Premier to face no-confidence motion

The parliamentary opposition will move a no-confidence motion against Premier Dr D Orlando Smith when the House of Assembly next meets on Tuesday, August 1.

According to copies of the Order Paper leaked to the press, Leader of the Opposition Andrew Fahie will move the motion mainly on the grounds of what he considers to be the mismanagement of the territory’s financial affairs.

However, the governing party, with its 11-2 majority in the House, is expected to throw enough support behind Premier Smith for him to survive the motion.

The upcoming motion brings back memories of a similar situation in July 2013 when Opposition member Julian Fraser took similar action against Premier Smith.

Fraser’s no-confidence motion, which was aimed at toppling the Smith administration, failed drastically.

Meanwhile, based on the documents outlining the latest reason for the motion next month, the Opposition is now accusing the Smith administration of not abiding by the principles of transparency and accountability.

It noted the cash-flow challenges facing the government, as well as the failure of the administration to bring financial statements to the House in a timely manner.

The motion also highlights various instances of questionable spending by the government. They include the cruise pier project that had a cost over-run of more than $30 million, the $7.2 million that Government has pumped into the privately owned BVI Airways, as well as the diversion of $8 million from the sewerage project in East End/Long Look to the cruise pier development in Road Town.