UPDATE: NDP taking from poor & giving to rich- Hon. Fahie
This, he said, is opposed to focusing on honestly taking the Territory forward by directing their energies to nation building especially by helping the people in each district to buy medicine, help the elderly, help with tuition, help to transport students among other things.
This is part of several stands taken by Hon. Fahie on on Saturday January 26, 2013 when he reported to his constituents in Capoon's Bay. The crowd was sparse, but it was certain that his message effectively reached the targeted audience, residents of the First District and members of the NDP governing body, through the airwaves of ZBVI radio, which was present and carried his message live in full and unedited. Among those present were mainly the elderly and a cross section of youths, who provided an atmosphere of entertainment and inspiration.
Reading from a fifteen page long presentation, Hon. Fahie spared no bones in “telling it like it is" as he outlined the alleged lies and false accusations of the present NDP party. “This Administration has saturated the Territory and worldwide that they met the country broke. The last Administration broke the country, is their common refrain. The last Administration depleted the Reserves is their common song. The last Administration left the country in cash flow problems and so on and so on. I might add that they have some degree of success in having a majority of persons believing this marketing scheme. Through this they can use this in the next General Elections as their solid foundation to easily get a second term because they are programming people’s mind, from now, to see them as the financial saviours of this Territory; but that is not so!” Hon. Fahie stated emphatically.
He said that the financial records of the Territory clearly highlights that since the reserved fund was established in 2005, there were never any withdrawals made to date amidst claims that the previous VIP administration emptied the Reserves.
Hon. Fahie explained that the financial records of the Territory clearly highlights that at the end of each Budget year, no matter what Administration was in office, there was always a deficit at the end of the year but the deficit is always absorbed in the next budget cycle. “Simply put the Territory does not have a running deficit. Yet this Administration continues to effectively convince persons near and far that the last Administration left the country in a deficit."
Cash flow issues, Hon. Fahie said is due to the "ongoing/eternity hospital construction project" which was started by the 2003-2007 Administration. He said that the project was started without securing the different needed construction loan upon commencement with the cost being shouldered by the Social Security Board loan, a load which the treasury carried for number of years.
“Well if the money to pay you the people continues to go towards paying the project’s construction cost seeing that it wasn’t budgeted for then of course there will be cash flow issues. Yet this Administration continues to effectively convince persons near and far that our cash flow problems are as a result of the wreckless spending of the last Administration. The careless and wreck less act of the 2003-2007 NDP Administration of not properly funding the project before they started is what has significantly contributed to our cash flow problems from then to now,” said the District representative.
He heavily objected to the claim of the present government that the finances of the Virgin Islands are in a mess and in one year they would have preformed a miracle to have turned it around. “Well from all the information that I have given to you thus far, what they met was not as out of control as they continue to market. If they could turn around a country’s financial woes in one year like they are saying well better we send them America to handle the fiscal cliff. Better yet, better we send them to Europe to solve the financial crisis there. Better we do this since they continue to brag that have turn around the “so called” country’s poor financial situation in one year.”
He admitted that there are financial issues, that mistakes were made in the past, that there is need for careful spending and a need to direct energies towards the growth of the economy but insisted, “We need to grow our revenue while reducing our expenditures. Let us explore new things like the pros and cons of having our own stock market, performing Arts Industry, sports industry, among others. I am willing to help my Territory grow but we must be forthright in our actions, especially in the information that we are disseminating to the public. It must be factually rather than political.”
He accused the current administration of taking away from the poor and giving to the rich and their close friends, a situation which if remains unchecked will have a direct negative effect on residents. “We cannot continue to call wrong right based on who we love; while calling right, wrong depending on whom we hate,” stressed Hon. Fahie.
“This government cut the district subventions that were put into place to help you the people in each district to buy medicine, help the elderly, help with tuition and help to transport students…. Elected Officials and Government members are flying around the world so often that they have gain so many frequent flyer miles they now can qualify for lifetime platinum membership. They refused to pay the Public servants their full increments. At the same time they used that money to engage close family members, main supporters and close friends as consultants without any tender process or competitive bidding with each receiving approximately one hundred thousand dollars annually. They refused to move forward with the development of the west End terminal and Port of entry and at the same time they have been trying to convince us that it is ok to put a mouse on a Ferris wheel in Road Town for 48 years while the cruise pier vendors are gasping for breath at their new location,” were all scathing allegations levelled at the present NDP administration by Hon. Fahie.
It is Hon. Fahie's expressed opinion that the authorities continue to pay no mind to infringement of the rights of the people; especially female residents who continue to complain that they are going to work in peace while “the boss keeps harassing them for piece.”
See previous article posted on January 26, 2013
Startling revelations! Hon. Fahie reports to First District tonight
Residents of the First District should position themselves to hear of the startling and unbelievable length of time the NDP government has set to address some issues in the District when the Honourable Andrew A. Fahie reports to his constituents in Capoons Bay tonight January 27, 2013.
In an exclusive interview with Virgin Islands News Online, Hon. Fahie said he was told government needed six month before they can look into some projects in the district.
The Opposition Member added that there have been some projects that he has been requesting of the government to continue in the best interest his people. Noting that he didn’t now want to “let the cat out the bag” in advance to his “reporting to the people” meeting, he declined to go into details but gave a brief insight into one such project.
“I’ll be disclosing more of areas that I have been crying on the government to get done but I am going to tell you one or two,” noted Hon Fahie. The building which was purchased before the change of government to house a conglomerate of services, mainly a post office, is one of the issues of contention.
He said that at the time of purchasing the building the thinking was to have a facility where residents would have been able to ease themselves of the burden and expenses of travelling to Road Town to pay their utility bills. “Especially the older folks would not have had the burden of paying taxis and such like to go way into town. So it would have been a multi-faceted building for government agencies and even other utility agencies,” Hon. Fahie explained. That project fell under the Carrot Bay Development Plan.
Hon. Fahie said that they had asked about the project while in the House of Assembly and was told by the Premier, under whose ambit the project falls, that he would be looking at it in six months. “With that there is not much that I could tell the people. I guess that for six months I’ll have to continue to be vigilant and after six months I’ll have to ask again.”
He emphasised the stress that is brought to bear on the senior citizens and those that are economically pressed as it relates to the availability of finances. He alluded to a number of projects that were started while the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) was in office but are presently at a standstill. Asked if they were put on hold by the present administration, Hon. Fahie said, “That’s the way it would appear.”
He, however, added that he tries to be fair given the fact that the government would need some time to understand all that is happening. “But I think that after a year in office and more that is more than enough time to understand what is happening. If it was a project what I was looking for that would not serve the public interest I can understand the concerns but when you look around and see project that are costing way more … they are really and truly questionable in terms of how much the public will benefit from them.” He said that it leaves one to consider some of the projects that one have concerns about were not considered, “…if not one time which would not be possible in any government, would over a period of time in the phase of four years why can’t they be included.”
Hon. Fahie pointed out other projects, including the Capoons Bay drainage project that was started under the previous administration. “Some of the foundations for the projects were already done and again I’ve been asking about it in the House of Assembly quite a bit, although you are the First District representative they are government projects so unless the Minister decides to have them approved and done our hands are basically tied.“
Hon. Fahie will be presenting his report to the residents of the First District tonight at 7:30 P.M and promises a welcoming and comfortable environment for those attending.
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44 Responses to “UPDATE: NDP taking from poor & giving to rich- Hon. Fahie”
The medical school and drag school money totalling 600K could have done that and more. hush your @$%.
running with an idea vs spending over $500k on it. the money wasn't well spent. where is the study info? all we had to do is put it out there that we are interested in the business and people can bring forth their proposals. bull$@# andrew did, pure bull$#@!
Andrew NDP themselves confirmed we are in $113mil debt so they are not saying they performed a miracle. The VIP were hell bent on doing nonsense despite the writing on the wall. Fraser one way doing $h!t, Andrew th eother way doing his own $h!t, nothing planned. All this debt and you talking about giving people this and giving people that, carrot bay development, sea cows bay marina, all from government funds. where is all this money coming from andrew? Numbers don't lie, why didn't VIP prepare auditor general reports for 3yrs? we are not stupid, the finances are public and we have seen them.
See the pattern? Nothing for the 3rd and 1st Districts
scatter your nasty old tire boring wicked @$$ go back to Antigua
No average Citizen is aware of what negotiation take place behind close doors.
Most of these negotiations are done by Gvernment officials at its highes level -
The first stages of negotiation is to talk about what's in it for me - once they come to an agreement on this it will continue to the second stage.
The first part of the negotiation can include gifts Example of a Gift, The Developer can offer to give the official a investor status in the development project, or can offer a villa at no cost as investment.
There are many other perk that Officials can benefit from and the range is in the $$millions.
Lets talk about the second stage. This is where the public at large comes in.
The official will make public that by selling this land it will create more jobs for the country derefore the average citizen should be happy that the Goverment is selling their land. Type of jobs that this development will create. Carpenter,Gardener,waiters, cooks,Etc. Low end Jobs.
The only winners of this land sale is the Developer and the Government officials.
Reason why its so sweet to be in politics.