Should gov’t dip into Social Security fund to secure re-election?
Opposition Leader Julian Fraser has pleaded with the government to be creative, make bold moves, and adopt a different approach if it wants to win re-election in the territory.
While speaking in the House of Assembly (HOA) recently, Fraser said the government was able to construct an entire complex to repair the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS), even as the HOA was ‘playing around’ with renovations for its original location. Fraser said this is an indication that the government — led by Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Chairman Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley — could get things done.
He said government should borrow money to complete other important projects in the territory and not allow themselves to ‘sit there’ and ‘sink’ because of inaction amid fears about the likely impact on the upcoming general elections.
“Government has the ability to borrow up to 30 percent of the Social Security pension fund; irregardless of where the standing is in the borrowing guidelines. Be creative, do things, step out of the box,” Fraser urged.
Mistakes can be corrected
The Third District Representative pointed out that Premier Wheatley and his Cabinet members have youth on their side, offering an opportunity to correct any potential mistakes that might be made.
“If you make a mistake, you still got life to correct it. It ain’t exactly like stepping on a banana peel where you could hurt yourself. It’s a simple mistake. Go borrow money, challenge yourself, fix the country. It’s been wallowing in the slumber for too long,” Fraser said.
The veteran lawmaker questioned what the government was afraid of and pondered what was the worst that could happen if it borrows money to fix the country.
He insisted that the government should move into action and not wait for another administration to make these much-needed fixes.
“You still got a few months left. Go to work, get some documents drawn up for the Ellis Thomas Downs. Have it there ready going into the election. You could just tell them, this is what we going to do. That’s how you win elections,” Fraser advised.
VIP slammed the brakes in 2011
Offering his own personal reflection, Fraser recalled that the same thing happened to a previous incarnation of a Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration of which he was a member.
“That Cyril B Romney Tortola Pier Park, we could have done it in the 2007-2011 administration. But for some reason, our leadership just felt, you know, ‘hold the brakes, slam the brakes’,” Fraser stated.
He continued: “We had a contractor already selected to extend the cruise ship pier. He came [and] he just slammed the brakes, and in came the NDP and they looked like messiahs. Don’t allow another administration to do that with you,” Fraser pleaded.
The NDP won re-election for a second consecutive term in office under former Premier Dr Orlando Smith after calling for snap general elections in June of 2015. The pier park was officially opened months later in February of 2016 after a brief delay.
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Publicly announcing proposed financial mismanagement..old school BVI politics is here to stay!
Yhe rats are running out of cheese. Where will their next nests come from?
FRASER FOR PREMIER
Exactly, taking us back to the ‘cookie jar’ days.
While it may sound a bit ‘off’, Fraser is actually correct. The place is in shambles and the regular annual budget does not take into account nor can it accommodate major infrastructural works. Borrowing is needed! The RDA has demonstrated the ability to undertake and complete (within budget!!) major projects. What are we waiting on? Get things in place, draw the plans up, put funding together and let RDA continue the good works. If SSB can spend all that money putting houses in Long Bush that nobody will buy, then they can afford to loan funding for the Territory’s development, it just needs to be done responsibly.
No! NO no no.
Borrowing is needed, which is why the UK Loan Guarantee should have been accepted with the protections and supervision that came with it. It also would have been cheaper.
The idea of the government borrowing from the Social Security Fund after everything that we heard from the CoI, not to mention the Head Coach issues, is suicidal.
We need properly trained, diligent, honest people in place to supervise the spending of the funds. Just doing stuff with the Social Security fund to get elected is why we are in the state we are in, with billions wasted or stolen over the last 30 years, and nothing to show for it. This needs to be stopped unless BVI retirees want an impoverished retirement, still with terrible infrastructure.
I know this is “politics” and the people in the house with jobs for life like Papa Doc and Baby Doc trying to manipulate the newbies to do what they didn’t do. The newbies are faced with the COI findings because of what the lifers did over and over ad nauseum. We need revenue. OK. I came in on a full boat yesterdays, mostly tourists. The conditions at the port were only passable because it did not rain. TOURISTS paying hella money to come here were out on the dock around the corner of the building. The Resident line only moved faster because we weren’t being grilled like the Spanish Inquisition. But when I stepped up with a filled out form that clearly stated where I work and that I in fact work here I was met by a young miss who was rude to the max because she said she didn’t know me. I didn’t know her either but I was respectful. I don’t claim to have the answers for things like this, except people need to teach their children manners and someone needs to talk to them about respect, work ethics, etc. Then you get outside with your luggage and the man handling tourists is talking to people loud and somewhat rude, in my opinion. And when the tourists finally get some daylight and see the condition of this country they will curse about the “environmental” tax they paid. Notwithstanding the fact that we were all standing in line a long time if you were even being greeted with a little dignity and respect it wouldn’t rub the wrong way. I must say that the two young ladies guiding the process and telling us when to come inside and how many could come in at a time were gracious and when a elderly tourist who could not stand that long was pointed out she took her inside and gave her a seat. Thank God for that. The one kiosk that a lady tried was not working, so what’s the use of that?
Whoever is the lady government just hired to work on Customer Service has her hands filled. I wonder if she will be working at Inland Revenue with the lady who doesn’t talk. All the bragging about the AA flights in June will be like spitting in the wind if we have to go through all that mess at customs and immigration. It isn’t cheap to come here. Just me alone had to take two planes and a boat to get home, up since 3am. A lot of people on that boat had done the same thing. So many people will say if they go through all of that they must really want to come here. So does that make it ok that when they get here finally they are abused? I belong here, not because some politician handed me a card, because I came to it by birth and I still think it’s just to much to endure too often for it to be worth it. And I don’t go through all that when I go to St. Thomas asso many are quick to say. We have a lot of problems here, many might be fixed by money sure. But a lot of our problems are because we can’t get out of our own way and the mind set is deeply rooted and has become a part of our culture. We have sociologists living here,maybe they know a fix the the stupidity we endure in an effort to visit and/or live here and support an industry that is supposedly one of the pillars of our economy. The people who started that pillar are mostly dead and most of those left behind to continue it have very little if anything to recommend them. And lastly, this particular government is completely and utterly clueless, including Mr. Frazier, in what it takes to properly run a government that isn’t traumatizing it’s people on a freaking daily basis. They are even more than clueless when it comes to tourism for SURE.
The surest way to not get elected is to touch our retirement funds in Social Security. That money belongs to the people who have paid in, not the government.
If you want to get elected promise to petition SS to increase the retirement benefit!
Some mistakes can be very costly so let us take time to do our home work.
Why not they’ve stolen from everything else. NHS, National park trust funds. Environmental impact fees. Smoke and mirrors my friends.
It seems as if Social Security is the Government personal bank…..utter nonsense. when the people need their benefits they have to climb mountains and crawl through rocks to get it. But everytime the Government cry they’re brokes they got to their personal bank the SSB. Ahyo better leave our benefits and go sort out what the hell y’all do with our tax money.
No, no, no! Are they mad? What kind ah politics and stewarddship is this?
WEll i don’t want to see the coat tail of one dead english man in here, but neither do i want to see none ah these, except for one lady from VG, reelected as choices for governance of these territories..
I do not have access to knowledge to that they are privy toobviously, but totake our retirement money to run for office? Here i am retired two uearsnow and yet to receive a penny . What the hell is going on in this country?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Things that sound positive but can be detrimental. Just remember, Uncle does not have anything to lose. Tread wisely with such ‘advise.’
Sure, you can rebound from a mistake. I heard that in 2009 someone put traffic lights on a roundabout. It was a simple mistake that caused more harm than good. The person’s boss ordered for the lights to be removed in weeks and the person didn’t lose their job. You see, there is hope.
What crazy we have sitting in office in the BVI. Rob from pensioners to do what exactly? Build a building so the ppl can have a plate of food now. These old and young hard heads need to go. Get rid of all of them Government and Opposition. Start fresh
I wouldn’t give the BVI govt a loan for a half eaten Johnny cake.
IfI was them, them better haul them mother come and leave my pention money alone and use them greedy bill salary. Why every time its we the tax payers?
NO,NAWH,NOT,KNOW, TALL,