Who is lying? Walwyn claims no decision on Airport runway
This morning, February 2, 2017 on the International Morning Ride Show on ZROD 103.7 FM with host Paul A. Peart aka Gadiethz, the controversial Mr Walwyn continued his contradiction of his leader, this time on the Airport Runway Extension Project.
Firstly, despite mounting evidence that it is not so, Mr Walwyn claimed everything is well in his Ministry and that there is no victimisation. The average person “knows better” in fact, according to a senior Ministry Official whose name we could not use.
The wall again
Hon Walwyn also continues to justify wasting $1M on the small wall built around the Elmore Stoutt High School, according to the same radio show, claiming it was to protect the students and teachers. When our reporter visited the wall today it was observed that there are so many places where drugs, knives and even non-students can enter the High School compound without restrictions.
Hon Walwyn’s critics said there is no money for school supplies and the sister islands’ public schools are very neglected to the extent where teachers must take money out of their pockets for basic supplies.
This was confirmed just this morning February 2, 2017 at the Bregado Flax Educational Centre (BFEC) on Virgin Gorda from two teachers.
Who is telling the truth?
When Mr Peart asked Hon Walwyn about the airport, the Minister said “….I have raised certain concerns which will remain private at this time, but the government has not made a decision as yet on the matter, so I do not want to preempt that…”
However, Mr Walwyn was in Cabinet chaired by Premier Smith on December 21, 2016 when it made a decision to select the Chinese company, China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC).
The Government also issued a press release confirming our story first and accurately reported by our newsroom on December 22, 2016 that the Chinese company was the preferred bidder.
In fact, the Cabinet set up a committee with three Ministers, Hons Smith, Kedrick D. Pickering (R7) and Mark H. Vanterprool (R4), to drive the process of the airport. Added to that, officials from CCCC were in the Virgin Islands recently and met with the group of Ministers.
This is not the first time that Minister Walwyn has publicly contradicted his boss, Premier Smith. In February 2016 after Dr Smith told the House of Assembly that the wall around the High school was one million dollars, Hon Walwyn claimed publicly that the Minister of Finance was wrong as his Ministry figures showed the wall was much cheaper and that the money spent was for two projects, one at the ESHS and the other on Virgin Gorda.
Hon Walwyn, who seemed to be engaging in alternate facts during the interview on the Morning Ride Show, got egg on his face when he claimed he would fight the sale of Road Town Wholesale, when days after his boss Dr Smith issued a trade license to North West Incorporated, the new company that purchased all the Rite Way Food Markets throughout out the territory.
19 Responses to “Who is lying? Walwyn claims no decision on Airport runway”
Ok. It is either that the Premier is lying or the MEC is lying. If it is MEC, how many times can you publically go off the reservation and embarrass the Premier? The Premier (was it really the Premier) had enough of the Bishop and kick him to curb? Does he have the balls to send the MEC packing? What ever happened to the reshuffling of the government ministers that was promised for 18 January 2017? Did not listen to the show. But did Paul ask about Ms. P's letter? Did Paul ask the MEC thoughts on the suggestion that Ronnie should be MoF? Still flabbergasted that so far none of Doc's colleagues has not publically stand up for him. Did Paul asked about the poor showing at the NDP's membership drive?