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by pltm
(PLTM) - Premier Hon. Dr. D. Orlando Smith did not negotiate with the United Kingdom (UK) from a position of strength, because of his government’s lack of transparency and accountability with public funds over the past six years.
This is the view held by Opposition Leader, Hon. Andrew Fahie, who said that the sanctions attached to the $400M loan guarantee and grants from the UK, is because the National Democratic Party (NDP) did not display restraint with the finances.
“We are where we are because clearly the UK does not trust the government when it comes to money. And that is understandable, because this government has shown over the years that they intend not to police themselves,” he told BVI Platinum News yesterday, March 15.
He added, “And I have said every year for the last six years, that based on what I have noticed with the way this government is handling the finances of this Territory, we need to police ourselves better, and if we do not police ourselves, someone will do it for us in a manner that we all regret…And here we are.”
Yesterday in the House of Assembly, Premier Smith, who is also the Finance Minister, tabled the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency Act 2018, which will bring into law the UK’s fiscal framework, allowing for the establishment of the BVI Recovery and Development Agency.
He later held discussions with all the Members of the House of Assembly on the proposed legislation, before it is debated next week.
Backbenchers on the government side and the Opposition are against the current status of the framework.
The UK has given the BVI government until April 1 to pass the legislation.
Hon. Fahie said while he does not agree with the legislation, he sat in yesterday’s discussions and sought to make recommendations in the best interest of the people.
“…To work to have it amended in the best interest of the people of the Virgin Islands, so that the economic activities and spin off can be felt by the people of the BVI and experienced by them in a transparent and accountable manner that ensures good governance.”
He said, “That’s all I can guarantee at this late stage, but the Premier has done us an injustice.”
Premier Being Deceptive
The Opposition Leader accused Premier Smith of deception, pointing out the fact that backbenchers and the Opposition only learned this week, through Governor Gus Jaspert, that he had already present the recovery and development plan to the UK back in November while in London.
“So, he has committed the country to terms and conditions that no one knows except himself. So, it’s not about the UK, not that it (BVI) doesn’t need some loans to go ahead, but we do not know what terms and conditions we are being committed to,” Hon. Fahie said.
The First District Representative said that this means that the public consultations on the plan was a sham.
“Because of his questionable behavior, now they want to do public relations to make it seem that everyone is against progress; they are against the loans. But we do not know what the terms and conditions are for what has already been signed.”
Hon. Fahie added, “We do not know what we are entering; we cannot just listen to someone speaking. This is the highest law making body (HOA) in land. They have to give us these things in writing.”
He has asked Premier Smith to produce all documents shared between him and the UK following the storms, but is yet to receive those correspondence.
“We are now at that point with the agency setting up because the agency is going to be a government inside a government…”
He wants Premier Smith to apologise to the people for placing the country in this uncomfortable situation.
“This has caused the whole country to suffer because of the Premier’s lack of good governance; lack of ensuring proper transparency; lack of ensuring proper accountability; not removing the cloud over some of his projects and some of his members.”
However, Hon. Fahie feels that the people are now fully aware of the situation the Territory has found itself in.
“The Premier did not negotiate from a position of strength, because he could not negotiate from a position of strength, because he has not been accountable for his terms in office and the record is clear to show,” the Opposition Leader pressed.
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