Gov’t should let Chinese extend the airport — Fraser
D3 Representative Julian Fraser suggested that the government hire Chinese nationals to expand the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport Runway since others might not do the job adequately.
“What happened to the Chinese?” Fraser asked. “You travel the world. Every project you see going on right now is being done by the Chinese. Any country you’re going to right now, the Chinese are doing it. They’re the only people who get things done.”
Fraser completely dismissed the idea of hiring American nationals to complete the project, noting that this may present grave challenges like inclusivity and diversity that the BVI does not need.
“You go to the Americans, they’re going to start telling you all kinds of stuff about… all the alphabets,” Fraser said. “Inclusion, equality and all kinds of stuff. We don’t have time for that. This little country, we got to build it. We have a limited time to build the country.”
He also rejected the idea of hiring a UK consultant, arguing that this would prove to be a waste of time. “The UK people can’t do things for themselves. You want to send things to them to get done?” Fraser stated.
Fraser encouraged Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley to get the project going urgently since he had youth on his side and was well qualified to execute the task.
“When Lavity [Stoutt] was your age, or younger than you, our budget was like 50 thousand dollars. I’m talking about hundreds of millions of dollars right now,” Fraser said. “He was under grant-in-aid and all kind of nonsense. You’re a free man, a young man with all kinds of college degrees, including a PhD.”
Meanwhile, Premier Wheatley insisted that his government will be the one to extend the runway after decades of unfulfilled promises by previous governments.
“My government has committed to the expansion of the runway at the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island,” the Premier said. “The runway expansion will happen, and it will increase the demand for accommodation.”
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Where has this man been? Read about what the Chinese reputation in the Caribbean has been for quality of construction and foreclosure on the loan to build. You are an idiot.
I do agree not to involve the US, as the blatant racism and sexism attitudes here in the BVI would be brought to light. Good move there.
Bahamas agreed to a development plan for a section of their north shore, which the chinese immediately fenced off and declared the Chinese embassy, built a dock and brought in everything, workers, construction materials even food. Every single worker was chinese. The result? Absolutely nothing for the Bahamas, no sales of goods, no import duties, no employment – but they were left with a massive loan which they have to repay or the Chinese permanently take the land.
Look around, EVERY deal the chinese offer developing countries follows the same pattern.
Spot on. Illustrates the adage of if it’s too good to be true, it is.
Thinking the Chinese is less racist then Americans is hilarious. Look up Chinese construction in Africa.
be care what you bvi islanders get yourself into.
This is an interesting turn of events. A member of the Assembly is dissing protocols of the US and UK governments and praising the Chinese government which is NOT a democracy. The Chinese are trying to become a global super power, that is why they are extending loans to governments in Africa and Latin America etc. They are trying to extend their influence and reach by saddling countries with debt they struggle to repay.
You got it exactly right. Amazing that Frasier cannot see the the forest from the trees.
That’s the MO of the Chinese. They are currently doing this in Africa, and it’s unfortunate that many governments in Africa frustrated with the West and in need of money are allowing the Chinese invasion.
What people need to understand: China is a communist country. They are not loaning out money or doing projects to be nice. They have a long term plan. Unfortunately people like Frasier cannot see it.
It’s even more unfortunate that he would prefer to work with communist China over democratic U.K. or U.S.
I would say shame on him if he had a shame box, but I’d just say this here: Mr.Fraser, your suggestion should be dead on arrival, and the government should reject it outright.
This is exactly why he’s sitting in HMOpposition. All he sees is money and not the big picture. Actually, after a statement like that he needs to be put to sit down, voted out of politics. It’s greed, pure and simple. He has nothing good for this country and it’s people if he thinks what he spoke. But then again, “out of the abundance of the heart the mount speaks”.
What is democracy? Please enlighten us? You mean like in the USA, a country of over 300 million people who were told years ago that they could only choose between two ancient white men to be their leader? Nobody else even stood a chance? The land of the FREE has to choose between 2 men knocking 80yrs old, despite all the young, bright, vibrant, innovative people that live in that country. That is democracy? LOL!!
You have larger issues clearly on your mind. The fact that you wish to argue about democracy vs communism says a lot about your mindset. You have a nice day.
That’s right, when you can’t answer you slowly walk away. I asked a simple question, no argument. It’s obvious that you are a CNN/FOX parrot, I’m not the one with the issues.
Now I know that he is cr**y and unfit for his job.
Let them fix the roads one time! our local contracts just giving our free money to do nonsense!
one thing i do know if you wanta proper road the chinese to build it is the way forward these people dont play just get them to fix the road and build the airport
CHINESE KNOW HOW TO OWN A COUNTRY. A WISE MAN LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF OTHERS.
So, the Chinese know more about contract law than all those countries that fall into debt traps? No, they do not.
If anything, the Chinese know how to find the dictators and corrupt politicians in any third world country.
From what I’ve seen in the Caribbean, Chinese construction is riddled with flaws; from the initial design to the end product.
we don’t need a cheap chinese product for something as important as our airport
Yah right, spend $ 3-400 million (equivalent to 1 year’s GFP) of tax payers money on an airport so people can come here and see for themselves there are limited accommodation options. Who’ll be building these hotels and where will the money come from? The Chinese? If that’s the plan, might as well start teaching Mandarin at school.
My goodness, this man is so ignorant!
Time to retire, one time he’s not saying a thing next time he speaking arsine. Go home!
To disregard the United States is to invite dire consequences. The vitality of our financial sector is deeply intertwined with the widespread adoption of the US dollar. China can be leveraged to compel US action. Their (U.S) recent paucity of infrastructure investment in the Caribbean and beyond, due to their myopic isolationist stance, does not equate to capability. It is undeniable that the United States remains the foremost leader across numerous sectors and the Chinese utilize much of U.S. findings and research. Perhaps we could benefit from adopting that trait , acknowledging that there are experts available who could assist us if we were less supercilious and more open to learning.
The only reason for this is the Chinese way of doing business customarily includes kick backs and payoffs not to mention shoddy incomplete work / contracts.
Thank god next election we putting in the other Julian
I don’t normally agree with Fraser but I’m with him on this one! Let’s get real and let’s get moving. All talk for the last 20 years and others in the Region come and passed us by. If not for our marine business and Financial Services we would be a complete slum.
Dementia has finally set in. He has wandered off. Somebody go get him.
Time for a 24 hour sitter to keep an eye on him.
Fraser it’s time to go
That is the statement that should finish his political career.
Brother, the way BVI people vote, it won’t.
Let the Chinese do the work on the airport extension and they will take over and own the Island. You all need to leave that alone and find someone else to handle the project.
He never said to take a loan from the Chinese, what he advocate is to let them build the runway. We will pay for it up front I don’t expect to go put ourselves in great debt.
Absolutely not!
CHINESE PAVED ALL THE ROADS IN DOMINICA {perfectly done} AND NOW BUILDING AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON THE TOP OF MOUNTAINS…..GO ON YOUTUBE AND SEE HOW CHINA IS DEVELOPED, FAR MORE ADVANCED THAN AMERICA BECAUSE OF TECHNOLOGY
@ NO PROBLEM
Assuming you are referring to the Commonwealth of Dominica.
I’m right here but not aware of an airport being built “on the top of mountains”. Furthermore, the Chinese built roads leave a lot to be desired.
But for what it’s worth, we have the largest Chinese
Embassy this side of the Atlantic and Mandarin is being taught at the island’s State College.
Kiss of death
Why not one of the Nordics country from Europe?
Dollar to Euro ..
If I tell you who I am you will be surprised but I think this would be a perfect opportunity to work with the UK to build confidence and seek advice on this and other projects such as roads and other infrastructure projects. Our painful past should not be a deterrent to a bright future. Time for mature
responsible leadership that understands how to operate on a world class level. We might just be that little child that leads the world out of darkness.
@ the refused stone……
All how they jumping up, everything taking you right back to the loan guarantee of the UK. Recovery and DEVELOPMENT Agency. What has the RDA developed to date? They have done nothing but repair works.
Try to fathom that one of our gov officials and even some of the local populace would prefer to be under Chinese debt than to get their act together and take advantage of a loan guarantee. How would they plan to service this dept.
In Antigua it’s a condition that the Chinese crews stay on as residents after the project is finished. There are hundreds of Chinese there now.
That’s a big improvement over a new and increased population consisting of Jamaicans,Vincentians,Dingos and the rest of life spoilers.
Wow. This is crazy and so you will allow all that value to patriots to China. Ole man stay at home and leave serious business to people that can understand what happening. On this basis all of dem need to stay home
Big mistake!
Colleague this is why you are NOT Premier material.
Nobody waiting for the report we are paying for before agreeing to all these kickbacks?
one way air ticket to China for the D3 dinosaur. Bye!
Simply delicious would be put out of business.
This just proves that Fraser is unfit for the job. Another chink in his armor that the Esteemed One will exploit. And for the record, the UK would never let us enter into a contract with the Chinese. Furthermore half of the previous posts are correct- Chinese construction is a joke and they are really lousy partners, and amazing racists.
Chinese government is evil. Their plan is to make loans use their labor have project over budget and put countries in a spot where they are in debt to China. Their goal is to have leverage over these countries and use them as pons against America.
The Chinese government is evil. They have one goal. Get as many countries in debt to China as possible and then take them over to use them as pons in their war against the USA.
Do not trust the Chinese.
Wow. There is a way too much racism & you all who engage in it are under stockhold syndrome. The most racist people on earth judging by their actions are in the USA, UK & certain EU member states.
Who are they to say we should not make friends with Chinese who did not put our ancestors through 400 years of slavery, destruction of African culture, stealing wealth, resources, nuclear test in Africa, & continued colonialism of people they deem to be less than human.
” blatant racism and sexism attitudes here ”
ARE YOU SERIOUS??? Look at the racism coming out of the US & UK that allows Israel to commit genocide. Look at the racism that has US sanctioning Russians who we dont even know!
But you know what, one genocide country wont chide another genocide country.
Birds of a feather flock together.
What happened to teaching Mandarin Chinese in our local schools? Dont tell me they shelved it because the UK dont like chinese. Bullshhh
We must be idiots to hate those that did nothing to US & love those that continue to downpress us.
Recall the actions of the UK were their plans to work as intended.
1. Destabilizing the country,
2. saddling us with unnecessary debt,
3. increasing crime through negligence (closed police stations & more)
4. killing our reputation (police in paradise). Much more but people have to wake up for themselves.
Chinese have their ways and do too much surveillance, following the wisdom of Tsun tzu, but please recall they have not done anything to hurt us.
Maintain independence and we can be friends with all countries, as a Christian society & tourism hotspot this is how we should operate, friends to all who respect us (UK Im looking at you, sanctions are racist by principle).
Check the British propagandist out in force! When they went at it with Ireland there were over 800 British spies & influencers injected into Irish society.
“You have larger issues clearly on your mind. The fact that you wish to argue about democracy vs communism says a lot about your mindset. You have a nice day.”
No sir/madame let me answer you, communism got it wrong and they know they did.
We democratic-capitalist got it wrong too, yet we continue destroying the world in ignorance while on our high horse!!
Who is better? The man climbing up the cliff he drove off, or the other man on the road to the cliff with his family (us) inside?
Both idiots but the one climbing up may actually survive. We do not know where all the war mongering capitalism where billions go to private weapon manufactures will lead us.
That’s why we’ve got children of the future aka Gretta’s protesting climate change & war for profit, while the old axe balding western capitalist politicians think framing a train wreck in a positive light will make it positive.
I guess not apologizing for slavery makes it better too?
Our way of life is probably one horse man of the apocalypse. One may be all it takes. Skip the flying scorpions.
If you have any understanding of culture & history you will understand the wisest people were taken for being crazy for suggesting a different perspective. Even Jesus who’s message was love was strung up & not due to communism.
Hows capitalism working for the homeless?
Im literally shocked & disgusted how we can be so easily manipulated.
Who taught you people to hate Chinese? You need to stop it because the US & UK have had their fair turn and where are we… right here, not allowed to make positive diplomacy work because of their bad minded racist policy. Iv had enough of racism.
“The Chinese government is evil. They have one goal.”
You are mistaken, or uninformed. Do you realize the US has by the patriot act unilateral authority to both spy & kill its citizens world wild & ‘terrorist’
Why then are there so many weapons flooding the Caribbean & south America.
Why can they kill a man in Afghanistan with a bladed projectile to spare civilians after withdrawal of troops, yet infamous EVIL gang leaders like barbeque are still allowed to operate despite there being DEA & DEA informants in HAITI.
Futhermore I have never seem China implicated in any war crimes. THE US & UK have been invloved in several scandals including torture in more than one country. The bombs in Hiroshima & Nagasaki…
Look up abugirab torture. US personnel are currently being sued by the prisoners they tortured, with electricity, rape and much more.
Talk about evil… its right there in your face you running to the UK & US, your running to the devil. The people of the UK & US do not have real power. You dont have to go to China to find evil & injustice.
Look at Trump. You call that democracy in an election year? If he was black & poor he’d be in jail already.
As it is said the devil exist in high places & loves to make people beleive he doesnt exist.
If we stop with the corruption, we can certainly build a world class airport, hospital, healthcare, education, etc. Actually, with all the money that has passed through this small territory, we should, could, would have had a much better quality of life.
Ayo keep voting for Fraser