You must now account for our $7.2M plane money, Premier told
Third District Representative Julian Fraser has placed Premier Andrew Fahie on notice that he (the premier) will be expected to provide answers about the controversial $7.2 million that the NDP government paid to the defunct BVI Airways airline.
Speaking Tuesday at the first sitting of the House of Assembly since the general election, Fraser told Fahie: “As far as I’m concerned, you are the Premier and whatever the last Premier did, you are responsible for. Oh yeah, you are going to tell us where the money for the plane went.”
“Premier, you asked a million questions when you were the Leader of the Opposition. I hope you present those answers to us when we ask them to you,” Fraser added.
During his stint as Opposition Leader, Fahie would often complain about what he described unsatisfactory and perhaps circumlocutory responses from former Premier Dr D Orlando Smith in relation to questions asked about BVI Airways and other national issues.
The former NDP administration gave the airline the $7.2 million to begin direct flights between the British Virgin Islands and Miami in the United States. However, the airline missed all deadlines to fly and eventually laid off its staff claiming it needed more funding.
Opposition Leader also placed on notice
Fraser, in the meantime, also took a swing at the new Opposition Leader Marlon Penn who is the new Public Accounts Committee (PAC) c
“You have a huge mountain to climb,” Fraser said while referring to an investigation that the PAC is reported to launch into the former NDP government on which Penn was a member.
In a nutshell, PAC is tasked to monitor the government and how taxpayers’ money is being spent.
“If they are not done by you, someone else will,” Fraser told Penn. “But it must be done. The Public Accounts Committee has a responsibility, and it extends to the previous government and this present government.”
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Good job Fraser, We need answers to these and more questions that caused us to send home the NDP. Let the truth be told. I am happy Julian is in the opposition taking full control of the matter. He will do well for this country.
Here we go with the gibrish. Why Fraser don’t go and read a book…struuupes. The Most Honourable Premier Andrew Fahie (the one and only) already stressed his commitment to working together with the government, whatever party they on, AND the people of the BVI, for the benefit of the BVI. Why sour grapes don’t go take a swim or something…that man is bad news…thank God he is nowhere NEAR being Premier (OR opposition leader in this case – hahaha). The BVI would have been in turmoil again!
Fraser give the man some time no. Andrew want to know where the money went as much as me and you. In fact, if not for Andrew asking the right questions when in opposition, we probably would never have known what was going on with this plane scandal. You think Andrew going to let that go now? No man… You not thinking straight.
Fraser is such a hypocrite as only recently he went on record embarrassingly praising and commending Dr Smith for “doing well in his capacity as Premier and Minister of Finance – You were an inspiration with that financial services” Now he expects Premier Fahie to answer for Dr Smiths errors of judgement and extremely poor financial management and accountability? Thank goodness like Mitch’s PVIM he’s on his own as the Progressives United parties only representative in the house after his party got battered at the polls!!! such a snake really and not to be trusted
Sam hypocrisy is your middle name, after all the NDP did for you speaks volumes to you character.
Sam you’re right, the hypocrisy is deep. This is a politician also responsible for wasting the peoples money, jetting off first class on needless trips, not to mention the traffic light debacle. Quite a bit less than half of district three votes this time and well past the sell by date, just trying to remain relevant.
Put Frasier in charge of the investigation and reporting. That’s what I would call an inclusive Government……
Hey Fahie, you inherited the $7.2 million and other NDP issues. Fraser says the VI people still want answers.
Marlon & PAC. Yes, Fraser … keep them on their toes … I wonder how Marlon will do this? “… The Public Accounts Committee has a responsibility, and it extends to the previous government and this present government.”
“whatever the last minister did, you are responsible for”. WRONG STRUPES. VERY WRONG
whatever the last minister did, he is responsible for examining to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Blaming the new for the old is why BVI recovery is so slow. GET OVER THIS KEEPING SCORE AMD FIX YOUR CURRENT PROBLEMS. AIRPLANE MONEY IS NEVER COMING BACK SO STOP BLAMING THE NEW GUYS ?
Fraser sit your R@$$ down. You just vex Fahie is Premier. Bout you charging him like a raging bull.
SMH
Jealousy in the blood. Give Andrew some breathing space. He has not completed his first 100 days in office you are on the opposition side ask Mr Penn your leader to tell you were the money went. And you can’t Blame Andrew for NDP error this is jealousy you know better than this and act like the man of the people you say you because the people who voted for you and watching. The same words that you use at your own personal interest will put you to to test in the next election. So apply caution on how you speak. These govt will surely get to root of what happen to money but we need to give them some time. You do not build a house from the foundation in one day.
I second the motion, give our Premier some breathing space. He needs to deal with the pressing UK matters, then he will come to the place matters……..UNDERSTANDING IS NEEDED,
Fraser told Fahie: “As far as I’m concerned, you are the Premier and whatever the last Premier did, you are responsible for. Oh yeah, you are going to tell us where the money for the plane went.”
This seems very personal. How many times that mone yet was asked about? Fraser email informed. That money is gone for good. Suck it up and move on.
The $7.2 M give away to BVI Airways was not fully explained by the NDP. $7.2M of taxpayers scarce dollars spent and nothing to show for it. The expenditure needs to be investigated and findings released to the public. And any malfeasance discovered should be adjudicated. Who should do the investigation?
There should be separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches. Under the current system, the legislative and executive branches lines are blurred; the same people in the government are also in the cabinet. A government cannot investigate itself. The reality is the legislative branch should be providing oversight of the executive branch. Nonetheless, for this project, either the Auditor General or a Commission of Enquiry should be assigned the task. Doing nothing is not an option .
Hon Fahie will enact the whistleblower law. This should enable and reward people who step forward with info on all sorts of corruption that has been going on for too long! In the US, whistleblowers receive a large percentage of the money they report. If we enact something similar here we will have lots of new millionaires!
What about that $1m contract that Orlando and Vanterpool signed just a couple of weeks ago with that shadowy company from St Lucia that has a reputation of not completeing projects? I want my share of the whistleblower reward for that one!
What about the contracts to those bogus USVI firms
Mr. Fraser’s snarky attitude isn’t appreciated in the least, as the PEOPLE have selected their leader and Mr. Fraser should keep that in mind when in the HOA. His 519 votes do NOT (by any stretch of the imagination) represent the majority of Virgin Islanders.
The NDP travesty of the missing plane most assuredly exceeds Frasier’s Follies involving Bi-Water, the roundabout debacle, the Sea Cows Bay land and water plant bruhaha, as well as the ridiculous airport speedbumps, “Frasier’s wall” at Nanny Cay, the last minute road pavings in District 3 – right before election time and many other calamities over the years.
Mr. Fraser would be well advised to turn down the volume on his bluster, rhetoric and righteous indignation as we have definitely not forgotten any of his blunders. One never knows when a full investigation into literally “anything” may be in the offing.
The people definitely DO want to know what happened to the 7.2 million and need answers as to why we have nothing to show for it. I am sure Mr. Fahie will do what he is able to get those answers for us AFTER the audit. He needs time to get that done. We’ve waited this long, I think we can wait a little longer.
The Hon Julian Fraser (D-3) is a knowledgeable and a somewhat skilled politician. The Hon Fraser build up himself as being more popular than he is, thinking that he could form his own party and would be flooded with followers. Clearly, this was not the case. What if Hon Fraser were still a member of the VIP team? He turned his back on VIP and never looked back, washing his hand like Pilate. To be an effective servant leader, one must be a good follower. Well, at least now the Hon Fraser knows who the Hon Fahie is. Anyone remember “Andrew who”?
True, the taxpayers deserve an answer on what happened to its $7.2M that was fling at BVI Airways. But the attitude with which Fraser pitch the demand was probably uncalled for. I don’t know what is in his heart but it seems like there is a likle Jea..y, is it not?
It’s personal. Very personal. He wants to see Andrew fail but that will not happen. Fraser got some d**n nerves.
Fraser will be watching the VIP with hawk eyes. Let them try something fishy no? He will expose their behind
Sam you’re right, the hypocrisy is deep. This is a politician also responsible for wasting the peoples money, jetting off first class on needless trips, not to mention the traffic light debacle. Quite a bit less than half of district three votes this time and well past the sell by date, just trying to remain relevant.
The traffic lights money and any other money spent under Fraser will be found. Transparent spending. Now come up with a solution to ease that congestion by the Road Town Roundabout.
Fraser trying to set the government up by making that statement so come next election he can blame them.
No-one is accountable for the wrongdoing of someone else. Once the current ministers take the necessary measures to locate the aircraft funds there’s no guarantee they would locate it.
Fraser put the shoes on your feet and tell us how far you reach.
Fraser when you spit in the sky it fall in your eye. Grow up
Asked marlon for the money he is ndp man not fahie
Fraser looks like he is recuting marlon