We can go into the reserves for ESHS if donors don’t come — Fahie
Premier Andrew Fahie has disclosed that the government can withdraw monies from the territory’s Reserve Fund to get additional financing for the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) redevelopment project if it wishes.
The Premier was recently questioned at a press conference about where his government would find a $4.2 million deficit for that project if his earlier request for 70 companies to each donate $60,000 did not materialise as planned.
“Let me just say right now, because I don’t need any article saying ‘Fahie shunning what we could do’. We could go into the reserves, we could stop some projects that is happening, we could decide to go into a line of credit, we could decide to do many other things to get it done as a backup,” the Premier explained.
Donors have to come forward
However, the Premier questioned why his government should have to pursue those options, particularly since persons have become doctors, lawyers, accountants and professionals in the financial services sector after having the benefit of attending the BVI’s foremost high school during their formative years.
“If someone who did not attend the Elmore Stoutt High School could come forward and say ‘I’m going to contribute $4 million’, what about those who did attend it and those who attended and has gone into institutions here and made them multi-millionaires?” Premier Fahie asked.
“They have to come forward, we are encouraging them to come forward. We are not forcing them, because we can’t force you to give us your money, but we are encouraging them,” he added.
According to the Premier, businesses have already started to come forward with donations for the project since his plea two weeks ago. He said this was in addition to individual alumni who have started funding drives of their own.
The territory’s leader also noted that potential donors will be informed of how their money is spent along the way and said the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) previously did this previously with other projects.
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Why don’t they ask the so called farmers and fishermen to donate from their “Businesses”.
After so much policy that had an adverse effect on businesses they have heart to come up with the foolishness? Give me a break.
BVI wake up, we need to correct the mistake we make last election.
Correct the mistake and elect who? Marlon? Who are his team? In order to make any change there must be a viable alternative, we cannot just vote in and vote out people every election and act surprised when things go wrong. We need real visionary leadership and unfortunately I don’t know where we will get that at this time because none of the options are impressive.
The UK will be running the place for a while.
Well you run and bring a team. Politics not for everyone. so come good aye.
I couldn’t agree more, and on top of the waste of money for FAKE farmers and fishermen, this VIP Government spent $6.2 MILLION DOLLARS on lawyers to defend themselves in the COI. Now busy asking people to donate their hard and honestly earned money, I really believe this this this govt must be sick in the head.
The Colombian Parcel Service has lots of money.
Adolf should start a gofundme page LOL LOL they might soon need bail money too
Yes the mistake was electing any of the current politicians. They are ALL corrupt. The COU has proven that and we will see the 40 dictates of the COU shortly. The Territory needs a reprieve from these cr**ked politicians and if that means the Governor rules for a few years, so be it. If not there will be nothing left and Little Haiti will be the new tourist slogan.
I would not donate money because I do not believe that there would be any transparency on how it was spent or how the tenders were assessed to ensure best-value. I am sorry but this government’s reputation precedes it.
Interesting isn’t it that this bunch of anti business , anti tourism, anti enterprise clowns now thinks it can tap the very people it is trying to bankrupt for funds.
You really imagine there are 70 businesses who are going to give you $60,000 each ?
You must be h**h on your supply.
The RDA should NEVER have agreed to undertake this project in its current form – it is badly procured and has no funding. This is exactly what the RDA was conceived to prevent. Sad times…
Exactly.
Yes, they replaced the top independent people at the RDA with puppets that will do exactly what they are told. The RDA is no longer fit for purpose.
“They have to come forward” my boi They don’t HAVE to do shhhhh….. I thought we live in a democratic society, check yourself Adolf. The nerve of these people in charge
Threaten our reserves. How dare You!!!!!!!
After someone has donated so much money, you still want to dig into the reserve wow
This sounds like Andrew is cleaning up Sowande muck when he stated we already got 4 million dollars from an anonymous donor (one individual not a corporation). The monies are already in the Government’s hands. Well, Sowande should not have said that.
This is very similar to how this Govt dealt with the Marijuana bill. How do you agree to a verbal contract with someone to distribute Marijuana from your country before passing a law to grow the herbs? what happened to the bidding process for such business endeavors?
This Government decision does scream for an INVESTIGATION!!! I thought Uhuru would have been different but the money got to him it’s clear.
Andrew, there’s no need to try to clean up this here it’s been 3 years of the same nonsense. I hope someone can list the BS you have done to this administration over the last 3 years.
Andrew, you need to put up the first $60,000.00, not government money but out of your pocket, better still why don’t you go back to the UK lawyer and get back the 1.2 million you paid in the last 2 months after the COI was over. the amount of money you you have spent with out reason since you are Premier its shameful that you are out there begging for money. The UK loan would have come in handy but you wanted it on your terms. We march you out of office.
Disgraceful, just disgraceful. Salaries for ex- legislative members who get voted out, millions of dollars given to farmers and fisherman that don’t exist, etc, etc, the list just goes on.
They are sick people. Wasting and spending money on themselves, then coming to ask us for donations. Something is really wrong with them messon.
Don’t worry about the reserves, you going get arrested, charged, tried and found guilty and serve your time behind bars for your wickedness and raybiness. You and all your tagalongs
—-tarded
You have a $$$400MILLION budget
You have 3rd world infrastructure
Where the h**l is the school money in the 400 million I see nothing else there to account for this money except fraud theft and illegal distribution to people that provide nothing for the money
Well, in theory, every business and every employee in the Territory contributed in the way of taxes, as did every tourist and visitor. And, in theory, the public has a right to expect the funds are properly managed an accounted for. After 20+ years of having a GNP in excess of $ 1 billion, you’d think there would have been monies for fixing up the schools, but no. That said we did find the money for a no-bid project to install a/c in the sports complex. All the outcome of decisions made by people whose fat salaries are paid for by the public.
Who going to study he with his $$ishne$$ may I ask?
Once the UK dont take over these will be more white elephants
“reserves”– Our social security
wonder if Willock done pay his bill
The government done pay Blondie’s bill………..where do you think Blondie instructions came from ????
He and the clergyman are top dog’s mouthpieces…….…..why did he put D3 representative on the committee because Groucho Marx is Blondie’s bosom buddy.
Wake up people…………
Is it yours? Yo put any deh?
The truth is there was opportunity to find funds for the school by downscaling the housing project on the hill ( could always expanded it later) and using those funds for the school. I am not even going to talk about the wasted farmer/fisher funds.
This Administration never had the rebuilding of the school as priority or it would have been done but election is potentially around the corner (Coi report permitting) so all of a sudden there is this great urgency.
AND MR PUMKIN WILL BE THEIR PERSONAL BODYGUARD FOR THEIR VACATION UP BALO
Not my money though.
What about the $19 Million lost every year through waste in the water distribution system??? I am really confused that this is not outraging the public. They will not get a dollar from me until they address or at least make a real effort to address the massive amount of waste in this country.
So the project is suppose to cost $11 Million. They say they are getting $4 Million from a Donor, asking for another $4 Million from businesses, so they only have/will have to come up with $3 Million on the government side? And he already set a hard deadline of September? You all ain’t tired of this man trying to fool you all messon? September of 2023 he means right?? Marlon already predicted that he will go into the reserves. If going into the reserves is his last resort then oh well…Will he dip into the reserves for the West End Ferry Dock too? More SSB Money? Pure election gimmicks.
How much the cruise lines chipping in? They can afford it.