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Premier’s speech ‘a lot of nothing’ & ‘self serving’- Hon. Fraser
Hon. Fraser, who released a comprehensive statement last week on his position on the economy, said in his response “while I will like to be among the first to thank the Premier for coming before the people of the Territory and admitting the woes of our economy, I must be honest and let him know that I am terribly disappointed that he has failed to include a single initiative on how the government plans to get us out of the mess we are in.”
The former Minister for Communications and Works, who has emerged as the Opposition spokesman on economic and financial matters, said for the Premier to say "there was very little inward investment during the past four years", is to ignore the construction works at Scrub Island; and Oil Nut Bay, including its affiliate Mega Yacht Facility in North Sound.
Mention, he said, should also be made of the $45 million-dollar foreign investment in water production and sewage facilities, $25 million of which was done in the first 12 months of his National Democratic Party (NDP) Administration. “And our VIP government did leave him an inheritance cushion of $15.7 million from CDB for infrastructure enhancements, which he seems unable to execute…I find the Premier's play with words to be a bit self-serving.”
Premier Smith not capable –Fraser
“Frankly, I am worried as to his capabilities in leading us out of this crisis, and so should you the people of this Territory,” Hon. Fraser said in his statement.
To hear the Premier say, "the reality is that the BVI is facing tough times not unlike what have been felt in much of the global economy," one gets the impression that this is something new, when in fact the global economy started going south in 2008 which was literally months after the VIP Administration took office in 2007. “But we handled it with a much higher degree of success, which is evident by the many company closures; company downsizing; employee layoffs and bank foreclosures, since his NDP Administration took office in 2011,” according to Fraser.
Hon. Fraser further said it also confirms his point that the Premier is waiting for a miracle when he said "how we fare ultimately will depend on our ability to make the tough but necessary decisions and stay the course which my Government believes will lead to a brighter future for all the people of the Territory.”
Pay civil servants their increments with interest-Fraser
The Virgin Islands Party Opposition member, who represents the Third District in Parliament, said in his statement, “I had to scratch my head when the Premier said, "all around us, governments are reducing their civil service and also cutting their salaries. We have been able to avoid both of these things thus far out of a strong and deep commitment to our people.” Hon. Fraser asked, “Has the Premier forgotten the 50% of their increments he failed to pay them in 2012?”
“Increments are earned but only paid the following year, so the increments the Premier withheld in 2012 were already earned by the civil servants in 2011. The right thing to do Mr. Premier is to pay each and every one of those civil servants their increment, with interest,” the Third District Representative suggested.
Tell the truth, level with the people-Fraser
Hon. Fraser in his statement today said, “in the case of the Virgin Islands, I am aware of our limitations and realises that the Premier’s options are limited as well, but unless and until he levels with the people and let us know what is really happening, instead of giving the impression that he has things under control he will continue to come under heavy criticism.”
“One thing I can say is [that] taking the airwaves to say a lot of nothing like the Premier has done in this last address is unacceptable,” Hon. Fraser concluded.
Please see entire press statement attached:
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41 Responses to “Premier’s speech ‘a lot of nothing’ & ‘self serving’- Hon. Fraser”
The difference between running for office and being in office.
The NDP has distroyed this place and the only thing left is for them to sell us out and that is next, when Tortola Pier Partners Limited get Wickhams Cay land from them for 48 years.
The last person should be talkin about money is Frazer.....We have not forgotten about the stop lights you waste our tax payers money on and had to take down.
You still with these campaign propaganda? We now have the facts: The NDP told us VIP emptied the Reserves, we now find out that they lied. The NDP told us the VIP left the country broke, we now find out that they lied after learning about the many over priced consultants, airport & port multimillion dollar projects, over priced one night dinner & speechwriter; 10yr old millions in payment to cronies for airport; over priced manse road, Craft Alive project, Georgie Hill, & many more projects by the NDP.