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Report on BVI Airways will be publicised ‘soon’- Gov Jaspert

The Virgin Islands' public would soon be privy to the Auditor General’s report on the scandalous BVI Airways deal. Photo: Jet Photos
Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert, left, speaking to members of the media at a press conference at his residence today, November 1, 2019, said the Auditor General has been working hard on the report into the scandalous BVI Airways deal. Photo: Provided
Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert, left, speaking to members of the media at a press conference at his residence today, November 1, 2019, said the Auditor General has been working hard on the report into the scandalous BVI Airways deal. Photo: Provided
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- His Excellency Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert has said members of the media and the public would soon be privy to the Auditor General’s report on the scandalous BVI Airways deal.

“The Auditor General has been working very hard on her report into the BVI Airways,” Governor Jaspert said to members of the media during a press conference at his residence today, November 1, 2019.

“That report is now concluding, and it will be given to me, and after that point, I believe up to a period of three months… it will become public. So that will be coming forward shortly,” he added.

While the governor did not divulge any further, he noted that the report was undertaken because of the questions that surrounded it.

BVI Airways deal

During the Dr D. Orlando Smith’s administration, the agreement created a controversy when more than $7 million was placed into the airline that never took off.

The deal was to provide direct flights between the USA and the VI and became one of the largest scandals to rock that administration.

Almost exactly one year earlier, the Governor announced there was an ongoing audit.

Fahie administration suing 

Meanwhile, the new administration under the leadership of Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said the VI Government is suing its former legal counsel in the USA, Mr Lester Hyman, who it is alleged secretly received monies from BVI Airways.

Hon Fahie confirmed to members of the press that the matter is before a court in the United States and he was asked to refrain from making comments on it, “But, I would just like to say that there is no secret that the BVI has a strong interest in retrieving its $7.2 million.”

10 Responses to “Report on BVI Airways will be publicised ‘soon’- Gov Jaspert”

  • yardie (01/11/2019, 14:52) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    Finally the Governor making sense.
  • king liard (01/11/2019, 15:12) Like (32) Dislike (0) Reply
    Didn't foy say it was in the courts and he couldn't talk about it?
  • yess (01/11/2019, 17:57) Like (10) Dislike (10) Reply
    YESS & Dr Smith & his gang will be in JAIL!!!
    • Peaches (04/11/2019, 11:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Lol!!
    • oh ok (05/11/2019, 08:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      i hope fahie could give us a report on the money for the after school program and also Malone could say what happen to the monies given to fix cane garden bay sewage but was never done and he got the monies don't talk about the race track studies 90,000.00 that we never heard about. lets face it people they are all the same
  • Voters (01/11/2019, 18:02) Like (7) Dislike (7) Reply
    If Jespert not going to lock up anyone he needs to be quiet
  • HMP (01/11/2019, 22:36) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    Any report will be unwelcome if don't come with arrest warrants for everybody who had a hand in this big corruption scheme. Everywhere else people get arrested and charged for wrong doing except BVI. And yet we wonder why the place is how it is. Every political official and their cronies relax because they comfortable that their wrongs will always be made right and stuff swept under the rug.

    Gus please make an example out of this. Then make sure you expose the corruption in the pier park and lock up all who hand dirty in that scheme too.

    Clean up the place
  • Hmm (02/11/2019, 11:23) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I guess when Dr. Smith said he couldn’t disclose any details it was justifiable then? Of course Premier Fahie said he couldn’t talk about it because it is before the court and any document to be made public would have to go through the Governor then through cabinet. Just stop acting like smart a$$es for once.
  • Political Observer (PO) (03/11/2019, 15:10) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The NDP team was bamboozled, played like ignoramuses on this $7.2M give away of taxpayers money to a defunct and bruk airline that had serious prior problems staying airborne. The signs were there to stay to hell away from this ”bruk” airline yet the NDP team, an educated bunch, took the bait hook, line and sinker. It got sucker punch. Imagine it so easy the first time sucker punching the NDP gang that the bruk airline came back again. Thumbs to the brave warriors who fought gallantly to curb the second time giveaway.

    The taxpayers got nought for its money. This is the biggest and most embarrassing blunder of the NDP tenure and will be a permanent stain on the NDP legacy. This fiasco screams for financial authorization, appropriation and expenditure reform. No one member should be able to spend $7.2M without the full HOA debate and approval. Operations and Maintenance /Capital budgets passage, government should still have to go back to the HOA for any individual project greater than $100K. HOA initial approval of the budget should just be the first step. Getting HOA approval for expenditures over a $100K require will require the HOA to meet more frequently, i.e., once a week or more frequently as needed. Legislators may squabble about having to meet so frequently to take care of the people’s business but so be it. It is the cost of doing business and the cost of seeking elected office to represent the people. Serving in the HOA cannot just be a status; it requires hard work, sacrifice, inconveniences.......etc. it is about the people, not the politician . The HOA need workshops on various topics before taking a vote.

    Moreover, let’s keep our fingers crossed that this was just bad decision making and reckless squandering of taxpayers money and nothing else. Bad and inept decision making and political blunders may not be a crime; they are just people wading too deep in the water and over their heads. Nonetheless, if felonies were committed, people should be face the music, for no one is above the law. If no crime was committed, there should be no fear among people. The West Minister model is flawed. But that is another story for another day.



  • old (05/11/2019, 20:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    That money like it gorn to hell y stay so long to fine. The ndp team no about that money .,, And no one saying any thing, Marlon say some thing


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