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by pltm
(PLTM) - The ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) is being allowed to squander millions, not practicing good governance, non- transparent, and it's ministers being allowed to compete unfairly with the people for government work, according to Hon. Andrew Fahie, who said that this has resulted in the massive decline in public trust.
Fahie, in his first official message to the people of the Virgin Islands since becoming Chairman of the main opposition Virgin Islands Party (VIP), said last evening, December 8, that residents are yearning change, and this is what a refueled VIP will bring.
"My fellow Virgin Islanders neither the VIP nor me as Chairman are perfect, nor can we find anyone that is, but daily we must live our lives striving for perfection. The lessons learnt in the past has not made me nor the VIP bitter, but rather it has made us better. That is why we know that we are the right ones to restore good governance," he said.
"We cannot and I will not run away from what will make the Virgin Islands better. The lack of accountability, public trust, transparency and good governance is more evident now in government than it has ever been in the history of these Virgin Islands," Fahie added.
The First District Representative argued that they cannot continue to sit idly by and see government squander resources by the tens of millions and then blame everyone except themselves.
"In addition, we cannot continue to sit back and watch Government violate every tenant of the Protocols for Effective Financial Management signed by them through giving we the people what they think we need so that they can take what they want. How do we fix this? Simple!"
He said to this end, from this moment, the newly refueled VIP will be championing the cause for the passing of a few pieces of Legislation and policies: Whistle blowing Legislation for Public Officers; Campaign Financing Legislation; Ethics Legislation; Freedom of Information Act; Consumer Protection; and an Economic Plan to boost local businesses.
"These are but just a few of the plans of the newly refueled Virgin Islands Party. We will not stop there."
He also said that a VIP government intend to work with the United Kingdom (UK) Government to ensure that all the tenants of the Protocol for Effective Financial Management signed in 2012 by the NDP government are followed and adhered to in a manner that does not compromise the local economy.
"It is only from a position of strength that a Virgin Islands Government can negotiate with the UK Government as it relates to altering any of the terms of the Protocol that are overly stringent and not in the best interest of our people. The lessons learnt from other overseas territories must be carefully analyzed for clearly, in the words of our founding Chairman, “there are more than one way of learning”," he asserted.
Fahie promised that under a VIP Government, the Protocol document will be used to ensure that all the resources targeted for development projects for the Territory will hit its target in a transparent and accountable manner.
"If we are to become better, and if we seek to negotiate from a position of strength we will not only highlight the many infractions of this unapologetic administration but we will also continue to offer solutions," Fahie said.
Conflict Of Interest/Hard Times
The VIP chairman assured that the days of elected officials unfairly competing with the people for Government projects and services will be a thing of the past.
"This practice is now rampant in this government to the point where persons have been lured to believe that this is the norm and hence acceptable. This course of action must be called out for what it is conflict of interest; and it must be brought to an abrupt end," he said.
Fahie then touched on the Premier's Address to the territory earlier this week, where Fahie said that Premier Hon. Dr Orlando Smith contradicted himself in many instances.
"I was overwhelmed by the multiplicity of contradictions and what can best be termed as Perception Management. One by one these issues will be addressed in the House of Assembly and thereafter, truth and reality will again be united and thereby separated from perception," he said.
"Contrary to what our current government continues to state about the good state of our economy, it is clear that as of late something major is going wrong with our finances under their watch."
He indicated that on a daily basis, many persons are literally crying out, stating that they cannot be paid after doing work for the NDP Government from months before.
"In addition, so many government ministries, departments and schools are operating without basic necessities because of being told that there is no money. So many local businesses are meeting hard times and cannot make ends meet large in part due to the poor state of the economy coupled with government not paying them in a timely manner for services rendered to Government," he claimed.
Fahie said, "our Government must come clean! We will not be better and we cannot negotiate from a position of strength when we ourselves fail to complete and present to the House of Assembly the audited financial statements for 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Coupled with other major infractions, the risk of “Direct Homeland Intervention” is more prevalent now than any time since 1950. "
He went on to state that the Premier and members of his Government continue to try to insult the people's intelligence with glorious fancy speeches that are out of touch with the reality on the ground while failing to take any responsibility for their actions.
"Nevertheless, I can assure you that with God's help and your support, the refueled VIP will bring hope back to the many that are now feeling a sense of hopelessness. Virgin Islanders will once again take their rightful place in these Virgin Islands," he stated.
The VIP chairman said the economy will rise and thrive and so will the local businesses and the people including those who have made the BVI their home and have helped to build the Virgin Islands over the years.
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