NDP allegedly misappropriated $10.5M of roadwork $$ — Premier
Premier Andrew Fahie has accused the former National Democratic Party (NDP) government of misappropriating $10.5 million of the territory’s revenue.
Fahie said his government discovered that the monies were collected for the territory’s Transportation Improvement Network but were never placed into a designated fund, as required by law.
According to the Premier, every $0.03 collected on each gallon of fuel imported into the BVI is supposed to be placed into this fund.
He said the NDP allowed the $10.5 million millions to build up while the law was totally ignored.
“That money was put inside of the Consolidated Fund … and [was used to] do many things. [However], no improvement of the infrastructure [was done],” the Premier claimed.
He said the issue was brought to his attention by Works Minister Kye Rymer who insisted that the situation be rectified.
And according to Premier Fahie, the very Opposition members – who were part of the previously governing NDP – are now trying to hold his minister accountable for not utilising the fund for infrastructural works as they should have done when they were in office.
“Rather than putting the money in the fund and using it to help the infrastructure of this country, they went and borrowed $16 million from the Social Security [Board] to do roads that up to now we can’t see whether the road is smoother, more rough in the air, or whatever,” he said.
Fahie described the territory’s roads as being “worse than ever” because of the former government.
He said persons should not be blaming his government for the infrastructural woes of the country given what has taken place under the NDP’s watch.
And while clapping back at criticism from the parliamentary Opposition, the Premier said much of his government’s term in office has been spent fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and one could see the stress on the faces of his ministers.
“We have to do so many things with less money,” Fahie said.
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Expect the same happens to the environmental tax, and the money transfer tax.
Simple question, are the roads better now than when Fahie took over ?
up = yes
down = no
I see you are now part of the COI Mr Premier. Kindly pass the information unto the COI along with your consultant progress reports.
…so why is a CoI unecessary if all this is going on? Mr Fahie submit your report to Sir Gary to investigate….
How many times will F*t Albert try to shift blame?
He’s not shifting blame the records are there as proof. He’s dealing with COVID ,but remember the old people say who laugh last does first what goes around comes around and when it comes around it comes around hard
We have had no substantive leadership or strategy from this government regarding the biggest peacetime crisis ever.
Take away the fractious personal vendettas, outsourcing to parasitic consultants, pleas to pray and fast, and now retrospective blame on a previous administration, and you are left with an empty cupboard, bereft of imagination, vision or ideas. Cometh the hour, cometh the man…or possibly not in this case.
There we go again, it is the NDP fault that our roads are in such terrible shape. Did they misappropriate the grass cutting funds also?
Get your facts straight. This information came to light when Fraser in the Opposition asked for this information so stop blame Fahie.
NDP left the country so broke that Fahie could’ve hired bodyguards for the first in BVI history, for hundreds of thousands, paid barges to sit in our waters, gave away over $6mil to fake farmers and fishermen. Who is he fooling? I am not going to defend anything NDP has done but let’s say that Fahie is truthful, now what? You asked to lead and be different, yet 2 years later you are still hiding behind NDP? You had a chance to use some of the stimulus to actually STIMULATE (incase you don’t know where simulus was derived). You could have put money towards infrastructural works which enhances the place while giving job opportunities to persons thereby lifting the economy. But NO, let’s give 6 mil to fishermen and farmers and we are no better off with seafood or local farm produce than before.
I recall the previous Governor saying that the previous elected Government left the country in excellent financial shape.
The way Andrew doling and to those who didn’t request, moneys met when he arrived must have been solid.
Well no lies told here. It’s unfortunate.
He start up again with his fables. The last time when the COI asked him to tell them about the corruption that he claimed the last government was involved in he nearly had to go to the toilet right then and there. This man just does not learn. How irresponsible of a leader can you be to be making these types of statement in front of the whole world when the fate of your country hangs in the balance with the UK? When the entire world knows that we have a COI looking into corruption in the country; and when as leader you continue to breach the constitution by bringing resolutions to the House to exempt your government member who should have resigned already? Somebody got to tell me that this man has not lost mind.
He is saying all this while giving money as the minister of finance to the Speaker to bring frivolous court cases against the COI. So which one is it Fahie? If there is corruption as you are saying here then why are you allowing tax payers money to be wasted to keep out the counselors for the COI? Oh, what tangled webs we weave when at first we try to deceive.
When you live in a glass house
Another accusations by Fahie that will hit him in the Cohones.
If this is so, he would have filed the details with COI and we would know about it in the aporopriate venue at the appropriate time.
Very unbecoming of Fahie.
Blame Blame Blame and no action.
They going put each other in Jail. They need to understand the COI aint playing and its not our friend..
He’s not shifting blame the records are there as proof. He’s dealing with COVID ,but remember the old people say who laugh last does first what goes around comes around and when it comes around it comes around hard
AND THE BEAT GOES ON.WHAT MORE CAN I SAY.
Well Fahie please tell us where the money is for the Tourism and Environmental Levy? Where is that money that you been collecting going? Is it in a separate fund in its own bank account? $2 from every $10 collected is supposed to go the Tourism Board. Have they received a penny of it?
Pot calling kettle black. Sick of all ayou!
Misappropriation is a nice way of saying theft. If the Premier has evidence of it then the perpetrators need pursuing and prosecuting. If I found evidence of theft in my work place and didn’t take action I am just helping to cover it up.
Man Andrew you disappoint me. Why you always bring up the past of what NDP did. Run the dam country, make the place better. We don’t care what any government did back then. We care about the now and the future. Shut up and drive man! You have the power to exact change.
All the so called “crimes” that the COI are investigating were in the past. Should we take your advice and send the commissioner and his team home just because we care about the now and future? Think before you type. All criminals should be locked up whether NDP or VIP.
How about, when roads are resurfaced, it is done properly instead of slap-dash?! The roads should last 10 years, not need re-doing after 10 weeks! If we don’t have the needed skills here, then send people away to learn and bring them back.
Great idea, but no guarantee that the skilled learned elsewhere will be applied here because that would require more effort than most are willing to put in after years of being used to be paid for shoddy worrk.
We have a little boy for the Premier of the BVI always blaming the next kid or tell li*s to cover himself, can’t believe a word he says.
Andrew can talk about wrong(mishandling of funds) being done by the past ministers, but, when I spoke out about Post Office Guns threats you Fahie and your crew said I have mental issues. You hypocrite.
Fahie tell us you haven’t done the same!
That’s not what misappropriation means.
For the past 25 years NOBODY has spent the required money on infrastructure to develop our country. NOBODY has had the vision or leadership to invest for the long-term future. It’s time to ditch anyone clinging to the old tired parties.
Like Bugs Bunny in Looney Toons.
5 for me, 1 for you. 5 for me, 1 for you.
well all is already been said and it’s like am elephant (no disrespect ) in a china’s shop