We need the discretionary funds COI took away
First District Representative Dr Karl Dawson has said he is finding it difficult to help some of his constituents who are in need because the discretionary funds that were once available to district representatives have been eliminated.
Discretionary funds were given to each representative and could be easily accessed without going through the formal processes within the government. However, the Commission of Inquiry (COI) put a stop to the allocation of these funds, making it more difficult for leaders to help constituents and forcing them to account for every dollar taken from the government’s coffers.
Other elected leaders have already bemoaned the elimination of the funds, but as a first-time legislator, Dr Dawson said he is now realising that these funds could help to meet a variety of requests he gets as a district representative.
“It’s challenging in the sense that you do get a lot of requests. There was a fair amount of discretionary funds available to each district representative and I don’t think there was a good enough system in place to determine how those funds were spent,” Dr Dawson explained on the Talking Points radio show recently. “But on the other hand, we’ve swung the pendulum the other way entirely, where we’ve taken away all those funds when in fact as a district representative the simplest thing you may want to do to impact the lives of many people, you’re hands are tied.”
Dr Dawson said he did not agree with the way the funds were distributed before, adding that it left room for public resources to be abused. But he said the government has an obligation to revisit the COI decision if their recommendation is not allowing them to fulfil their duties as elected leaders.
“At the end of the day, we are still the government and while certain things may have been put in place — if we still don’t have the right system, we still have an obligation to tweak the thing and say how are we going to fit it to make sure we don’t have the same issues that brought on the COI and how do we set it up so a little help is available,” Dr Dawson explained.
When the funds were first taken away, Third District Representative Julian Fraser said many residents who were happy with the restrictions of the COI would eventually feel the negative effects, as those discretionary funds were used to help a lot of people.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
“…forcing them to account for every dollar taken from the government’s coffers.”
Forcing? Seriously? These are public funds and every dollar SHOULD be accounted for. Fine if you want to help your constituents, but you should have to justify and report it publicly.
Mehson you better get that gravy train going or else you will be a one termer.
The Hon Robin Hood !
Make recommendations to Social Development. The money is still there, there’s just accountability now. Surely that isn’t what you have a problem with?
How about focusing on the dump / incinerator which is poisoning countless people in West End every day? How about focusing about the state of the roads and street lighting? Stop trying to give out free handouts to the 1% and instead focus on improving the community as a whole!
The district reps can help without shelling out cash, and yes YOU should be held accountable for every dollar. the Government is handling OUR money.
Obviously the people of District One have got used to the hands outs from his predecessor!
Well said! Dr. Dawson evidently seems unaware of the financial recklessness assocaited with the govt. Doesn’t he have anything to do with Pier Park, a project where $10 million (about 15% of costs to reach 95% completion) went missing in “soft costs”?
Should’ve used the 250,000 instead
Nope! If the formal way is a problem then fix whatever there is to fix with it. There should only be the formal way! F**k yall discretion!
The beggers in 1st district send he to beg. What happen to the $200,000 them get from head coach for the Saturday worshipping church. He will hear bout them Carrot Bay people soon.
Dr. Dawson we the people are expecting better of you. when you know better you should do better. We cannot go backwards to a broken system. There are many ways to help your constituents other than buying them out. Be innovative and leverage your influence. Get to work doc we are expecting more from you. Forward ever….never mind.
Money is not the only way to help ppl, but when it becomes necessary use the channels that provide for accountability. It’s there, use it. Keep your hands clean in the process.
This just sounds like complaining that things are required to be done in a proper manner.
no, you guys just waste money
Hon Dawson you can not miss what you never had. Use your discretion and teach them how to fish. By the way how many expats are there asking for funding. You are one of the bright bulbs in the government use some initiative like premier Walwyn and get something going in the community. Move the stalls from road town take them to westend and give those who waiting on handouts let them sell coconut water.
Wow ! breathtaking insensitivity.
Give me taxpayers money that I dont have to account for so I can buy votes and play Mr Big.
Shows that he is totally unsuited to public office.
The people of district one by majority continued to show their lack of intellect by electing yet another VIP. To do what? to help allow the frig to continue? Look what Dr. Dawson complaining about.
1.Accountability is good.
2.your government needs to abide with the COI recommendations as it lines up with good governance.
3. Your government is in power, and still you can’t perform? Awah?
You can put a donkey to run in district one, once he’s deck out in green and the VIP logo ..is vote they’ll vote it in.
Yeah we’ve seen how ” discretionary funds” get spent in the BVI. For more info
https://viconsortium.com/vi-investigations/virgin-islands-from-breast-reduction-funding-to-109k-for-living-expensive-of-legislature-gross-waste-of-public-funds-in-bvi-unveiled-in-audit
He said forcing them to account for every dollar!!! wow!! you all dishonest a** needed to be accounting for every tax dollars spent to begin with. I am happy it was taken away to stop you all from the stupid spending, giving away our money to y’all friends, and pocketing it. you all are all the same despicable pigs
@Action – Premier Walwyn?! What the hell are you smoking? Keep off the fentanyl please!
Hear this cl**n; too early to rate him since she just now was elected. The gimme gimme gang in the 1st district on his a$$.
FIX SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT!! GIVE THEM THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO SWIFTLY AND TRANSPARENTLY PROVIDE LEGITMATE ASSISTANCE TO THOSES IN NEED AND STOP TALKING FOOLISHNESS!! DO YOU HAVE THE SKILLS AND INFORMATION TO DETERMINE WHO IS IN NEED????? STTUPPPEESSS.
And these are the people who want us side with them on matters of self determination and independence. The same people who complaining because public funds cant be released at their discretion and that they have to be accountable now. I don’t want to see the UK take over but I starting to feel like we not capable of fixing our own problems. We playing right into that narrative.
Gross Waste of Public Funds in BVI Unveiled in Audit.
The people have had enough of the government nonsense!!!\
No more unaccounted for money!
He is the first district rep willing to continue the charade. His constituents finish all they got between 2019 and 2022 already? They should have invested wisely.
What you are accustomed to is hard to do without. People going to work in prestigious jobs and begging. Now they all have high blood pressure. Was it worth it?
It’s important to have all senses, including common!
Avalable Water
Clean Air
Basic Human Rights to which earthlyhumans are entitled globally and that which the populace of these VI are routinely denied.
Handouts as tickets to political seats and to ensure endemic laziness and dependency in an effort to install the textbook image of Blackfolk aka Natives and their baby mills for the tourists is evidence of racism at its lowest.Black on Black crime as always. Dumbing down the school children with insfequate curriculum is akin to genocide.
Dr. Dawson, no doubt you are an intelligent Man. Don’t let Corruption be your Sankey song as well.
This Territory has NO TAX RETURN system in place.
Leave the People’s hard earned tax money in the Treasury to do the People’s business like fixing the Roads, Supplying Water, Cleaning the Country etc. God knows your Government has stolen enough of our Social Security Funds and gave it to their Friends and Private Secretaries family. At least there is some accountability in Social Development as long as we know who doesn’t have access to it. Please Hon. Dawson, ah beg, leave our money where its at. Thank You.