Where is the meat? Turnbull blasts budget
Second District Representative Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull has deplored the absence of substance in the Premier’s budget presented earlier this week and criticised the government for not presenting enough relief for the people of the territory.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley presented a budget totalling some $382.67 million. Out of that total budget, $367.95 million is designated for recurrent expenditure — addressing ongoing operational costs, while $70.9 million is allocated for capital expenditure, which focuses on investments in long-term assets and infrastructure.
But Turnbull accused the Premier of grazing over important issues in his budget speech such as the high cost of living, electricity bills, water issues, healthcare and crime in the territory. He also expressed that the budget failed to address the challenges and concerns the people of the territory are facing.
“What is going to be done, what is going to be injected into the budget that people could feel at ease in this country as we live and as we go through?” Turnbull asked.
The District Representative said he hoped that once lawmakers go through the Appropriation Bill in the Standing Finance Committee stage of proceedings where items in the budget are inspected in more detail, things will be made clearer.
“The budget speech — it was a speech nonetheless — the Premier and his team put it together,” Turnbull said. “But I’m looking for the meat because the people of the Virgin Islands are facing tremendous hardship right now.”
Turnbull argued that the government needed to put the money where it would be felt the most for the people and urged the government to stop the talk and chatter.
“It’s not just to talk about jobs, talk about employment, but what programmes are you putting in place to ensure that the people of the Virgin Islands are receiving employment?” Turnbull asked. “You can’t tell me that the budget is being reduced and you’re talking about increasing the wages [and] increasing the increments. Those things cost.”
Turnbull said he was looking forward to doing the work of making the Premier and his government accountable to the people of the territory.
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Anything pleases this young man? What has he offered this Territory since being elected in 2015? Confusion at every turn, no solutions, no legacy, no accomplishments, just complain complain. Don’t take my word for it, pull the files.
This man went all the way to Africa some days ago for what on Government’s dime? That money could’ve been allocated to help so many needy people.
Pure talk! They are all the same. While on the opposition he tries to score brownie points and while in government he is a lamb. Waste of time. These guys are all the same.
Young man you claim to be a man of God why don’t you follow what’s is written in the Bible instead you always find fault with everything just causing confusion that is all you are good for.
This dude is one of the most w***ed minded people you could meet. Once it is not him doing anything then it is never done correctly. He was just a Minister in government a few months ago and spent half a million on a bathroom, travelled to Egypt, and around the world, and tried to justify it all and more. Now he is here talking piddle. Well, we should not expect anything different to come out of his … mind and mouth.
Mitch is correct. Here is where we miss Ronnie. We must not forget that Ronnie was the one gave us the $10.000 tax exemption..I am 100% certain he would have increase it and increased the minimum wage by Jan 24.
NOBODY can increase minimum wage in a few months its just stupid to think that. Further, while Ronnie did a good job as Finance Minister, he was there when the economy was a lot more robust which is why he could have made the moves he did. Everything is political here which is why nothing gets done.
Do your research not Ronnie that was in place before Ronnie
Wasn’t it in 2013 that the $10,000.00 income tax was given; under which government?
It was before 2013 that was given that was NDP did that
all talk mitch
For a guy that confuses cheeks clapping and gun shots in the middle of the night, the last question you should ask is where is the meat
Look what happens when village boy starts wearing a suit!
Why are you all so hard on Mitch ? He is quite correct. Specifics are missing. Lots of generalities. Figures thrown around to fool those who are not really paying attention.
Read the speech again for yourselves
@ Interested – Because he’s a fake and you can see and hear it every time he opens his mouth. No substance only platitudes