‘Gov’t borrowing to pay recurrent bills; Not a good place to be’- Skelton-Cline
Mr Skelton-Cline told the public that the Government of the Virgin Islands is “now borrowing money to pay its recurrent expenses” and that is serious and “not a good place to be.”
Recurrent expenses are the day to day operations, like salaries to civil servants, paying for water and electricity and other items that keep the government functioning daily.
The former Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority said “the last time something like this happened was in the 1970s.”
No one to speak
It means that Government is now out of cash to fund its operations and could result in sacking of civil servants. However, Deputy Governor David D. Archer Jr, had previously said he was “not been given a mandate to lay off civil servants, but to make the service more efficient.”
Government’s Chief Information Officer Desiree Smith, when contacted and the question put to her about government having to borrow to pay recurrent bills, promised to get back to us within fifteen minutes; however, up to publication time she had not.
The Financial Secretary Glenroy A. Forbes did not immediately respond to our question on the matter.
NDP left county broke; We need new Finance Minister
It has been established by questions asked in the House of Assembly after the 2015 elections that the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) has left the country broke.
Many persons within the NDP have called both publicly and privately for a new Minister of Finance. They include NDP Spokeswoman and former Legislator Ms Eileene L. Parsons OBE, and Second District Representative Hon Melvin M. Turnbull, who said the Deputy Premier Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (R7) and other elected members agree with him.
Their choice is the former Finance Minister and current Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL), who served in the post from 2003 to 2007. However, current Minister of Finance and Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) has said he is not giving up the portfolio.
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40 Responses to “‘Gov’t borrowing to pay recurrent bills; Not a good place to be’- Skelton-Cline”
We are descendants of proud BVIslanders who built this country with their bare hands. Fishermen and farmers, got together and built their homes using donkeys and mules to carry supplies up slippery slopes. No heavy equipment to cut roads and carry sand and gravel. It was done one load at a time. And guess what? Nobody could call us "little men and women".
Now, we have excavators, trucks, jobs, money in the bank. We can bring building supplies from China now and get the best of everything, but VIP and others calls us "lil men".
I guess as I reflect on my humble beginnings and where God has brought us, I wonder if the naysayers who coined that phrase, understand that you get where you are going by hard work and pureness and love for each other. We work; we pay our mortgages; we thank God. We are not interested in handouts.
We are not interested in bogus, un-needed projects just to put money in my hands, like adding additional block height to the weak walls of the Recreation Ground, and bush cutting contracts.
The moral of my little story is, when we sit down and come up with excuses to beg Government for yet another favour, or overcharge them for goods and services, the pot will eventually run empty. What pot? That pot of gold called Government funds that we thought sprang eternal.
By the grace of God we go each day and we are special in God's sight. The negatives with regards to the NDP Government or any Government isn't going to make a difference until we understand that we chart our courses in life and we are in charge of our own destiny and the Government is not responsible for our daily needs. We are. Ask of God, work and pay your bills.
As for government having no money, well, the country did go through a catastrophic disaster and it's current income has all but dried up accordingly. If there are any geniuses out there that could have prevented this, they are wasting their time in the BVI as they could earn a fortune with that talent. Stop the stupid politics and direct your attention to the islands recovery.
WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH MANY STORMS BEFORE AND NEVER HAD THIS FINANCIAL ISSUE. WHY THE HELL NOW?
The over spending, the thieving, and the peddling is obvious. Many of our government officials have a mouth piece for fine speeches but if we were in a better position with our finances we would not have been borrowing money even after storm.
You talking petty bull crap to protect your interest so be real!!!
I agree with "Excuse me mr cromwell" since we all know that even before the storm we were bankrupt under this NDP regime. We are still looking for an over spend of some 40 plus million on Pier Park that a Jamaican took and peddle many of it to these political crooks in China and Asian Banks. Now they are hell bent on getting the same Chinese Companies to do the multimillion dollor airport to have more of our tax dollars to be peddled over there and back to wash it.
A Primere and his side kick crew gone with 7 million for an airline that we can't find. Not to mention the unknown millions of unaccounted tourism dollars being spent to supposing promote the BVI but went into apartment home for the CEO in one of those islands close to Florida while some accountant in New York continue to funnel milliones on their behalf to companies for promotion with millions being peddle back. Imagine your main office is on Tortola but the accounting is done in New York, ARE WE SERIOUS ABOUT CATCHING THESE WINE AND DINING CROOKS OR NOT?
A cat. 5 storm may have blown out our windows and turned over cars but it also blew out your brain to have many of you here trying to protect a set of white collar thieves like this NDP Administration.
You all should know that after beating on strong infrastructure for a long time eventually it will become weak hence the results of our recent storm. Instead of the NDP Administration reinforcing our main infrastructure they busy masterminding how to thief more with the patch and go jobs we have received 7 plus years and counting.
So for the NDP blogging machine who can only say no matter what Fahie isn't ready with his team and NDP will still win, keep saying it so you can convince yourself that they will win in your dreams but when reality hit many of you on election day, you will be $hitting your panties and boxers because come hell or high water the white collar crooks will be brought to justice.
Now that is my 2 cents so try to thief that.
Really??????????
Ayo better stop this blogging manipulation on a country's devastation and help rebuild this nation and rid us from these politician full of corruption.
BOOM!!!
How you sounding so defensive? Cromwell S....? I know Claude is no saint but don't blame the messenger to distract from the message. Also, who appointed him? He did not appoint himself now did he? So maybe you should blame the person who appointed him.
Now truth be told we have been hit with a trifecta of unprecedented catastrophic disasters in the space of two months. Unbelievable. Unprecedented. Unforeseen? Well Granny always told me save for a rainy day, well guess what it began to rain and it never stopped. We were ill prepared for these disasters hence the slowness of our rebound and why? Years of gross over expenditures on capital projects and even petty contracts. Let me help you... 50 Million and counting overrun on the Hospital, $ 32 million and counting on the Pier, 5 million for Green houses we never used, Couple million wasted on Brandywine Beach, 8 million on Beef Island Bridge, 1.2 million on a school wall, that is nearly 100 million there and I am far from finished. Should I mention Purcell Ghut, Biwater, Purcell Comm Center?Now had we kept most of that money in the bank we would be in better stead in dealing with the recovery. Also, the lack of wisdom and foresight to not insure all Government Property and not be a part of the Caribbean Risk Management insurance is mind blowing. Dominica got 20 million in 2 weeks from the latter.
Now cuss Claude all you want as some of it is warranted but don't get the message mixed up IRMARIA/Floods are not alone to blame for this problematic situation. Another Hurricane did...Hurricane Miss Management...Not only the NDP to be blamed for that but one would argue that they did more damage due to the enormity of the overruns under their watch.
We are and have been begging “these” POLITRICKSTERS come out snd declare yourselves to the people so WE can make informed decisions about the next election
Watch out for the SNAP
My brothers, greetings from Athens! It is burning and hot...........here. Evade and take cover.