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Premier has a rude awakening coming - Hon Fraser 

- said he will not sit back & watch the Premier & his administration settle huge debts on the backs of the people through new taxes; said too that there was no ‘meat’ in the budget speech
Leader of the Opposition and Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3) has accused Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith of presenting more of a state of the territory address with no substance rather than a budget presentation. Photo: VINO/File
During his budget speech on Monday February 8, 2016, Premier Smith said that based on the challenges from the international scene the territory has not been able to achieve in the past few years what it had become accustomed to in the past. This he said meant that new revenue streams were needed to handle the territory's commitment and obligations. Photo: VINO/File
During his budget speech on Monday February 8, 2016, Premier Smith said that based on the challenges from the international scene the territory has not been able to achieve in the past few years what it had become accustomed to in the past. This he said meant that new revenue streams were needed to handle the territory's commitment and obligations. Photo: VINO/File
Hon Fraser noted that while he did not expect the Premier to give any great details about the budget, but the provisions of the $330 million budget should have been addressed. Photo: VINO/File
Hon Fraser noted that while he did not expect the Premier to give any great details about the budget, but the provisions of the $330 million budget should have been addressed. Photo: VINO/File
SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI - Leader of the Opposition and Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3) has accused Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith of presenting more of a state of the territory address with no substance rather than a budget presentation.

Honourable Fraser made the comment to this news site following the wrapping up of a community meeting in Sea Cows Bay on Friday evening, February 12, 2016.

More like a State of the Territory address

“Like I've said before I've sat and listened to the Premier as he gave his budget address and it came across to me as a State of the Territory address rather than a budget address,” he said.

Honourable Fraser also said that from what he heard the meat of the budget was not even gleaned over.

He noted that while he did not expect the Premier to give any great details about the budget, the provisions of the $330 million budget should have been addressed.

“What are you doing for health? What are you doing for education? What are you doing for the security of the territory? We are having issues with our financial services. We have the McKinsey report and the Implementation Unit trying to get it out but I still think he was supposed to give us some insights as to what the budget was all about."

However, the chief concern for Honourable Fraser remains the prospect of higher taxes as announced in the budget address.

“My concern is the issue of taxes and if he is trying to settle his debt, and this enormous debt that he has been able to run up in the Ministry of Communications and Works where it has over $100 million worth of loans and as you know the airport project is going to be in the neighbourhood of $300 to $400 million dollars. If he plans on settling those debts on the backs of our taxpayers I think he has a rude awakening and I am not going to settle for that,” he said.

We have to change our ways - Premier Smith

During his budget speech on Monday February 8, 2016, Premier Smith said that based on the challenges from the international scene the territory has not been able to achieve in the past few years what it had become accustomed to in the past. This he said meant that new revenue streams were needed to handle the territory's commitment and obligations.

“We have to change the old way of doing things if we are to survive,” he had said.

He then announced that the work permit structure would be changed so that the fees will be more in line to what is charged in other overseas territories; Rates of duties granted on the CIF value of items brought into the territory will be increased. There will be a more aggressive approach to the collecting of taxes and fees; all of which are expected to rake in some $20 million in revenue to the treasury.

He had announced that in addition to these measures, the Government is to establish a more "progressive tax system" in 2017 to improve efficiency and reduce the cost associated with tax collection and said the fee structure for hotel and yachts is to be harmonised also with the aim of consolidating existing fees and making the system easier to monitor.

12 Responses to “Premier has a rude awakening coming - Hon Fraser ”

  • just saying.. (15/02/2016, 07:55) Like (51) Dislike (4) Reply
    I much agree with Fraser
    • the rock (15/02/2016, 08:46) Like (0) Dislike (35) Reply
      and that means what...diddly I must say!
      • @ the rock (17/02/2016, 22:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        the NDP is the Same old same old!
        This logistics hub is one big trick or perhaps con!! Check the annual budget speeches, and you will notice that this is a recycled rhetoric with little substance.
        This tired old NDP has run out of ideas!
    • Just a Hunch (15/02/2016, 08:59) Like (42) Dislike (3) Reply
      I also agree with Fraser. I am beginning to suspect that the Premier does not have competent people around him. If he did, the Budget speech would have been a proper budget speech. At the moment ,he always has the wrong information or putting his foot in his mouth and then has to either save face by being defensive and or more recently admitting to not having the right facts. It's embarrassing to say the least. His team is not very good.

      This is a good example of what happens when you pull your friends, family and key supporters into areas they do NOT belong. Please, please hire competent people who will get the job done. The country cannot run on 'YES SIRS' only.
      • wize up (15/02/2016, 14:00) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
        @ just hunch: one things facts and history dont lie: while the member for the 3 acted as minister for communication the former premier Hon RT O'neal was forced to remove some of his duties from him so the member for the third can not talk about being competent( certainly should not be pointing fingers )....play the tape Ralph O'neal had to take away some of fraser's authority while he was minister....if i lie i die
        • Upright (15/02/2016, 22:14) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
          If I were you I won't be boasting about Ralph taking away duties from Fraser because it don't speak good for Ralph. If Fraser had keep the Port Authority he woulda done the Port Pier extension and the now acting Minister for Communications and Works Mark Vanterpool won't be here bragging about it. The West End ferry terminal woulda been built, and Manchoneal Bottom in Virgin Gorda woulda got a cargo port built. Go talk dat
          • wize up (16/02/2016, 07:47) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
            @ upright: thats is your point of view but i am saying fraser would have gone ahead with his sea cows bay habour development project( call him and ask him)....
  • wize up (15/02/2016, 08:41) Like (70) Dislike (61) Reply
    I just love it: here we have the leader of the VIP clashing with the leader of the NDP and speaking about clashing from the political perspective.....the VIP leader lead his political team to a resounding defeat at the poles just last year while the same person that fraser is being so critical of, lead his NDP to a resounding victory: simply based on those factual election results from last year, the majority of the territory have no confidence in ability of the leader of the VIP( talk that): save the drama for the 2019 campaign VIP: for the past 8 months just nit picking at everything....all now the VIP can not from a good viable poltical party but steady giving instruction on how to run a government....
    • wize down (15/02/2016, 09:57) Like (28) Dislike (6) Reply
      You could tell that your head is up your R@$$$$$$. Seems like myrun paying you to blog piss everyday.

      Why don't you identify yourself so we could see how fat your bank account is from the BLOG CHEQUE?

      • @wize down (15/02/2016, 10:15) Like (11) Dislike (23) Reply
        And that is your rebuttal to the facts presented?
        Geez..so typically VIPish. Always loser friendly! " allyo" need to wise up.
      • wize up (15/02/2016, 12:51) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
        @ wize down; take it easy my friend no need to get so hype....ok, i collect a week white envelope to blog piss( how did you find out, from my IP address it very easy to that way)
  • wize up (15/02/2016, 12:48) Like (8) Dislike (9) Reply
    all the talk about corruption and yet the united kingdom have the current administration the green light for the airport project


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