Penn alarmed! Gov’t seeking over $38M heading into elections
Opposition Leader Marlon Penn said he was taken aback recently by a post-Cabinet statement from the government which was seeking additional funding.
“I was taken aback just last week when I got the Cabinet paper — the extract from Cabinet that speaks on the decisions that were made in Cabinet,” Penn stated.
The Opposition Leader said there were two major resolutions coming to the next available sitting of the House of Assembly (HOA).
An extract from the government’s March 23 Cabinet decisions shows the government decided that a draft resolution should be introduced at the next HOA sitting. This resolution is seeking to withdraw more than $38 million from various funds, including the Consolidated Fund and the Reserve Fund.
Penn said he has already expressed concern in the past about the government not accurately funding projects that it has been executing.
He made reference to the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) redevelopment project which he said grew from $7 million to a contract signing that called for $11 million.
Monies geared to elections campaign?
“This money seems like we’re gearing up for something, particularly campaign spending,” the Opposition Leader stated.
Penn warned that if those requested monies are withdrawn, the territory may eventually be in breach of the Protocols for Effective Financial Management signed a decade ago between the United Kingdom and the BVI. These protocols effectively set fiscal limitations for the territory to ensure that the government manages the public purse prudently and responsibly at all times.
“Based on the numbers that I’m seeing here, this is going to put us in breach of the Protocols for Effective Management based on our liquid assets and based on our current expenditure,” the Opposition Leader said.
Penn argued that current guidelines state that the BVI must maintain a position within 25 per cent of its liquid assets.
He said the Public Finance Management Act is very clear in terms of its regulations and how persons can access funds from the Reserve Fund.
Penn said he was deeply concerned that the BVI is now more than three years into the current administration and has not been given a clear picture in terms of the current financial state of the territory.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Same everytime. Spend spend spend with no transparency or accountability and leave the new Government with an uphill struggle with no funds left and a bunch of ill thought through projects passed on to line the past cronies and families pockets.
This cycle just goes on and on and the country never progresses just heads ever backwards while the few prosper.
For all of its wild spending and raping of the Social Security fund , what has the Fahie government achieved? Not a single new infrastructure project of any sort; roads , sewage and especially education remain third world embarrassments.
But the Premier is building a palace in the hills. So that can be his legacy.
You sound so stupid. You can tell that you didn’t finish school.
He achieved that 7% tax and expats working so hard here and trying to feed their families back in their homeland.
Keep fahie hands outta deh cookie jar
Fahie maybe bad, but after knowing a thing, his second in command could be even worst. That is sad that some members of the public have no confidence in some of those elected.
Tell Penn stop l**ng.
Please do not believe a word Marlon says.
The public had enough of this petty politics.
Penn can stop trying to divide us.
Hmmm the Brown Bommber will make sure that when he makes that final exit from politics,he will be funded for necessary expenses and a few luxuries.
If this is true, this is very serious.
@ Serious, you are right. Any decent human being would seek to have the government’s own side of the story before making any comment. If I were to be in Penn’s shoes, I would seek a clarification from the Government. If indeed, Government is seeking the funds as alleged, Government should be able to state the purpose and to confirm that this is in violation of fiscal policies.
Haaaaaaaaahaaaaaaa….that’s what we get when we vote for people who can’t speak for themself but need to read what an advisor typed up for them the night before. Or for a party that’s willing to give away 7 million on a airline concept that looks to be re elected. I am just staying home, I can’t stomach voting this year
Three power hungry people getting together out of greed to try to take out one man. I will continue to take my chances with Fahie. He cares about people.