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Questions persist on Hon Walwyn’s million dollar ESHS wall!

- Former Minister for Education & Culture Hon Andrew A. Fahie to demand the budget amount for the wall & expenditure to date in a House of Assembly question
Questions still persist over the controversial decision by Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn (inset) to spend over a million dollars on a wall around the Elmore Stoutt High School just before the 2015 general elections. Photo: VINO/File
Former Minister for Education and Culture Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) will be seeking more answers on the controversial million dollar wall in the HoA on September 22, 2016. Photo: VINO/File
Former Minister for Education and Culture Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) will be seeking more answers on the controversial million dollar wall in the HoA on September 22, 2016. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Controversy and questions persist over a wall constructed by the Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn weeks before the 2015 general elections, costing tax payers over US$1M.

Following the general elections, the cost of the wall was unearthed via a question in the House of Assembly (HoA) as answered by the Minister of Finance and Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, who is an At Large Representative.

Disrespectful Walwyn?

In response Mr Walwyn threw his boss under the bus, claiming that Dr Smith, the Minister of Finance, did not provide accurate information and that the wall was less, according to information from Hon Walwyn’s Ministry.

The controversial Walwyn, who is an At Large Representative, also told the public that the million dollars spent was for projects also on Virgin Gorda, however, he did not provide evidence to support his claims.

One talk show host, Edmund G. Maduro described Hon Walwyn’s behaviour against the Premier as disrespectful and insubordination and called for his removal from office.

Later, Hon Walwyn changed his tune, admitting the wall was over a million dollars, but argued that had he put it out to Public Tender “it might have cost two million”, a claim that both the public and the construction industry described as “ludicrous and a foolish argument.”

More Million Dollar Wall Questions!

In the upcoming HoA sitting of September 22, 2016 Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), the former Minister for Education and Culture, will be asking again about the controversial million dollar wall.

Hon Fahie is to ask Hon Walwyn to inform the public of the budgeted amount for the Elmore Stoutt High School wall (from Lower Estate Superette to the E. Walwyn Brewley Softball Field), inclusive of all costs.

In addition, the First District Representative and Senior Virgin Islands Party Member wants to know the budget cost to complete the project, when works to complete the project will recommence and whether the project was tendered.

There are also reports that bills are still coming in on the same wall project. The public and tax payers were outraged with the cost of the wall in light of there being no money to provide supplies for schools, to support the 2016 festival activities and also to pay music artistes who performed from last year.

The tax payers, civil society, the Opposition and talk show hosts regard the spending as an abuse of tax payer’s money.

To justify the outrageous cost, Mr Walwyn said the wall was constructed for security purposes, another claimed rejected by students, parents and teaches. There are areas of the wall where a child can jump over and it has allegedly not done anything to reduce fights on campus.

Currently, many persons who participated in the 2016 Emancipation Festival events have not been paid and the Virgin Gorda Festival Committee is still to collect its outstanding monies.

27 Responses to “Questions persist on Hon Walwyn’s million dollar ESHS wall!”

  • kick backs (19/09/2016, 17:47) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    We done have the answers
    • the rock (19/09/2016, 20:52) Like (8) Dislike (23) Reply
      Andrew please walk with the breakdown for the great wall down at nanny cay and also the Park down west, we want to see those two break downs too.!
      • vip (20/09/2016, 00:00) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
        when we get back in power and what about georgie hill road and the wall marlon built in eastend?
    • Goober Head (20/09/2016, 13:40) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply

      His friends got kick b>>>> while our children are walled in at the M. Walwyn. High school and half the other schools don't have toilet paper for the young "inmates" PARENTS & VOTERS - REMEMBER THIS- There's no money for supplies but there was money to "erect his manhood" around the school. A simple fence and a few cameras would have been way cheaper.

  • Clabose (19/09/2016, 17:52) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    The paint will cost close to a million.
  • How much? (19/09/2016, 18:06) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    In soft cost and what does it cover to build the real infamous HMP of a school? Belo surely making this prison look small with a view. Ridiculous idea from the get go, but nor...not for w##yne.
  • lower estate (19/09/2016, 18:15) Like (15) Dislike (13) Reply
    Lots of his lillte friends got contracts
  • security purposes? (19/09/2016, 18:33) Like (17) Dislike (7) Reply
    To secure his seat in the house.
  • wall of shame (19/09/2016, 18:36) Like (28) Dislike (23) Reply
    Ronnie built one at spooner's estate for the exact same price. To date we heard nothing about the old people home but over a million spent.
  • Oh so that's (19/09/2016, 20:07) Like (5) Dislike (9) Reply
    Whats going onn, Mehson hon. Fahie wait urr turn But ya goin In HOA go question bout WALL?...bring up the wall ur Neme$i$ fraser Built dwn yonda?...watch 2020, same squad minus (Premier), he's tired like the infamous cartoons*...

    • @ oh so that's (19/09/2016, 20:37) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
      Tell us something we don't know, funny man! Can you come up with something a little bit more original?
  • student (19/09/2016, 20:15) Like (16) Dislike (6) Reply
    Why build a wall for 1 million and put us in horse trailers at the college campus,i sure a building could have been built for that money ah set of political mo mo's..
  • kim jong-un (19/09/2016, 20:21) Like (18) Dislike (3) Reply
    If here was north korea he would've been facing a firing squad infront of that same wall.
    • Lol!!!Hahaha! (19/09/2016, 21:11) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      @kim jong-un. LOL!!!That's what I call original. LOL!!!Hahahahahhaha! Thaat's a good one!
  • NDP and My-run (19/09/2016, 20:39) Like (22) Dislike (3) Reply
    they have killed the BVI now he is a lame duck. period.
  • Scary Mary (19/09/2016, 20:51) Like (23) Dislike (6) Reply
    with his treatment of Luce, the many questions about his ministry spending, and other items that's hush hush he might as well kiss leadership of the NDP bye bye
  • Glass house.. (19/09/2016, 21:30) Like (11) Dislike (8) Reply
    They all are like pigs. All of them. VIP. NDP. Love mud. They are all Muddy..Who can say they clean?
  • TALK THAT (19/09/2016, 23:56) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    The 2 M & M GOT THE BVI BROKES
  • one eye (20/09/2016, 00:05) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    And not a man gone to jail over this
  • VIlander (20/09/2016, 08:27) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Everytime I see the wall I think he's preparing our youths for prison. I've never seen anything like this ever.
    • Blind Man (20/09/2016, 10:11) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      I saw a wall like this on the west bank in the gaza strip and it had a similar one in berlin.
  • Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (20/09/2016, 09:51) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    This Minister has proven to be a complete failure as a leader. Trying to lie about the cost of the wall, and trying to make Dr. Smith look like he was wrong. The way he treated Luce, and the childish way he handled the Village mixup with Frasier. The mess he made of the high School and having students and teachers leaving left and right.

    It didn't take him long to show his true colours, a wolf in sheep's clothing. Wow!!!
  • wow (20/09/2016, 18:39) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Not getting my vote again
  • old (20/09/2016, 22:08) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ndp party next time l will take you all money again and I will never vote for you all
  • W*F (26/09/2016, 17:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    A $1 million dollar wall, and the children are housed under a tent for assembly. Walwyn needs to be removed. He is too own way and a waste.


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