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‘We have no other option. If we leave it we will sink’- Premier Smith

- makes final plea to HoA members to say yes to the Virgin Islands Recovery & Development Agency Act 2018
Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), Premier and Minister of Finance, made one last attempt to get the members of the House of Assembly (HoA) to vote yes following the conclusion of the debate on Monday, March 26, 2018. Photo: VINO/File
Hurricanes Irma and Maria wreaked destruction on the Virgin Islands in September 2017. Photo: VINO/File
Hurricanes Irma and Maria wreaked destruction on the Virgin Islands in September 2017. Photo: VINO/File
Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), Premier and Minister of Finance, told the House that the Virgin Islands (VI) has 'no other option' but to accept the United Kingdom's loan guarantee or else the territory will 'sink'. Photo: VINO/File
Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), Premier and Minister of Finance, told the House that the Virgin Islands (VI) has 'no other option' but to accept the United Kingdom's loan guarantee or else the territory will 'sink'. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - As the debate on the proposed Bill entitled, Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency Act 2018 wrapped up yesterday, Monday, March 26, 2018 and with many members of parliament opposing the Bill, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) made one last attempt to get the members of the House of Assembly (HoA) to vote yes.

During the conclusion of the debates of the Third Sitting of the Third Session of the Third House of Assembly (HoA) on Monday, March 26, 2018, Premier Smith told the House that the Virgin Islands (VI) has “no other option” but to accept assistance from the United Kingdom (UK) or else the territory “will sink”.

He emphasised, “We cannot do this recovery on our own. We have been offered help and the UK wants to help us through this guarantee but we must decide whether to take it or leave it. I believe that we have no other option. If we leave it we will sink and I don’t think any of us would consider doing that to the people of this territory.”

Some of the members of parliament during their debate expressed that they are not against having an agency and board but they did not agree with some of the terms and conditions that were stipulated by the UK and strongly emphasised that some changes need to be done before they can vote yes to the bill.

The UK offered the VI £300 million or US$400 million in loan guarantee but in order to get access to it, the VI government must pass the Virgin islands Recovery and Development Agency Act 2018 which allows for the formation of an agency and board to manage the finances solely for the rebuilding process.

“I don’t think we should delay any further”

Meanwhile, Premier Smith said the legislation needed to be passed before April 1, 2018, or they will miss the opportunity to receive the loan guarantee.

“We have to take it but then we have to look at the conditions and we have been looking at them and we will continue to look at them this afternoon (March 26, 2018). I am sure that we all want what’s best for the BVI so that the BVI can get into a position where we can have monies available to be able to take forward the recovery and development of this country,” said the Minister of Finance.

The Premier then reiterated that the money being borrowed from the UK guarantee loan will not be borrowed all at once but incrementally. “We will not be borrowing $400 million onetime but borrowing incrementally, borrowing when we need it.”

The leader of the territory further mentioned that his government will keep a close eye on the recovery of the territory’s main pillars: tourism and the financial sector while noting that it would be “irresponsible” of the government not to “act now” on the UK loan guarantee.

Premier Smith urged, “We need help and we need it now. I don’t think we should delay any further.”

The Bill is expected to be voted on this week and passed.

17 Responses to “‘We have no other option. If we leave it we will sink’- Premier Smith”

  • Eagle Eye (27/03/2018, 14:56) Like (14) Dislike (5) Reply
    Take it because we dont know if a next strong hurricane coming this year
  • The Honourable (27/03/2018, 15:05) Like (16) Dislike (4) Reply
    Why have you allow yourself and our country to be caught up like this? Those expensive dinners both home and abroad come with a price. This is not how it is suppose to go down for our future generations to come. This is indeed a set of doodoo that we have gotten into. Let’s see how it plays out...
  • back bench (27/03/2018, 15:11) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    well provide all the information from lying to we the voters
    • eh (27/03/2018, 16:55) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      All want to vote yes, them beg him to see what they saying yes to........................
      • Sassy (27/03/2018, 19:15) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
        Don’t be fooled, them fully well know what they will be saying yes to. They just be difficult because they will nnit be able to control the money in any way!
  • SOS MIDDAY MIDDAY (27/03/2018, 15:22) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    CAPTAIN YOUR SHIP IS SINKING
  • I smell a rat (27/03/2018, 15:25) Like (10) Dislike (3) Reply
    Election is around the corner and his party need money to flaunt with
  • doc (27/03/2018, 15:58) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    They say that the captain should go down with the ship
  • W*F (27/03/2018, 16:05) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    Give an account to the people for all the monies your NDP Government already wasted and mishandled. No more money for you guys to f"" up. What about the $7.2 mil to the airline that never took off. We can't be any worse off. You and your NDP Government got us in this hole. Get us out. Vote No!!!!!!. They done sink the ship.
  • Pato (27/03/2018, 16:50) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    What going to the European Union or places like Jordan or Saudi Arabia to borrow this money they won't put this restrictions on us and we won't need an agency to spend the money.
  • body (27/03/2018, 17:27) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    bor what more rights they want they doing all their mess already it got to stop. them acting for themselves not we the people we want to see the money that we have to pay for with our taxes spend well and that we want value for our money we ent studying them jockers they ent suppose to have no secret to hide them big secret ent no secret no more
  • Jaigon Jumbie (27/03/2018, 17:38) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    He is the captain but it seems like he had passed the wheel to the white man over yonder. The ship started going under Long before the storm. Set of money wasted on airport study, set wasted out Brandywine trying to make. Beach at the mouth of many guys, set wasted on a wall around the high school, set gone to a bird without wing because I never fly after many anticipated dates,over spending of millions down pier park, millions wasted on Chinese mediocre equipments, millions for consultants who are cronies and the list goes on. Now you have the nerve to talk about we will sink. You and the NDP already sunk us. Shame on you.
  • Liat 521 (27/03/2018, 20:26) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    more lies by the Premier
  • Joker (27/03/2018, 21:58) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    This was a sad affair the government should be ashamed of itself, years of waste and mismanagement have led to this.
  • NezRez (27/03/2018, 23:51) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Desperate times call for desperate measures.


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