Penn trying to manipulate persons on agri funding — Dr Wheatley
Deputy Premier and Minister for Agriculture Dr Natalio Wheatley has accused Opposition Leader Marlon Penn of being deliberately deceitful in continuing to insist that there was only $50,000 allocated to agriculture in the territory’s budget.
“The Leader of the Opposition was on [the radio] last night and keeps talking about the fact that we only have $50,000 in the budget for agriculture and fisheries,” Dr Wheatley said while speaking on the Virgin Islands Party’s Let’ Talk radio programme on Tuesday.
He continued: ”And I think, [he is] trying to manipulate persons by saying when you look at the budget book and you look at the section that says agriculture, and if you look under capital projects you’ll only see $50,000.”
He was absent from the sessions
Premier Andrew Fahie had a different take on the Opposition Leader’s viewpoint, however.
“I don’t know if I could say it’s deceitful. I just would say that he was absent from the budget sessions when the Ministry of Finance explained it. So, I don’t think that he got to read the notes. So, I don’t think that he’s being deceitful I just think that he just didn’t attend at that time,” Premier Fahie said.
The Premier said all persons who were present for the budget deliberations during the Standing Finance Committee segment at the time would know that the Ministry of Finance explained very clearly that $1,000,000 of the government’s money services transfer tax would be directed towards agriculture and fisheries.
He said these funds would not be under the section of monies allocated to fishing and farming in the budget.
“They stated this would be done based on what would be brought forward by the ministry,” he explained.
Budget governs gov’t spending
Penn had previouslu argued on the NDP radio show that the budget is a legal document that governs how the government‘s finances are going to be spent for a particular fiscal year.
He said that in the budgetary process, the only money that was approved for fishing under the capital expenditure was $50,000.
The Opposition Leader said the only way that any other monies can be allocated is through a supplementary allocation which would have to go back to the House of Assembly to be adjusted.
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Hon Penn is correct. What is in the budget is allocated for the spending.
To spend more the Government will have to make special request for the additional funds.
I think this is how this Government likes it, so they can ask for whatever they want when they ready.
Natalio Wheatley and Andrew Fahie to looses one tells untruths and the other is out in left field looking for the ball.
So what is he really saying??!! He think we didnt see the lists??!! We listened to the COI as well.
THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONNABLE NAMES ON THOSE LISTS WHO NEITHER FISH NOR FARM! So explain to us how they got funds under this program?? You all think everybody stupid that’s the problem, but we arent. Keep hanging yourselves, election is closer than we think.
Sowande is so f**king clueless. Penn said what is TRUTH. He said only $50K has been allocated in the approved budget. The caveat of monies coming from the money services taxes is just circumstantial and not set in stone, which is Penn’s point. The only cemented figure for agriculture that has been budgeted is $50K. The Premier knows he cannot spend $200K knowing only $50K is there but is trying to distract people with the $1mil figure.
like the way you put it , that was funny and so are those 2 fellows
Hon Penn is correct, and Fahie has instructed his lapdog Wheatley to call him a liar. These people are morally bankrupt.
Can you manipulate anyone on s deed that is already done ?
The fact is 6 million dollars spent on fishing and farming
1. What have we seen in a practical way where the people of the country is now benefiting from this package ?
2. Give us the proof that is what the country needs ?
Now we as a people cannot see the results if this stimulus. Therefore that is what you called manipulation ?
You manipulate the people into thinking the price of fish and locally grown products from the farms woukd be available abs at a lower cost than the imported fish and food , it is worse …
No food increase and no fish , We BVi people cannot be MANIPULATED no
Longer by cheap talk without actions