UPDATE: Premier Smith ignores ‘transparency’ request of Opposition Leader
Hon Fahie made the request during the Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Third House of Assembly (HoA) on March 15, 2018.
He had demanded that by 2:00 P.M. yesterday the Premier has “every correspondence that was given to the United Kingdom, from in November when this was agreed and the responses from the United Kingdom, ready for us [Members] before we start this discussion at 2:00 PM.”
Nothing new with Premier’s behaviour- Hon Fahie
However, Hon Fahie told our newsroom today, March 16, 2018 that Premier Smith had not produce the documents as was asked.
“He has not honoured the request to date. There is nothing new with this behavior in this respect. The discussions are ongoing and I will wait until they are finished before I comment,” Hon Fahie stated.
Members of the HoA met yesterday to discuss the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency Bill which was introduced to the House yesterday by Premier Smith and had its first reading.
“What I can say is that I will continue to be guided by the God of our forefathers in these uncharted waters. I will not compromise the people of the Virgin Islands and, in return, the future of the Virgin Islands, especially economically, for no one. Leadership matters,” Hon Fahie said.
See previous article published March 15, 2018
'Bring all correspondence with UK on recovery plan to table'- Hon Fahie
- Virgin Islands Recovery & Development Agency Act 2018 introduced & gets first reading
The Virgin Islands Recovery & Development Agency Act 2018, which is aimed at bringing into law stipulations outlined by the United Kingdom in exchange for guarantees for hurricane recovery loans, was introduced to the House of Assembly (HoA) today, March 15, 2018.
The Bill was also read for the first time and Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), who introduced the Bill, said he will explain its provisions at a second reading.
Public meetings were just a show?
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said only last week he heard that the Recovery and Development Plan presented to the public by the National Democratic Party (NDP) in December 2017 was already agreed to between Government and the United Kingdom, suggesting that the public consultation meetings that followed in January and February 2018 were just a show.
“…the whole act and everything was based on the plan that was already agreed to in November of last year, although we have been having public meetings on it,” Hon Fahie stated.
“I am asking of the Premier, so that we can discuss this intelligently and know what we have committed the country to, to produce to the Honourable House every documentation that is relating to this whole recovery issue with the United Kingdom and their responses, so that every elected Member can be extremely clear what we have committed the country to,” the Opposition Leader remarked.
Premier Smith said a meeting was plan with HoA Members to discuss the matter this afternoon.
“We have already agreed with all members of the House that we will have a discussion on the matter this afternoon, I think at 2 ‘O’ Clock, when all the documents will be, at that time, ready for that discussion.”
Bring every correspondence with UK- Hon Fahie
However, Hon Fahie contended that the Premier wants to go through the [Virgin Islands Recovery & Development Agency] Bill clause by clause and demanded that by 2:00 P.M. the Premier has “every correspondence that was given to the United Kingdom, from in November when this was agreed and the responses from the United Kingdom, ready for us before we start this discussion at 2:00 PM.”
Given a chance to respond, Premier Smith said he had no further comments.
Meanwhile, the Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Third HoA will resume on Monday March 19, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. when the Budget Address will be given.
27 Responses to “UPDATE: Premier Smith ignores ‘transparency’ request of Opposition Leader”
Fahie cut it, we elect Governments to govern, let them govern! Look at how St Kitts is developing so nicely from once a 3rd world shanty town now with beautiful, proper, value added developments so that the entire country benefits. They let their Governments govern! Of course the Government should keep people informed but you really think the Government has to meet with every district before they tell the UK what the BVI needs? No plan of this sort is set in stone, if there are areas that the public mentioned that are not contained in the initial document, what will stop them from including it? This is just petty politics and I dare to say most of those sitting on both sides in HOA are power hungry and don't give a @#$% about this Territory.
He is an opportunist. Reminds me of Jessie Jackson, jumping on the bandwagon .
That is being downright deceitful. Come by my house soliciting votes in a few months. Waiting
Ndp again yall