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‘Reprimand Governor for violating’ Audit Act & VI Constitution- Hon Fraser

- Moves motion for Gov's reprimand; says Governor's 'cavalier attitude' towards HoA needs to stop
Accusing the Governor of the Virgin Islands, His Excellency, Augustus J. U. Jaspert, left, of having a 'cavalier attitude' towards the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA), Senior Opposition Member, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3), right, has moved a motion to reprimand Mr Jaspert over the late tabling of the BVI Airways report from the Auditor General. Photo: VINO/facebook/File
Hon Julian Fraser said Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert appeared to have acted with no regards for the law and the desires of the HoA by causing the BVI Airways report to be tabled over a month late to the HoA. Photo: Internet Source
Hon Julian Fraser said Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert appeared to have acted with no regards for the law and the desires of the HoA by causing the BVI Airways report to be tabled over a month late to the HoA. Photo: Internet Source
Hon Julian Fraser said that House members have been stonewalled for years over getting information about the Airways and its missing 7.2M funds. Photo: BVI Airways/File
Hon Julian Fraser said that House members have been stonewalled for years over getting information about the Airways and its missing 7.2M funds. Photo: BVI Airways/File
DUFF'S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI - Accusing the Governor of the Virgin Islands, His Excellency, Augustus J. U. Jaspert of having a 'cavalier attitude' towards the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA), Senior Member of the Opposition, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) has moved a motion to reprimand Mr Jaspert over the late tabling of the BVI Airways (BVIA) report from the Auditor General.

The motion was moved today, May 28, 2020, when the HoA met for the Eighth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom, Tortola. 

Section 20, sub-section (1) of of the Virgin Islands Audit Act 2003 provides "the Auditor General may at any time prepare and submit a special report to the Governor if he is satisfied that there is a matter that should be brought to the attention of the Governor."

Motion moved & seconded 

"And whereas in the case of the December 7, 2015, agreement between Castleton Holdings LLC, Colchester Aviation LLC, BVI Airways and the Government of the Virgin Islands, the Auditor General has become satisfied that there was a matter to be brought to the Governor's attention."

Hon Fraser continued, "And whereas the Auditor General has prepared such special report, and has at or around January 27, 2020, submitted it to the Governor, and whereas section 20, sub-section (2) of the Audit Act 2003, provides that the Governor shall, within three months of the receipt of the special report, cause the report to be laid on the table of the House of Assembly."

He said given the report is only being tabled today, May 28, 2020, "A full month and one day past the statutory deadline, and whereas there is substantial documented evidence that the House of Assembly has attached tremendous significance to this report in its constitutional responsibility to hold the Executive accountable and transparent in its dealing with this agreement which evidently has gone bad."

Governor acted with no regards - Hon Fraser 

Hon Fraser said the Governor appeared to have acted with neither regards for the law nor the desires of the HoA, "Now, therefore, be it resolved, that this Honourable House reprimands the Governor for violating Section 20, (2) of the Audit Act 2003, and obstructing the duties of the House of Assembly under Section 47, (3) of Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007," he said. 

The Motion was then seconded by Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) and, according to Hon Fraser, the Governor has exhibited a 'cavalier attitude' towards the House which needs to stop.

He said House members have been stonewalled for years over getting information about the Airways and its missing $7.2M funds, "I guess the hope is we are supposed to get tired of it and forget it." 

Pattern with Gov Jaspert - Hon Fraser  

He said the Auditor-General must have found something to warrant the preparation of the report, only to have the Governor withhold it from the house and not cause it to be laid in a timely matter.

"I am cognisant of a pattern that seems to have been developing with this particular Governor [Augsutus J. U. Jaspert] regarding matters in this Honourable House." 

Hon Fraser further said, "There is no question, there is no excuse for us to be here four months and one day after the report was received... for something that should have been done within three months after being received by the Governor."

The Motion is currently being debated in the HoA.

32 Responses to “‘Reprimand Governor for violating’ Audit Act & VI Constitution- Hon Fraser”

  • Ting 2 Tak (28/05/2020, 15:22) Like (9) Dislike (17) Reply
    Is it me or dis Governor starting to look like Putin now?
  • Knicks (28/05/2020, 15:36) Like (8) Dislike (5) Reply
    These boys need to put on their big boys pants and run the country in the best interest of its people.
  • Diversion (28/05/2020, 15:40) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    Perhaps the Governor can let Fraser have a couple of spare laptops while he's at it.
  • lol (28/05/2020, 15:43) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hmmmm Frazer wake ..man
  • wow (28/05/2020, 15:49) Like (26) Dislike (5) Reply
    Fraser!!Lately you had my vote but you lost it, let the governor do his job,
  • balls of steel (28/05/2020, 16:34) Like (7) Dislike (10) Reply
    Fraser calls it as he see it
  • Challenger (28/05/2020, 16:51) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    correct me if i.m wrong but didnt the entire opposition fail to attend one sitting of the honurable house in recent months.......how were you all reprimanded when failing to represent the people. !!! look closer to home . or are you exempt from abiding by the rules of the honourablr house.
  • Disinterested (28/05/2020, 16:57) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    At least the Hon M. Turnbull (R2) seconded Hon J. Fraser (R3) motion to reprimand the Governor. In the last HOA, Hon A. Fahie (R1) moved a motion of no confidence against the NDP and Fraser was no where in sight. There were only two opposition members and the motion would have failed.

    On another note, what is your point on needing two laptops for hour home? You are blessed to be able to buy 2 laptops. There is too much political, social and economic patronage, coupled with too much dependency on government, on government. Even the well to do want to feed at the trough and drain the tap dry. Bunch of parasites.
  • Xxx (28/05/2020, 17:05) Like (1) Dislike (20) Reply
    The governor is a joke he must be recalled
  • I say so (28/05/2020, 17:17) Like (21) Dislike (2) Reply
    It's all you reckless spenders in Government need reprimanding.
  • not so fast (28/05/2020, 17:34) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    If you going to reprimand the Governor, almost everybody in Government departments including the RVIPF going be reprimanded for obstructing procedures.
  • confused (28/05/2020, 17:41) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
    So on the one hand they are trying to reprimand the governor for taking too long to put it before the House and on the other the Speaker is complaining that he tried to force it to the House too quickly????
    • Jaigon (29/05/2020, 06:13) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ confused, you seems to be real confused here and it’s either you did not read the story or you don’t understand what you read. Now what the issue is, the Governor after receiving the report from the AG, kept it for too long, by law the governor is obliged to turn over the report to cabinet in a certain time frame so that it can be tabled in the HOA in time, because he held it for to long, it would have affected the time for it to be tabled in the HOA, having realized that, the governor was trying to get the house to meet so that the report can be tabled on time. Hope I have help you.
  • Strong Rum (28/05/2020, 18:08) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    2nd and 3rd rep, dumb and dumbbell. Why will you go into the HOA to move a motion to reprimand the Governor, when they fully well knows that none of them can do it. Who will do the reprimand?. I believe Mitch and Frazer time can be better utilize to address the woes in their districts.
  • Bullcrap (28/05/2020, 18:13) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    Ayo just full of it buh reprimand governor
  • thinkto talk (28/05/2020, 18:47) Like (4) Dislike (13) Reply
    you all dont no this governor history he the one that crumble the cayman island goverment before coming to the bvi why you thing he here so long wake up blackppl wake them dont likr to see black rise to the top on less you are thr goat eake up ppl
  • I guess (28/05/2020, 19:29) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    The findings of the report must not be what they hope so now time to shift and make noise about nothing real.
    • Walkathon (28/05/2020, 20:24) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ I guess, the finding of the report warrants a criminal investigation. So that is something to think about
  • George harry (28/05/2020, 21:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Long story. long story short. Da ole goof Dr dolittle got catch 7mil for renting a plane. that never took off.

    bahhhh

    the owners lease ran out. but not before they could refuel. stakholders cash in and dip with there shares
  • Gannstar (28/05/2020, 21:37) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    I've heard you can stand up in the HoA and TLK, PIZZ OR SHI% and you don't have to worry about anything . Only in the HoA you have FREEDOM of SPEACH.
  • Tortola people (28/05/2020, 21:40) Like (1) Dislike (7) Reply
    The bvi people are a bunch of cowards, Hon Frazier and also Mr. Claude Skelton are correct about the way this government is handling things . Rise up and let up all protest
  • roundabout (28/05/2020, 23:44) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Reprimand Fraser for them traffic lights
  • Raquib (29/05/2020, 00:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Im glad Andrew did not make that statement
  • privy council (29/05/2020, 03:52) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    The only time we rememeber law and Constitution,as violated,is when we allege that the Governor do something we didn't like.All the years people in high position disregarding law and Constitution.to help their friends and family get through,its not law violation and Constitution vioalation.is hush sheeeeeeeeee
  • 7.2 million (29/05/2020, 08:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    All we need is our 7.2 million back in our treasury for us to use during this pandemic. Pay us back, we need it.

    Minister of Finance, you have powers under the Finance act get our money back. They will not investigate nothing.
  • reality (29/05/2020, 11:37) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    we acting as if we could lean on these man in office if we were to be independent...I honestly rather have that governor there than these small minded politians we have in office


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