Representative for the Third District Honourable Julian Fraser RA wants to know what the Social Security Board (SSB) said to the Government when it was approached for funds to finance the construction and rehabilitation of roads. Photo: VINO/File

'Here comes another request for a loan from the Social Security Board. What did Social Security Board say in this regard that we don’t know here in the House of Assembly? Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3) asked. Photo: VINO/File

Honourable Fraser also slammed the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government for not bringing sufficient details on the project to the House so that the Opposition could make an informed decision whether to support the proposal or not.

He was speaking on Friday March 13, 2015 during the Fourth Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Second House of Assembly as the House debated the Motion Government brought seeking the House of Assembly’s blessing on the arrangement between the Government and Social Security Board. The Motion was eventually approved by the House of Assembly.

The proposal was scrutinised by the Opposition who wanted to know more details of the project, alleging that so far Government had provided very little details to them.

“Here comes another request for a loan from the Social Security Board. What did Social Security Board say in this regard that we don’t know here in the House of Assembly?” Honourable Fraser asked.

“And we are here being asked to approve the loan. There is a pattern. It is there…the lending institution is going to ask for information to substantiate your request for the money and I want to know on this particular request what did the Social Security Board say regarding the request for this loan?” he asked.

Gov't can't spend $16M before elections

He reminded the House that when the Virgin Islands Party was in power and sought to come to the House of Assembly to borrow money from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) it had already had approval from CDB. "The request was already vetted, all the projects were vetted, researched and considered viable and approved by the CDB for the money we were asking for - $15.7 million. The question I have for Government before I jump into this thing is what transpired between you and Social Security? You’re not an entity unto yourself. The mere fact that you had to come here means that you are answerable to us. What transpired? Where is that information? We don’t have it,” he said.

“And I cannot for the life of me understand why this Government believes it could spend $16 million between now and elections. I don’t understand it. Why $16 million? Why not $6 million? Why not something that is manageable?” he asked.

“You can’t spend $16 million [in that amount of time]. Even if you throw it in the sea…because by the time you get around to preparing documents, to issuing contracts, unless you’re planning to dissolve the House on the date it is legally mandated to be dissolved. I need to see the project…I need to see what this money is going to be spent on,” said Honourable Fraser.