UPDATE: 2016 Budget of $330M passed in HoA
The Bill must now go to the United Kingdom appointed Governor John S. Duncan OBE to sign off, another procedure of our West Minister System form of Government.
Budget debate was disappointing
The Budget Debate highlighted a serious split among members of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) as they were not speaking with one voice, most often throwing shots at each other. However, when they were not, they targeted private citizens.
The Opposition Virgin Islands Party (VIP) continues to accuse the ruling regime led by second term Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith of corruption, financial mismanagement and missing funds.
Senior Opposition Member Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) also reported that some $8M was illegally transferred to the controversial Ports Development Project without coming to the HoA.
The Budget Debate also saw the embattled Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn using his contribution to spread misinformation about a former esteemed Permanent Secretary in what all agree was an unstatesmanlike and childish rant.
Hon Walwyn, whose own legitimacy for being in the HoA is still actively being debated as some does not consider him eligible to be there because of the Constitution's interpretation of who is a Virgin Islander, was hiding in the HoA under the protection privilege of not being sued.
Meanwhile, the funds will be ready for use in about two weeks, according to a source close to the Ministry of Finance; however, it remains unclear when Governor Duncan will sign the Bill.
See previous article published March 31, 2016
HoA resumes today amidst dark budget & disrepute cloud!
- 2016 Budget Debate continues as Appropriation Act must be passed by April 30, 2016, while the public & Members feel the HoA has become a place of disrepute
The Seventh Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly (HoA) will continue at 10:00 a.m. at the House of Assembly Chambers in Road Town today Thursday, March 31, 2016. It will be carried live on CBN channel 51.
However, there is a dark cloud looming over today’s sitting as the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) Administration of Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith struggles to pass the Budget.
Many critics, civil society, the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Opposition and the media have claimed that the NDP raided the Treasury to buy and win the 2015 general election, leaving the country broke. The NDP has rejected those claims, saying there is money in the Treasury.
Budget deadline
The Budget, under the law, must be passed by April 30, 2016. The Budget Debate continues today with two speakers left- the Minister for Health & Social Development Hon Ronnie W. Skelton and the Premier and Minister of Finance Dr Smith- to wrap up the debate.
After the speakers, the law making body is expected to return to the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) to finalise the Budget. It could be passed today March 31, 2016, if not by tomorrow.
NDP civil war
Much of the debate has been spent like a civil war among members of the ruling NDP, with Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (R7) blasting his own front bench colleague, Minister for Communications and Works Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) for the lack of progress on the East End/Long Look Sewerage crisis, and Junior Minister for Tourism Hon Archibald C. Christian harshly criticising the controversial Education and Culture Minister Hon Myron V. Walwyn for not paying local artistes while overseas ones were paid in full.
HoA has lost respect; People are ashamed
In addition, the intellectual and business class, as well as the media, continue to be disappointed that some elected Members disrespect the House of Assembly, an important institution to our young democracy, and their only contribution is to insult and spread misinformation about residents.
Additionally, senior Member of the Opposition Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) also expressed his disappointment in the downright rudeness, tone and verbal abuse that have been used towards Members of the Opposition and the public by the NDP administration in the HoA.
During the Budget debate Hon Myron V. Walwyn, who built a small wall around the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) in Road Town to the tune of $1M while schools do not have toilet paper and water for staff and students, used his time to spread lies about a private citizen and the officer’s tenure in the civil service.
The citizen has fired back with facts and has also written the Speaker of the House Hon Ingrid A. Moses about the sad state of the law making body.
Meanwhile, the longer the Budget takes to be passed the longer Government Departments and Ministries must suffer, the longer the economy- which is not robust- must be at a standstill and the longer ordinary citizens who are owed millions of dollars must wait and listen to all types of excuses, according to residents.
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35 Responses to “UPDATE: 2016 Budget of $330M passed in HoA”
What concerns me far more is that the budget will be passed summarily, DESPITE the fact that there have been no financial statements since 2011. We are talking about passing the budget for 2016, yet we still don't know where the monies were spent in 2012, 2013, 2014 or 2015! How is this possible? Is it even legal? I wish someone (in the know) would let us know where we the people stand in this matter. Should the Governer or FCO be doing something about this?
Seriously, where else in the world could ANY government get away with this? We blithely accept this as the norm (which I assure you it is not) and go about our daily lives, having no concept of the damage that may have been done.
When will we demand accountability from our government? What will it take before we find the gumption within ourselves to stand up, be counted and DEMAND that our government provides us with proper fiscal reporting and accountability?
I for one believe it is outrageous that the biggest budget in the history of the BVI will be passed by the same government that hasn't bothered to account for THE TERRITORY'S MONIES for the past 4 years! Cash reserves in the consolidated fund reportedly fell to less than 7 million at the beginning of this year, yet our monthly expenditure is nearly 30 million. I fail to see why anyone would believe this government is capable of handling our finances given their track record and our absurdly high national debt which is growing daily.
Problem Government broke. There is NO cash flow
We all waiting for the next two weeks. Hold ur breath
Eat your heart out naysayers..kudos to NDP!!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EJDP6va9uc