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‘SFC will reveal the truth!’ – Hon Andrew A. Fahie

-accused Premier Smith of painting a less than accurate picture and playing political games with budget
Representative for the First District Honourable Andrew A. Fahie has debunked statements made by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith during the reading of the 2015 Budget, saying that the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) will reveal the truth in the not too distant future. Photo: VINO/File
“The Premier himself previously confirmed for the House of Assembly earlier this year during the question and answer period through the figures he was mandated to supply that the figures revealed that the last administration did not leave the country broke nor did the last administration leave the country in a poor financial state,” Hon Fahie said. Photo: VINO/File
“The Premier himself previously confirmed for the House of Assembly earlier this year during the question and answer period through the figures he was mandated to supply that the figures revealed that the last administration did not leave the country broke nor did the last administration leave the country in a poor financial state,” Hon Fahie said. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Representative for the First District Honourable Andrew A. Fahie has debunked statements made by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith during the reading of the 2015 Budget, saying that the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) will reveal the truth in the not too distant future.

“I must congratulate the Premier on a well delivered budget address. The accuracy of the figures will be tested during the Standing Finance Committee’s meetings in the upcoming days,” he said during an interview with this news site yesterday November 17, 2014 following the budget presentation earlier in the day.

“The Premier himself previously confirmed for the House of Assembly earlier this year during the question and answer period through the figures he was mandated to supply that the figures revealed that the last administration did not leave the country broke nor did the last administration leave the country in a poor financial state,” he said.

“These figures emphatically contradict the irresponsible chatter that the last administration left the country broke and in approximately $40 million in the red. However the Premier continues to state otherwise even in his budget address. As stated before with the figures showing otherwise then it is safe to state that this action is irresponsible and merely political games aimed at trying to programme the public’s mind into believing that his administration are financial saviours,” he said.

“I say without fear of contradiction that no Government in this present financial climate which is riddled with challenges can meet the finances of a country in a poor state as being claimed continuously by the Premier and supposedly turn it around in two to three short years. The smallest child could see that something does not add up with this scenario,” he said.

“On November 10, 2014 during the question and answer period, the Premier clearly stated in response to a question posed to him that as of early November 2014, his Government had approximately $10 million in the Consolidated Fund with the bills unpaid by his Government up to early June 2014 totally just over $9 million. This raises a major red flag given that so many vendors for many, many months now remain unpaid, but the budget address has attempted to paint a different financial picture,” he said.

“Also the overspending of budget heads and the reallocation of funds, all of which was not approved by the House of Assembly during the approval of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 budgets remain unaccounted for three years later. So I question the accuracy of the figures in the current budget and the accuracy of our financial state at this time,” said Hon Fahie.

“I learnt a long time ago that figures don’t lie but in the absence of true figures and true accounting then it is always easy to paint whatever picture you want the public to be led to believe,” he said. “The truth does not need anyone’s belief…as a result time will reveal such. Our people are suffering now more than ever but the budget address has attempted to tell them otherwise,” he said.

“During the Standing Finance Committee and the course of next year we will be able to dissect these numbers and the truth will prevail,” said Hon Fahie.

18 Responses to “‘SFC will reveal the truth!’ – Hon Andrew A. Fahie”

  • Tell us (18/11/2014, 14:36) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    So Fahie if you are tellng the truth, why your boy went to CDB for a mere $15mil and could not access it, but NDP did. Please explain this to us if the Territory was in a good financial position as you have stated.
  • rattie (18/11/2014, 14:45) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    Lawd ah mussy ayo going drop down the ndp
    • Well Well (18/11/2014, 15:57) Like (12) Dislike (9) Reply
      the gover park dude did a good job on the speech but me aint no math specialist so whatever fahie say
  • Samething I Does Say (18/11/2014, 15:12) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    "The truth does not need anyone’s belief..." that's real talk!
  • Bandit (18/11/2014, 15:54) Like (16) Dislike (45) Reply
    NDP tink all ah we eat our school feess
    • george w touch (18/11/2014, 16:13) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      Until the day we have a public sector, "including our Governors" that is willing to wipe out corruption which quite obvious with-in certain sectors, there will continue to be lies told about our financial accounts due to a lack of accountability for the waste and misuse we have seen in the last decade.

    • liz (18/11/2014, 19:09) Like (8) Dislike (18) Reply
      You all seemed to forget that it was the VIP that led us all to despair to the point that we dropped them like a hot potato and voted in NDP. VIP was drowning us in sorrow..and now you want to give them another chance? Don't want to hear none of you when you let them in again. NOT ONE OF YOU!
  • zoe (18/11/2014, 16:02) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let's get a team of forensic accountants to go over the records for the last 3 years
  • He got a... (18/11/2014, 16:13) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    ...face for slap.
  • well saw (18/11/2014, 16:16) Like (17) Dislike (2) Reply
    The Premier got the nerves to say thay we the people are better off today than three years ago. What world is that man living in? SMH
  • GoonSquad (18/11/2014, 16:17) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
    so sad only ndp would congratulate themseld last night on the NDP radio show over doing a poor job for the pass three years considering 65% of us are facing hardship or worse and the NDP try to spin it as an achievement......
  • Tired (18/11/2014, 16:36) Like (17) Dislike (2) Reply
    I am so tired of the NDP lies. These guys are dangerous.
  • Making it worse for NDP (18/11/2014, 17:28) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    Every time an NDP politician opens his mouth- things just get better for the VIP
  • in the news (20/11/2014, 15:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Virgin ISlanders take note, this is how the PNP governs
  • W*F (21/11/2014, 10:37) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    SFC is not an OBJECTIVE body.


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