'We got the leader of the country like a toy'- Hon Vanterpool
Hon Vanterpool, who had accompanied Dr Smith to the UK, stated that one of the UK parliamentarians seemed to have been harbouring ill-feelings because the VI did not agree to implement a public register that would effectively reveal the names of offshore company owners registered in the Territory.
He said, “One member got up and asked him, ‘Why should we give you help and you don’t want to allow the registry?’ Can you imagine, in the middle of all our knockdown state, the gentleman going to ask the Premier that in a public committee?”
Furthermore, the Communications and Works Minister mentioned that other UK legislators were questioning why the VI deserved to be helped when it has a per capita income that is probably higher than the UK’s.
Hon Vanterpool commended the Premier for handling the hostility and other questions “remarkably well.”
“You know what the Premier said, ‘Sir that was then. That was pre- Irma. I am here to talk to you today about looking help for what is now,” said Vanterpool.
“We got the leader of the country like a toy”
Meanwhile, he emphasised that Premier Smith, who is also his brother-in law, should get respect from the members of his own administration who are refusing to vote yes for the £300 million loan guarantee agreement with the UK.
In order for the VI to receive the loan guarantee, the territory must implement a Recovery and Development Agency which will manage all the loans that are received for the rebuilding of the territory.
He passionately said, “I see the Premier went before them and he come back here and we got him like a little toy up and down the place. We got the leader of the country like a toy. He ain’t the type of person who will make noise like me and fuss and tell you a thing or two and this man is trying to help this country genuinely.”
The Premier has been under heavy criticism for how he went about drafting the Recovery and Development Plan and for omitting important information from the Members of the House regarding the High Level UK Framework for UK Support to BVI Recovery.
So far, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), Opposition Leader; Honourable Julian Fraser RA, Third District Representative; Honourable Delores Christopher (R5), Deputy Speaker; Honourable Alvera Maduro-Caines (R6); Honourable Archibald C. Christian (AL), Junior Minister for Tourism; Honourable Melvin M. Turnbull (R2); and Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton (AL), Minister for Health and Social Development, and Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8), Junior Minister for Trade and Investment Promotion, opposed the bill in its current form and hopes to see many changes before they can vote yes.
The debated on the Bill entitled: Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency Act 2018 wrapped up yesterday, Monday, March 26, 2018, and members are now in Committee Stage.
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22 Responses to “'We got the leader of the country like a toy'- Hon Vanterpool”
as to the questioning from UK MPs, like any country the UK is not immune to having a cross-section of ability in its parliament (the person is not in Government). It should be well within any of our government and industry representatives to show up the poorly-informed questioner with cold hard facts. The public register they want will solve nothing to do with financial crime. The public register they want, if it happens should to a one two three leap that is timed with all of our major competitors including the US otherwise all we are doing is chasing good business away. The hooky stuff, if they have any sense, will be long gone but there will be some like there is everywhere in the world that don't play straight. It is then that we show we have the resources and the appetite to take action. This public register is just economic and political warfare and it is up to the UK and the overseas territory leaders to collaborate robustly against the broken EU socialist project and the financial empire desires of the US (we are already all dependent too much on their currency).
Further, the MCW is advocating for the Premier to be respected. Well, respect is earned, not demanded. The Premier is a BIG, not a likle, boy and should appreciate democracy at work. He can take advice from close family and friends but he must lead strongly from the front. The buck must stop with him. Furthermore, some of the perceived dissing that the Premier is supposedly getting he brought upon himself by reportedly not being transparent and open about some routine, not national security information. For example, the Premier errored by not fully discussing the Recovery Plan with local officials and getting their buy in before flying off to London.