Hon. Fraser highlights 'missteps, half-steps & failures' of NDP Govt!
This he told the large gathering of persons who had turned out at the Third District Annual Christmas Party on January 11, 2014 at the Ellis Thomas Downs in Sea Cows Bay. While most of the night was focused on various forms of interactions by the District Representative with the crowd, less than half an hour was taken for him to address them.
The speech which some would describe as political and others realistic, touched extensively on the highs and lows of the performance of the in-party government, NDP, over the past year among which was matters of the tourism industry and the financial services.
“This Government's selection of Tortola Pier Partners as the winning bidder on the Road Town Cruise Pier Project and surrounding amenities after bungling the Bidding Process which attracted a vigorous protest from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in a letter to the Governor charging that the process was rigged. And even after having the so-called winning bidder proceed to execute some work before executing a contract, the negotiations were abruptly terminated and the relationship ended without explanation,” said Hon. Fraser.
He claimed that when Government decided to commit to Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney for an exclusive long term arrangement to monopolize the cruise pier, they made it mandatory for any other Liners wishing to make calls to the Territory to negotiate with Disney and Norwegian. This decision, according to Hon. Fraser, infuriated Carnival, who summarily withdrew all its calls to Virgin Islands (VI) for 2015 and possibly beyond.
“Carnival Cruise Line, the largest of the Liners to serve the Territory, and is purported to bring the most extravagant of all passengers, has been a favourite of our vendors and taxi operators. It is my understanding that it is the only Cruise Line that makes regular calls to the Territory in the summer off season,” the outspoken District Representative noted.
“Needless to say, that this decision by the government has left the taxi operators hopping mad, and had even planned a protest march,” he added.
In the instance of the Financial Services of the VI, Hon. Fraser noted that for the first time in the history of the Territory’s long and distinguished life as the number one jurisdiction in Companies Registration, it has had to suffer the embarrassment of being labeled "an un-cooperative Tax Haven", and then blacklisted by Europe's #2 Economic Power, (France). “This action I attribute to negligence on the part of the government,” he asserted.
He noted that following the French Blacklisting, within a month the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development followed suit with their own form of Blacklisting. “This Organization is Europe's watch dog and standard setter for good governance, transparency, and anti-money laundering.”
The third District Representative also touched on the ferry industry. “They promised that they will fix the ferry service between the Virgin Islands by bringing in new ferries last November, and when pressured on the wisdom of such a venture the Premier denied ever making such a promise.”
“They doubled the departure tax from the VI to the US Virgin Islands from $5 to $10, on the silly premise that it would reduce the incentive to go to St. Thomas to shop. All I see it as is a penalty on the poor,” added Hon. Fraser.
While stating that in some sections of society he has been accused of highlighting problems and not offering solutions, Hon. Fraser said that one of the greater perils the Territory faces is the "economic malaise", “The Premier called it "a recession", and I have offered what some including myself may consider the greatest piece of advice the Premier could have at this time, which is an alternate method to his Austerity program which is not working.”
Among the other issues the patrons to the Third District’s Annual Christmas Party heard of, were the downsizing and layoff by companies in the Territory and FATCA.
Hon. Fraser posited that the VI needs leadership that is compassionate, so they can understand the day to day needs of the ordinary man and leadership that understands, so that they can comprehend the importance of the flow of money to the dynamics of an economic system.
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16 Responses to “Hon. Fraser highlights 'missteps, half-steps & failures' of NDP Govt!”
I wonder if Fraser got permission to use that racetrack for his party. lol
If he had ideas he would speak about them. Name me one idea he has besides promising people he will spend the reserve fund on the 'people'. Nonsense, he has no plan except to keep fooling those in the 3rd and they deserve it, I don't blame him one bit. When a man can promise grown man and woman the same thing every election time and they fall for it harder each time, you realize he's just doing what he needs to do! LOLOLOL!!
Tom also gave the Premier a plan for the recovery so did Tom's sister Mabel
so gave the Premier a pl kmel and cousin Harry. The urgent need for recovery resulted. from Fraser and his cohorts mishandling and lack of informing ..no reports.
Is it Fraser job to tell the Premier how to handle the country's finances?All he could do is criticize and make ridiculous assertions to his constituents ... I would say he is insulting their intelligence but he knows more about that area than anyone else.