UK is not an open cheque book for VI – Gov Jaspert
Governor Jaspert made the statement during a panel discussion held at a lunch meeting of the Rotary Club of Tortola, yesterday, September 6, 2018.
Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), was also part of the panel discussion.
Jealous
Moderator for the discussion, Rotarian District Governor Elect, Ms Delma D. Maduro, had used the occasion to observe being, somewhat jealous of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), because she learnt that the neighbouring territory is getting aid to the tune of some $7 billion from the federal Government of the United States of America (USA) for their recovery effort.
“Do you think that there is any hope that we can get some additional funding from the UK,” she openly questioned Governor Jaspert.
His response, he had no knowledge of what the position is with the USVI but, “the short answer is the UK government, is not a blank cheque book, it’s a support hands up.”
“Actually the UK position is, it’s confident in the VI, it knows the VI is tough, it knows it’s got a good future and it’s backing the VI in the right way.”
Aid Country
He suggested, “it’s not, and I don’t think that anyone here wants to be an aid dependant country and I don’t think that’s something the British Virgin Islands should aim for, it should aim for, as we’ve shown to be incredibly proud, incredibly resilient and using that support and maximizing that support.”
Governor Jaspert reminded that, “the UK has been working in close partnership with the government of the VI from the minute, actually before they knew the storm was going to hit.”
According to the UK Governor, “within 36 hours we had the ship in here. Our priority was to restore security; that was one of the things we had to restore because that was one of the things that took us by shock.”
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15 Responses to “UK is not an open cheque book for VI – Gov Jaspert”
insulting and ungrateful.
By the way, the US also does not have an open check book for the unincorporated and organized territory of the USVI. The US government too and US taxpayers also have concerns about the USVI’s financial performance. The lesson for both BVI and USVI is that US and UK taxpayers expect more effective financial performance, stewardship and fiduciary responsibility. By the way, what is the source of the $7B for the USVI? Of course, if they want the UK and US taxpayers stay out their business, they can go independence. However, independence at this point is not a good option for both. Moreover, the French and Dutch taxpayers also expect good financial stewardship of their tax dollars given to St. Martin, Saba, St. Bath, Sint Eustatius, Martinique, Guadeloupe.......etc.