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Over $1.6M in rent concessions offered to TPP tenants since 2020

The statue of Cyril B Romney mounted at the pier park on Tortola.

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr Natalio Wheatley has revealed that the Virgin Islands government granted rent concessions to 70 tenants at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park which totalled more than 1.6 million dollars.

Responding to questions from Leader of the Opposition Julian Fraser yesterday, the Finance Minister said the rent concessions were for the period between April 2020 and February 2021. This period was to help alleviate the economical strains that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic and the eventual lockdown of the territory and its tourism sector.

“Please also note that additional concessions have been granted since October 2019 and March 2020 to tenants who requested concessions totalling 132,914.03, during the period associated with the rent concession due to the impact of COVID. There were no evictions. This is what I was told,” Dr Natalio Wheatley revealed to the members of the House.

While no evictions of tenants were made, the Premier said they were sent a notice of their duty under their lease agreements to pay the significantly reduced rent.

“Please also note that Tortola Pier Park Ltd has obligations to shareholders, other stakeholders and to the upkeep of the facility. No eviction notices were served. I have been advised that there are no evictions,” the Finance Minister said.

However, Opposition Leader Fraser said he would yield to the Premier’s answer that there were no evictions, but he said the tenants were served eviction notices.

“Of the eviction notices, I think the Premier needs to get a hold of the records to see for himself when he talks about eviction notices not being issued,” Fraser said.

Fraser, in the meantime, some tenants were still hurting and could not pay the rent and sought additional assistance for them. Dr Wheatley said he was not in a position to answer currently but he promised to investigate and get back to the House.

Meanwhile, the Finance Minister was questioned about a letter from tenants requesting a meeting with former Premier, Andrew Fahie. The letter was reportedly sent last year.

The current Premier said he was still getting orientated with his new position and still learning of the concerns of the people.

“I have asked about the reference letter and I am still unable to obtain a copy. However, I have spoken to the Minister of Communications and Works under whose portfolio the Pier Park now falls, and we are both willing to meet with tenants if they still wish to do so,” the Premier said.

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15 Comments

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  1. Bad Decisions says:

    That is why VL should have been sent home, not transferred to our Ports Authority.

    Like 11
    Dislike 3
  2. he got balls says:

    I like Fraser’s position as leader of the opposition at this time because he is not afraid to ask the tough questions and yo better answer him

    Like 8
    Dislike 1
    • Jah says:

      Frasier need to answer how his brothers allegedly have the contract for sea cows bay warf without tendering when he was minister in the 09s

      • Look says:

        There were many contracts and if you were a contractor and noticed that they needed your property to execute you would want some work too. That is just how in here is. Fraser brother’s property is not Fraser own. Fraser’s brother’s request was not Fraser own. If Fraser’s brother, and others, didn’t execute their part of the job, Fraser’s brother, and others, will pay us back. There are other areas that need that money, so those of you who didn’t execute the job please be prepared to pay every last copper cent back to the taxpayers.

      • Look says:

        There were many contracts and if you were a contractor and noticed that they needed your property to execute you would want some work too. That is just how in here is. Fraser brother’s property is not Fraser own. Fraser’s brother’s request was not Fraser own. If Fraser’s brother, and others, didn’t execute their part of the job, Fraser’s brother, and others, will pay back. There are other areas that need that money, so those of you who didn’t execute the job please be prepared to pay every last copper cent back to the taxpayers.

  3. Truth says:

    Why don’t they put statues of Willock, Cline and Fahie all together at the Pier Park – Birds of a feather…

    Like 3
    Dislike 5
  4. hmm says:

    so now when they making big profit are they donating anything to government, schools? etc. I strongly believe no. are they paying all their government dues? small man who had to work for someone everyday were not given rent free but business making a profit was given.

  5. VL says:

    Yet VL gets rewarded by appointment to the Port? Unity Government you are already making very bad decisions!

  6. Big Richard says:

    Relatives.

  7. Truth says:

    To name the Pier Park after a politician who was fully part of the previous co**upt way of doing business in the territory is a joke.

    • VG68 says:

      Yep. We all referred to him as Mr.10%

    • Liane says:

      A lot of people are unaware of the goings on during his stint as Chief Minister. It was every bit as convoluted then as it is now. Yet he was never charged. In fact, he was never even questioned or investigated, despite the fact that he owned 99% of the company involved in the scheme.

      For those who would like to educate themselves in regards to past history of government involvement in money laundering which was connected to drug smuggling, etc. etc.

      What is happening now is nothing new. Corruption in government at the highest levels has been going on for DECADES!

      https://apnews.com/article/4c49ecee45e43b0b8ac8d01dba73694d

      and https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1986-10-23-8603040655-story.html

      A little digging online will offer up quite a bit more on the topic. There’s even a book about it. But don’t use Google, it’s somehow been sanitized. Go to Bing or another search engine.

      Oh and let’s not forget the whole Panama Papers debacle and the unwillingness of government officials to submit requested documents regarding “beneficial ownership”. I believe this request was held to be tantamount to yet another attempt to impose “colonialism” on the poor oppressed people of the Virgin Islands. It seems it’s a very convenient and helpful phrase … guaranteed to get people stirred up and looking in the wrong direction!

      As I said, it’s all very convoluted and it all goes back a very long time to the grandaddy of the offshore banking industry in the BVI. Shell companies, beneficial ownership, money laundering, drugs, it’s all just chock full of international intrigue!

      Like 1
      Dislike 1
  8. Banker says:

    Rent freezes and reductions, asking for special favors from their bank yet they still paid a dividend? Foolishness.

  9. Jokes says:

    The article is very misleading. Majority of the $1.6 mil.concessions was to the big jewellery stores that paying big rent. The break was for 3 months while COVID and lockdowns affected businesses for 2 years. The word play will not fool everyone.

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