Announcement coming on missing investment $$ under VIP gov’t
NDP Chairman, Marlon Penn
Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has hinted at a major announcement about millions of dollars in questionable government investments, as pressure mounts on Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, who maintains he knew nothing about the transactions.
“Stay tuned to a radio near you. There’ll be an announcement, particularly on this matter,” Penn declared during a recent NDP radio programme.
However, Penn gave no further details about the anticipated announcement, including when it would be made or what information it would disclose.
The controversy surrounds $2.5 million invested with Jamaica-linked Delta Capital Partners and another $5 million deposited with the now-defunct Bank of Asia. Both investments have raised concerns about the possible loss of approximately $7.5 million in public funds. Premier Wheatley previously maintained that the investments were made without his knowledge or approval and indicated that the circumstances surrounding the transactions were being investigated.
However, NDP members argued that the Premier’s explanation raises serious questions about accountability.
During the program, Second District representative Melvin “Mitch” Turnbull questioned how Dr Wheatley, who also serves as Minister of Finance, could be unaware of transactions involving millions of dollars.
At-Large Representative and former Finance Minister Ronnie Skelton then revealed that he had spearheaded an amendment to the Public Finance Management Act specifically to prevent government funds from being invested without the Premier’s knowledge.
Skelton explained that the previous legislation allowed the Accountant General to invest government funds independently. Recognising the potential danger, he said he pushed for the law to be amended to require approval from both the Financial Secretary and Minister of Finance.
Bishop John Cline argued that Skelton’s intervention makes Premier Wheatley’s explanation even more troubling.
“Something is not adding up,” Cline declared, questioning how the Premier could claim ignorance when the law requires ministerial approval.
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Pappa smurf, is saying )>ah kno you guys ain’t gine like me hollering out at ya’al , buh i don’t give ah sh*t , ah know ah look good in this picture , an ah hope the people see how hard ah wukin fo dem.
NDP dead on arrival with Penn as their leader.
IS HE A POLICE OR POLITICIAN?
He is doing his job and that of the people.
He will announce he does not know but has commissioned an expensive audit the results of which will be made available long after everyone has forgotten.
When will we get an anouncement of monies missing under the NDP government especially the hospital and pier park. Hospital should have cost us $75 million, now at $200 million and not complete or properly outfitted. The pier park cost was estimated at about $5 million, overrun that monies from EE/LL sewerage project was used to finish the job. Have that money return? Dont just put out your opponneny’s own put your also.
Go back further on the hospital which was started by the VIP and NDP tried to finish.
But what start wrong will end wrong. Had outside contractor with workers not contributing regulated fees as if they were in a different country operating in the BVI.
Check also the DDM building signed at $9m, Teh admin bldg. insurance of $11m, $2,5 and $7m nobody knows about. I agree with you on the Pier Park, the overrun was a real clusterf~<(.
Stop comparing numbers ayo head will spin.
ask Mark when you see him.
He have a plan for the BVI or what???
I cant wait for Dickie daughter to drop some blows on he
She who watch and pass people like she see dodo on them? Strupessss
Every single one of you is a thief. NDP and VIP are cut from the same s**t stained cloth. BVI is so corrupt.
The game never changed, only the players do. Marlon got free money also with the IT contract which the government workers did.
He worked and produced. If I were him I was not working for free either. And it was made public; nothing to hide.
My poor B.V.I. 7.5 millionof our money gone. No heads rolling. What does the Governor do again? There’s no way in hell he isn’t aware of this.
If the Opposition members are serious about this, then it is a step in the right direction.
It is disheartening that some people do not see this as a step in the right direction, because transparency and accountability are not on this current administration’s agenda (they are literally sitting on their internal report and teasing us with it).
Let us not forget that a reporter asked the Premier when the figures for the recent India Trade Mission would be disclosed, and the Premier turned to his left, picked up a piece of paper, read off that script, which was an anticipatory answer, mind you, and stated that, when the Freedom of Information Act is passed, it will address what can be disclosed to the public (prime example of withholding information to avoid further public scrutiny).
The Premier was also asked about the failings of the Financial Secretary. He stood up with his head held high, chest out, shoulders back, fully supported his Cousin despite the most recent fiasco, and said he would not comment on a public officer in that way. Ironically, he had, in the past, publicly referred to Najan Christopher as a “rogue public officer” when she did nothing wrong, as there was no evidence of any wrongdoing.
How can a leader who sits at the head of a table, who acts so oblivious and plays the blame game, expect confidence from the electorate?
Enough is enough.
YOU ASKED HOW CAN A LEADER PLAY THE BLAME GAME ? WELL LEH ME BREAK IT DOWN AH LITTLE , SOME OF THOSE WHO WAS HOLLERING OUT FOR A BOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE ARE UP UNDER WINGS / AMD SOME GOT SILENT , EXCEPT FOR ( MYRON ), AND AM PRETTY SURE YOU CAN FIGURE WHO THE OTHER HYPOCRITES ARE / ONE COLLECTING RENT FOR ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN FISH BAY, SO NO WONDER THE REPAIRS OF GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS CANNOT GET FINISHED , SO IT AIN’T BLAME GAME ALONE * WE GOT RODEO GAMES TOO , THOSE ARE JUST ” LIL” EXAMPLES OF HOW THE ELITES ROOL . AS THEY DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF , MC HAMMER’S – ” CAN’T TOUCH THIS ” ( US ) .
there is no announcement to come.
telling us to keep listening to the radio is just so he will get listeners on his programme. people will keep tuning in to hear the “announcement”, but no announcement will come.
Skelton explained that the previous legislation allowed the Accountant General to invest government funds independently. Really?
What Gad Fly stung legislators to do this and who the hell give this ill advice to be put forward for implementation?
That’s dolly house legislation. So Laurel was too honest an Accountant General and all they could do is accused her of stealing and got rid of her then you put a foreign national to mind your financial business and he helped himself handily.And Lorna Smith and Natalio Wheatley knows nothing? Double Shame on these bastards.
This man is the most misguided person I have ever seen, we want to hear your plans not your complaints.
No investment is guaranteed in this world