BVI News

BVI budgets getting bigger but service deliver less and less — Fraser

Third District Representative, Julian Fraser.

Concerns are being raised that the British Virgin Islands is not receiving support in ‘critical areas’ such as service delivery, despite having a huge national budget.

Opposition legislator Julian Fraser raised those concerns during the First Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly earlier this month.

“Our budget for 2019 was somewhere about $360 million and I am personally not satisfied with the services being rendered for this $360 million,” Fraser said.

He continued: “I am, [therefore], putting accounting officers on notice that when they come to Standing Finance [Committee], I would like to see what monies were spent for each subhead and what these monies were spent for. So don’t waste our time when you come here and we ask the question, and you go, ‘Um, um, and um’, and ‘I will get it back to you’. Bring it with you. I think it is a disservice to the government for having budgeted all this money.”

We got it done on smaller $$

The senior legislator said the territory was able to see and reap benefits with much smaller budgets in the past.

He said these benefits include maintenance of roads and other public infrastructure. 

“I remember when I got elected, and this money was somewhere about $119 million and the services that we are getting far outstretches what we are getting right now. We had retirees cleaning roads. That is not happening now. The potholes — we are not getting it done. I am talking about throughout the year, these services are not happening.”

“Government facilities were properly maintained it’s not happening now so I want to know how is it that when we had a budget of $119 million, the territory hasn’t gotten any bigger. The bush not growing any faster and the services that we were getting is not there. Where is the money going?” Fraser questioned.

The budget announced for the 2020 fiscal year is $414,008,611.

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11 Comments

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  1. Anonymous says:

    In simple language, and from from prolonged observations worldwide, what;s new sir?

    • Rubber Duck says:

      The govt budget works out at around $13,000 per inhabitant assuming 30,000 inhabitants, man woman and child. So that’s $52,000 for a 4 person household.

      What do you get that is worth that?

      The western worlds most inefficient civil systems where you still cannot pay bills on line ?

      It is also about 40% of the gdp. Much higher than UK or US govts share of the GDP. Similar to Germany where govt services are somewhat better than in BVI.

  2. Yep says:

    The answer is simple ! Most of the budget goes on paying an ineffective over staffed civil service!

    Like 20
  3. Political Observer(PO) says:

    The VI is 59 square miles spread over 36 islands, cays, and rocks with 15 being inhabited. Despite its small size, it boasts of having one of the highest standard of living, quality of life and per capita income (~$34K) in the region. Further, it has one of the larger operations/ maintenance and capital budget in the region; the estimated budget for 2020 is ~$414M, which is an increase over 2019.

    Nonetheless, the national budget is increasing but the level of service delivery is lagging and not keeping pace with budget increases. The cost of service delivery is increasing. What is the territory’s return on its investment? The investment is not reflected on the ground, I.e, health, education, roads, sewage, water, storm water, transportation, solid waste, telecommunications, electricity, environment…..etc. The level of service leaves much to be desired. We (taxpayers)should not expect what is not demanded.

    Moreover, the taxpayers are not getting value for money and should demand that government hire an independent agency to conduct an assessment on the cost of doing business. The goal should be to root out duplication, waste, fraud, abuse…..etc. Production, efficiency and effectiveness levels should be established and managed. Each employee from the Premier to the unskilled worker must be held accountable.

  4. UM says:

    How do you expect the graft to be funded? Gots to come from some where!

  5. Watchers says:

    And the national security of the country is highly been taken for granted alo g with other civil servannts that risks their lives every day leaving their FAM behind. When u see that the police have problem when getting their salary right.U really have to stop and this k are they serious.

  6. East says:

    He only mad and upset his — wife
    isn’t in Treasury Dept anymore…

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