Gov’t was over-ambitious in stimulus distribution — FS
Financial Secretary, Jeremiah Frett has characterised as madness, the situation within the government when it sought to distribute COVID-19 stimulus packages during a territory-wide lockdown last year.
Speaking at a hearing before the Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Tuesday, Frett said it may have been an error for government to initially request as many criteria as it did in order for persons to qualify for stimulus assistant grants.
Initially, the government had a range of eligibility criteria for applicants seeking business stimulus grants. However, government later adjusted this to only requesting that applicants confirm they had a valid trade license and fewer than 20 employees.
The grants were distributed through the Premier’s Office and faced much criticism by auditors and the wider public for their perceived lack of transparency.
Recent evidence from the government’s internal auditor, Dorea Corea, detailed that, even in its reduced state, the stimulus distribution system failed having encountered numerous breaches because of poor oversight.
Steep learning curve
But according to Frett, officials in the BVI faced a steep learning curve and were learning as they progressed.
“When we do our post-mortem on these different programmes — and looking at the different auditor reports — I do believe that we as a territory were in unchartered waters,” Frett explained.
“We never had to provide a stimulus package like this [before] and we were learning as we go in many instances,” he added.
Frett told the commission that the government’s technical personnel tried their best to come up with feasible programmes within a policy document that fit within the government’s current structure and laws, as far as they were aware.
Overly ambitious
He suggested that the government’s approach to the issue may have been overly ambitious and suggested that it should have been guided by legislative action, as was done in the United States.
“We were trying to introduce stimulus – immediate stimulus packages as if using our current legislation and our current structures to do so. In hindsight, maybe that was an error,” Frett said.
He suggested that while persons were able to get as much as $1,200 in the US through their stimulus programme, the criteria for giving those funds were not as stringent as those used in the BVI.
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The BVI has a decided penchant for bureaucracy, paperwork, regulations, and procedures that must be followed to a T, when it comes to the public, although the COI has revealed that, internally, governments have failed to do so. So, I think it may have been natural, unfortunately, that the public servants came up with overly complex criteria and processes that seem to have led to failure. Perhaps, a larger lesson to be learned.
The program and the requirements for stimulus money came about to serve the few that the cronies wished to give the money. That is fact.
This was a big hit for who ever was incharge .They need jailling without a dought.Poor man kind.
the truth is, that the person handling these payouts in the Premier’s office and all who had anything to do with it, sat down and figured out how this stimulus was their ship to sail in and their time had come to fill their pockets. That same office is messed up. the P.S and the accountant are closely related. Why such a conflict. Why is there a check to the accountant mother. This is state/government/federal funds and I hope they are all charged, convicted, arrested and made to pay it all back
but wait, is that eating you?
It will surely eat you because the spin of time will fall on your wicked behind. It is not your money, it is public funds and it is called stealing
Bro your a donkey all them 1ooo business stole not a thing it was a grant after they suffered 24/7 lockdown for a month and more lock down after that. This site has too many people speaking one side of the story.
Not, its not your money, its the people’s money. Yes its true, its not UK money. Yes its true, UK wants to control the money. Yes its true, its all about money now, not birds, their sanctuary or locals or the territories, It is all about the money now.
that why we were we is. people like you have the place how it is
Perhaps the office may be corrupt or messed up, but my question is, if there is indeed a check with the accountant’s mother’s name on it, is that in and of itself an indication of corruption? What if her mother is in need of assistance? Should she starve just because she is associated with someone in the system? Mind you, I know nothing about the Accountant and her mom or whether any are in need, but I think we need to move past the ‘family member’s of those in power should move past getting any kind of Government of system’ mentality. Some people’s families are legitimately in need and get assistance legally.
Just saying…
All I heard were excuses no Substance in his defense or answers . Hope he listen to Mr. Forbes and learn his Job because Mr. Forbes came across as a knowledgeable pro as FS..
There is no need to compare. What I heard was honesty, humility and a desire to do what is right and that counts for a lot in my book. Sounding like we know is what has us in this position.
I agree with Mr. Frett and I would add that although the BVI Government has a poor track record where accountability is concerned, the pandemic was unchartered waters and I do believe the Government had good intentions to assist persons with stimulus money but it was poorly executed. I only hope that the UK Government conduct a COI of its own to highlight its own failing during the pandemic. I am only fair. I am all for transparency but it must be across the board.
Well, we will begin to look at governance differently. It should be a life of service where person’s are held to the highest moral and ethical standards which is reinforced in the system of governance itself. It has become a matter of power and status and attracts those whose interest lie therein as opposed to persons who are truly interested in serving people. Our system of governance is so lax that person are able to manipulate the system to benefit them and to keep them in power to continue to do the same.
I have learned so much from the COI. We also have to check our behavior in the public eyes. Very embarrassing.
So the FS is saying that persons in accounting and whoever else is responsible in the Premier’s Office didnt know better and will only learn how to identify a registered commercial fisherman or farmer from those who have never fished or farmed a day in their life or only have a backyard garden or fish as a hobby after all of this because giving stimulus is a new thing? GT#OOH…they knew better. Somebody need to go jail. Because a lot of who on those lists blatantly didnt qualify and can’t qualify all now.
The accounting officer and whoever responsible surely did not know the difference between a request for a $50.00 barbwire and $300.00 fence and throw out thousands like its a cash carnival. Also who are the beneficiaries of the checks that some people never got. They never thought the information would come out and its the same people who not cooperating with the auditor general. You can run but can’t hide
You don’t know how to read or you read and see what you want. The article is clearly about the Business stimulus not the fishing, farming, or district stimulus.
They gave the business a decent stimulus but still some incurred losses greater than that over the course of the pandemic.
Don’t be jealous, because you don’t know the businesses financial situation.
“Steep learning curve “. More work needed in stealing and not getting caught
If curfews become a continual phenomenon, more stimuli will be needed!
It’s OK for those of you with billions, governmental workers, and others with vast sums in stocks and such, to be all for this.
However, the vast majority of persons whose livelihoods depend on nighttime activities are, for two weeks, without income..
Who will compensate for such losses? Government should always think about these persons and formulate financial aids for such groups.
It’s just so painful that we are here at this again, because of a few idiots who eschew the protocols of good science.
When I look at online events in the BVI, few wear masks. Distancing of any kind-out the door. And these events take place in air conditioned buildings, which IS the cause for super spreading!
We need a commonsense approach that places safety first, but at the same time, not bring financial hardship to the peoples-ALL, of the peoples, who are dependent on tourists for an income!!!
So those of us who got left out should be paid now! If we met the criteria, which we did well then pay us now. Still need it more now than ever!
AND HERE WE GO AGAIN / ANOTHER ONE JUMPED OUT THE WOOD- WORKS
The COI report should recommend the immediate dissolution of this government with the Governor using his reserve powers to manage the territory until a new election can be held.
All ministers of that corrupt government to be barred from running ever again. This will set the necessary example.
Nope we voted for them and many of them have never held office before so chill your smear campaign as if they were mucking about for years when in reality they came in as fresh faces and handled the early pandemic way better than the UK and other countries.
Now this a comment with sense. Tag Rankin and foot bottom. This place in trouble. People couldn’t get a covid test today self unless it’s for travel. Heath system done crash except for the tent they set up out the complex but can’t operate them.
Tell people how train youall are in using the ventilators. Ain’t look like they even fully understand.
I pray for God hand to stretch down and cover us
A New line for been “Wilfully Dishonest”. If Prosecutions dont happen, this excercise will be a complete waste of people’s time and money, and the nonsense wont stop..
You cannot compare the bvi to the America.
people who have been paying tax for over the years wasnt even qualified. i know people who doesnt work, dont even work for themsellf collected stumulus payout and they dont even pay tax. so the question is, who really qualify? sure not me after paying tax for nearly 20yrs and was home for almost 2 months didnt qualify. they need to pay fir what they did to the hard working people of the bvi.