is moving ahead with its public consultations on the matter. Photo; GIS/File
Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc on the Virgin Islands on September 6, 2017. Photo: VINO/File
Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc on the Virgin Islands on September 6, 2017. Photo: VINO/File
The Virgin Islands is at a crossroads as to whether to hand over financial control to the United Kingdom through the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) by accepting the $300M Loan Guarantee or find other means of getting funds to aid in the rebuilding process following the destruction of Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017. Photo: VINO/File
The Virgin Islands is at a crossroads as to whether to hand over financial control to the United Kingdom through the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) by accepting the $300M Loan Guarantee or find other means of getting funds to aid in the rebuilding process following the destruction of Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – With growing tensions between the United Kingdom appointed governor, Augustus J.U. Jaspert, and Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) over the terms of the conditions imposed by the UK Recovery and Development Loan Guarantees, the administration is moving ahead with its public consultations on the matter.

Set for tonight, Tuesday, August 20, 2019, at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in Paraquita Bay at 7:00pm, the Premier is inviting the general public to add their voices to the conversation even as the Governor has moved to debunk several claims made by Hon Fahie in a Saturday, August 17, 2019 statement.

Public must be aware – Premier

“As Premier I believe that the public must be aware of the conditions imposed by the UK Government on the people of this territory before the Recovery and Development Guarantees could be finalised,” the Premier said in his initial statement.

The Governor has since moved to refute claims made but the Premier that in order for the UK to provide its loan guarantee for the Virgin Islands, it must basically hand over almost full control of management of the territory’s finances to the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) which was set up at the request of the UK Government.

While Hon Fahie is yet to directly address the Governor’s rebuttal, lots of questions are expected to be asked at tonight’s public meeting given the public is now in a state of confusion as to what exactly are the UK policies, given different interpretations by both the Premier and Governor.

The Governor has since said the UK is not seeking to control VI’s finances, rather, set conditions to ensure that all recovery measures are accountable and represent value for money. The Premier had remarked that the UK’s position on the issue was due to mistrust in the previous National Democratic Party (NDP) Administration.

14 Responses to “Public meeting on UK Loan Guarantee tonight @ HLSCC”

  • Free people (20/08/2019, 18:18) Like (9) Dislike (36) Reply
    It’s time for Gus to go!
    • pity you (20/08/2019, 20:54) Like (25) Dislike (1) Reply
      For people like you to do what to poor innocent people? Black people are black people worst enemies. Would you want to be on the hook for another person’s debt because of recklessness of the borrower? Who you think guaranteeing the loan? The same white UK tax payers. You people are so ignorant - lacking knowledge and you showing it.
  • Outspoken (20/08/2019, 18:38) Like (6) Dislike (27) Reply
    @ Free People, Gus was sent here on special assignment to complete a specific mission, he have not completed the mission yet. Do not trust these people, they are up to no good.
    • JRG (20/08/2019, 19:49) Like (3) Dislike (22) Reply
      It is nothing to doubt that he was sent on a special assignment to oversee that the NDP got the BVI to a point of no return, so that the UK could exert their control where they see fit. Otherwise, why didn't he at least see to it that the Government in power during Hurricane Irma administered the Territory in a more effective manner?
  • It’s 2019 (20/08/2019, 19:46) Like (4) Dislike (9) Reply
    Racism and colonialism must end
  • pat (20/08/2019, 20:51) Like (5) Dislike (17) Reply
    The British has stole human in the slave trade, gold, diamonds and most of the resources from Africa for centuries and never paid pence for nothing, NOT ONE DIME!

    That is a thiefing history to me, so get the thing right brain wash people.
    • Actually (21/08/2019, 19:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I fact the British paid huge amounts of compensation to slave owners to release slaves. They used the Roysl Navy to release slaves held by other nations and many British people died in those efforts. Don’t confuse the British with the Americans who kept slaves for over 59 years after the British released them.
  • concern (21/08/2019, 06:58) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    After the meeting at HLSCC last night I am very concerned
    • Concerned (21/08/2019, 07:51) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
      And you have every right to be, because the issues are that complex-
      - following the Hurricane and change of Government the new Government inherited in excess of $100 million so they were able to aid the territory’s recovery.
      - the RDA should be able to raise / attract / unlock much funds but this is yet to be done
      - the RDA do come with a high wage bill, which, when considering Administration Cost as a portion of work done must be seen as, being very excessive
      - thus, may be, the need for the RDA, has long past.
  • FIRST THING! (21/08/2019, 10:18) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    VINO! This is not a picture of the meeting last night. Stop putting false information out there! This is poor journalism. The meeting was not well attended.

    Missing were the expats who crowded the auditorium when they were fighting to get status in our country.
    • Think first (21/08/2019, 11:21) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      You so hung up on hating expats that you didn't even look to see that the people have a file photo...GIS/FILE. Now go ask God for forgiveness for being so hasty and hateful!
    • wow (21/08/2019, 14:20) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      FIRST THING, this article was before the meeting so the photo could not have possible been used to make people believe that was the crowd there. We need to stop being so foolish and petty in this little place.
  • lol (21/08/2019, 14:22) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    LOl. look like an NDP crass tried to sucker punch the great VINO but didn't wait for the counter


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