Gov't bent on operating without accountability – Hon Fahie
Honourable Fahie was responding to a statement by Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, who had challenged what he had said during the Fourth Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Second House of Assembly regarding the SSB loan.
“The breakdown of the figures reflects the manner in which this government is operating- without accountability. The 5% answer is an answer of convenience. Simply put, it does not add up!” Hon Fahie told Virgin Islands News Online today April 7, 2015.
The former Minister for Education, who along with Virgin Islands Party Chairman Hon Julian Fraser RA (R1) has been resilient in trying to make the NDP government accountable to the people, said the "ill-advised road loan" is also at a time when civil servants cannot get their increments; government has over $19 million in unpaid invoices; government has to raise an additional $20 million to complete the cruise pier project and 20 million to complete the hospital. "Yes we are concerned, everyone should be concerned.”
He said that as for the hospital construction project, it is an NDP government that had left the former VIP government with over a $100 million hospital, signed a contract for $65 million and raised only $35 million upon signing of the contract. "These are the facts that are reflected in the records.”
Not enough information
Speaking on the VIP’s Let’s Talk radio show on ZBVI 780 AM broadcast live on April 1, 2015, Hon Fahie had said, “As one of the representatives in the territory it is difficult for me to go to the House of Assembly and agree with matters where you are not getting information.”
“And I am concerned that over and over projects continue to be [undertaken] and the funding for them is not there in the budget or are not there [period],” he said, noting that it is obvious the lessons have not been learnt based on the actions now being seen.
Premier Smith’s response
Premier Smith, in an emailed response on April 2, 2015 to media houses, said, “I have read with interest an article today in Platinum News that questions the breakdown of the $16 million loan being sought from the Social Security Board for the repair of our major roads infrastructure… a story which originated with members of the VIP on their last radio programme.”
He said, “It puzzles me that these gentlemen who have been involved with Government projects where costs have escalated way beyond what was estimated, would attempt to make the specific answer to a specific question “The budgeted value of the work” an issue when we all know that one must allow at least 10% contingencies for increase/ variation in costs of any project.”
Premier Smith said that in this instance the “Budgeted value of the work” was $15,278,587.29 and that the “contingency” allowed on this project of $721,412.71 is less than 5% which speaks to the Government’s intentions of containing costs and getting value for money.
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29 Responses to “Gov't bent on operating without accountability – Hon Fahie”
Anything ***** involved with usually has d*rk clo*ds over it.
The problem with Fahie is that he is not believable
As politicians pimp out the pipl and sell out the land under the sky.
BVI Cry it cries it cries
The BVI was a good country
Had done, say so many miles in 2012, another ten miles in 2013, with the balance being done in 2014/13, the perceptions would have been much different. No, but instead they have been (until now), practicing Austerity;
Mr. Mark even bragged about making drastic cuts to the petty contract system, only spending $5+-millions during 2013-14. However, suddenly finding that 31 miles of roads need to be fixed and fixed pronto?
It would appear that the Doc, in this late stage of his administration has had a change of heart, conviction and philosophy. While the NDP has for the most part been practicing “Supply side economics, they are now appearing to have become “Demand side” policy administrators.
In my mind, and in the minds of many of us, we read this as an election gimmick; a massive one at that, an overkill.
Yes, the Vip's spent a few million just prior to the 2011 election; but nothing nowhere near what is being spent leading up to election. As a matter of fact, years from now, the records will show this year's eve-of-election spending will go down as a "Bonanza" year.
Instead of using the people's money to bolster their campaign and getting re-elected, politicians (of whatever party) should run on their record; their record of "National Empowerment". I’m talking about substantive things: Crown lands made available to nationals, National Bank loans/grants to nationals, particularly in the areas of fishing, agriculture and tourism; affordable constructed homes for first-time home owners, licenses given/reserved for nationals, business types reserved for nationals and national in the diaspora incentivized and encouraged to return back home to participate in the economy.
Ironically; in the good olde USA, the Republicans spent over $300,000,000 to dethrone President Obama in (2011; the same year as the Ndp was elected), and the Douglas labour party in St. Kitts/Nevis spent millions, chartering some 24 planes to transport supporters back home to vote. In both cases, we know the outcome of the elections.
ease it out,the financial protocol we signed has put our hand in the lions mouth.What has
happened is it stops us from doing many things until we rebuild our reserves which is well
on the way.that's why we can get money to borrow.please note we could not borrow if the
u.k does'nt sign which was the case under the last administration,if a bank does not have
any confidence in your ability to repay they will not give you any funds also if a cosigner
have no confidence to repay they will not cosign. To all commenting plse get to know what
the financial entails then you will not be fooled or comment stupidness.