A cow may quicker fly over moon before BVI Airways flies- Hon Fahie
Honourable Fahie, in a press release today, July 5, 2017, reminded that during the House of Assembly, Government has declined to answer numerous questions posed by the Opposition in relations to the BVI Airways project.
“My position, to date, remains the same solely because the government's approach in addressing the aforementioned issues remains the same. Am I for a credible solution to our airlift problems? Am I for a credible and cost effective extension of our runway? The answer is yes…” Hon Fahie firmly stated.
The Leader of the Opposition, explained that based on reports, BVI Airways will need more money from the Government to fulfill its promise of direct flights between Beef Island and Miami.
“Thus far, $7.2 million dollars have being paid outside the scheduled of payments in the contract for a plane to fly, but it seems as if a cow may quicker fly over the moon before this service starts but the $7.2 million dollars has already being paid with reports that alleged that significantly more monies from government will be needed.”
Irresponsible conduct
Further unleashing his whip, Hon Fahie commented that this is clearly an “irresponsible financial conduct” by the National Democratic Party (NDP) and he supports the improvements, but not in the manner in which the government is approaching the issue.
“Let me make it abundantly clear to the people of the Virgin Islands that thus far, this
government has spent $13.2 million cash dollars (not loans) but $13.2 million dollars of tax payers hard earn money stating that they are trying to address the issues in question where to date, a shovel of dirt has not been thrown to extend the airport but over $6 million dollars has gone through the door in consultancy.”
He continued, “I also clearly stated on numerous occasions the need to address, in a credible way, the airlift problems being faced in our Virgin Islands…”
No meaningful involvement of locals
In the meantime, the Opposition Leader, expressed his concerns about the level of local involvement in connection to the airlift deal between the BVI Airways and the BVI government.
“Again, -the contract that was signed- without any meaningful involvement of our people directly or indirectly although prior to the Government’s proposal, one of our local aviation companies attempted to get the NDP government’s support for the same service but with no success,” said Fahie.
The airline in question is VI Airlink, who Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith (AL) has publically lobbied against, in favour of a defunct and foreign BVI Airways.
In closing, Hon Fahie reassured the people of the Virgin Islands that he will remain consistent in developing the Territory “with the people, for the people and by the people.”
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31 Responses to “A cow may quicker fly over moon before BVI Airways flies- Hon Fahie”
The subsidy or loan was to strt direct flights between Miami and Beef Island. BVI Airways has acquired all the clearances from US authority to fly into and out Miami. However, now it is claiming that the BVI government is holding it up getting air borne. Is BVI Airways attempting to hold taxpayers hostage?
The BVI government has engineered itself into a Hobson's choice situation, the choices are all unfavorable choices, i.e., forking out more of taxpayers money to BVI Airways, letting BVI Airways to walk away from the deal with $7.2M of taxpayers money.......etc. The government and BVI Airways are at loggerheads so what happens next? Have not seen any cows flying over the moon so the deal can come to fruition but for how long?