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$1M spent on QE II Park; $200k for Water Fountain

- park still incomplete
In response to a question to the Minister of Finance Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith posed by Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) about outstanding Advance Warrants for 2015 that has not been brought to Parliament for Approval, it was unearthed in the February 4, 2016 Sitting of the House of Assembly that government spent $1 Million United States Dollars on the Queen Elizabeth II Park in Road Town on the main island of Tortola. Photo: VINO
Some $1M has already been spent on the Queen Elizabeth II Park, which is still incomplete. Photo: VINO
Some $1M has already been spent on the Queen Elizabeth II Park, which is still incomplete. Photo: VINO
Another section of the Queen Ellizabeth II Park. Photo: VINO
Another section of the Queen Ellizabeth II Park. Photo: VINO
In 2011 when the NDP took office, defeating the now Opposition Virgin Islands Party (VIP) that was led by Ralph T. Oneal OBE (right), there was $51M in the Consolidated Fund. Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith announced then that the VIP had left the country broke. There is now only $6 Million as of December 2015, however, Dr Smith is claiming with a straight face that the country is 'not broke.' Photo: VINO/File
In 2011 when the NDP took office, defeating the now Opposition Virgin Islands Party (VIP) that was led by Ralph T. Oneal OBE (right), there was $51M in the Consolidated Fund. Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith announced then that the VIP had left the country broke. There is now only $6 Million as of December 2015, however, Dr Smith is claiming with a straight face that the country is 'not broke.' Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The National Democratic Party (NDP) Government of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith was on a spending spree leading up to the 2015 General Elections.

Senior Opposition Member Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) warned at the February 4, 2016 Sitting of the House of Assembly that the NDP Administration is no longer in a position to lecture him or any one on financial management.

In response to a question to the Minister of Finance Dr Smith posed by Hon Fahie about outstanding Advance Warrants for 2015 that has not been brought to Parliament for Approval, it was unearthed that government spent $1 Million United States Dollars on the Queen Elizabeth II Park in Road Town on the main island of Tortola.

Of that $1M poured into the Park some $200,000.00 was for a Water Fountain. According to a source, the QE II Park is still not complete, and it remains unclear when it will be.

The project is being executed under the Office of the Premier.

Efforts to reach the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Premier, Mr Broderick Penn, on the QE II Park Project completion date and outstanding payments towards it, were not successful.

Irresponsible spending

In the last four years, the public, the media, talk show hosts and civil society have been outraged and shocked by the NDP’s Financial Stewardship of tax payers’ money. They cited a Cruise Development Project that was approved for $35M but now up to $82.9 Million and counting and still incomplete.

The controversial Minister for Education and Culture, Honourable Myron V. Walwyn, built a Fence/Wall around the Elmore Stoutt High School costing over One Million Dollars while most public schools do not even have basic supplies such as toilet paper.

It was also discovered that Premier Smith approved for himself a brand new 2016 Cadillac Escalade costing $92,500.00.

51M is being broke under VIP & $6M not broke under NDP?

In 2011 when the NDP took office, defeating the now Opposition Virgin Islands Party (VIP), there were $51M in the Consolidated Fund. The Premier announced that there is now only $6 Million as of December 2015. In 2012 with the $51 Million in the consolidated fund, Dr Smith told the residents of the overseas Territory that the VIP left the country broke. Interestedly, now with his administration leaving the Treasury with $6 Million, he is claiming with a straight face that the country is “not broke.”

35 Responses to “$1M spent on QE II Park; $200k for Water Fountain”

  • Tax Payor (09/02/2016, 13:14) Like (33) Dislike (0) Reply
    well well well Doc is just like Mark
  • Feroza (09/02/2016, 13:30) Like (33) Dislike (0) Reply
    Do we have children running this country? Who seem to have NO VALUE for money. Of course we all would like to enjoy this simple novelties in life such as parks, beaches and shopping centers. But do you all shop around before you invest so much money in things that are not an absolute necessity? I am completely nauseous at the way in which this country is being run.
    • De truth (09/02/2016, 20:20) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Nice to award yoursel a car that is as wide as the roads - $92K for moving!!
    • airhead (10/02/2016, 13:24) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Yes, just like a kid given a check book or credit card. Check book still got money as long as there are checks and credit card still got money as long as not torn or lost, so spend spend spend and let someone else pay. Balsam Gut make room, make a nice room you got special guests coming!!
  • SCB (09/02/2016, 13:45) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    More cash money
  • wize up (09/02/2016, 13:53) Like (16) Dislike (25) Reply
    Virgin Islands Party did the very same thing just before the 2011 election: the big question should be: what must be done to prevent those we elect from repeating these crazy spendings of tax payers money:::: it is very good to highlight such mismanagement of goverment funds but as a territory what is being done to stop the madnesses because both NDP/VIP are guilty: will the voters continue the conversations or demand solutions
  • Dragon (09/02/2016, 13:56) Like (28) Dislike (1) Reply
    Nearly a quarter of a million dollars for a water fountain????????????????
    Must be made of gold!!!!!!!!
  • Buzz Bvi (09/02/2016, 14:11) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Exactly.
    What next. Cannot keep swopping over these two failiures.
  • wow (09/02/2016, 14:21) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    paying more for less is the ndp way
    • Feroza (09/02/2016, 15:00) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
      But Government employees are told to do more work with less resources....smhh
  • Music (09/02/2016, 14:22) Like (26) Dislike (0) Reply
    I think the problem lies with local contractors who charge exhorbitant rates- because they can! Govt departments go along with them due to family or party connections, and maybe kickbacks.
    • llg (14/02/2016, 09:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Government determines how much money is spent on thing in a contract if u get a contract from them you'll notice they got every rock charged for it might be a rate too high but it's government who sets that rate
  • ausar (09/02/2016, 14:51) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    what's a million here and there between friends?
  • looking forward (09/02/2016, 14:55) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    can't wait to sit on one of the golden toilet seats in the restroom when its built!
  • hmm. (09/02/2016, 15:09) Like (24) Dislike (0) Reply
    I think we're in trouble. How does one spend 1m+ on a park and it's not completed? 200k on a fountain???!! Must be the fountain of youth... NONE of these figures I'm seeing lately on the news seem realistic..
  • Dim Sum (09/02/2016, 15:20) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    Is the QE2 park sustainable in its design? Where are the catchments to assist in irrigation for watering of the plants? a few gazebos should not collectively with associated landscaping cost as much as this project has so far reached! Embezzling and misappropriation of funds to the max!! It is not the best urban park design (narrow running/walking surface), amphitheater still not built (and may never be due to cash flow issues)! I think the VG pool could have used these funds! This 'park' could have had more community input and 'buy-in'.
  • vip (09/02/2016, 15:56) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    The NDP have a million dollar competition among themselves????
  • quito rhymer (09/02/2016, 15:57) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    "millions and millions and more"
  • take wha i tell yo (09/02/2016, 16:01) Like (44) Dislike (0) Reply
    Doc, his wife, action man and his brother are going to bring this country to it knees....One big family!
    • True (10/02/2016, 00:06) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      Big hotel and condos in Anguilla, not forgetting the supermarket O#@##%t.
  • Unite (09/02/2016, 16:51) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    We the people must unite against this corrupt government or we will fall...
    Our kids should come first! And right now they need materials in school right down to toilet paper, and you morons are spending this much on a F* fountain?! Excuse my language, but after that Cadillac story, how can I remain calm?? Humble yourselves you pathetic Masons!!!!
  • mf (09/02/2016, 17:21) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    And imgaine its a non revenue project
  • Political Observer (09/02/2016, 19:16) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is a $1M+ the floor for capital projects in the BVI? Is it me but it seems as of late that the bottom/floor for contracts is a $1M. Is the $1M+ floor due government not having a government estimate and has no clue what the market is and has to go along with whatever the contractor bids, believing the contractor bid is fair and reasonable and is the market rate. Though it may sound like a broken record, every contract should have a government estimate (GE), including change orders, so that government can compare it to the contractors' bid. Government needs a strong, experienced, technically competent and contract knowledgeable procurement team. It must not only developsed a strong procurement or acquisition team but it also needs a strong inspection team to ensure that contractors are meeting plans and specifications and taxpayers are getting value for money. Government should have two contracting offices. One for construction; the other for services and products. Both offices should be staff with professional, skilled, trained, competent and ethical people.
  • wise up bvi (09/02/2016, 19:57) Like (86) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ndp fool us all my god when will the Doc come out an tell us the truth this country this Lil islands will come like the Cayman islands we really need to call up on the Queen in the bvi cause we or jus working too hard am the ministers them or jus waiting our tax payer money doing Sh*t if we don't stop them now we will run in serious trouble (where is our children fruter we can jus sit down an watch them distroy our kids fruter ......these Million an million of dollars what thses minister or spending is crazy ness
  • Not surprised (09/02/2016, 22:02) Like (33) Dislike (0) Reply
    Same thing over and over and over . Now we have an ugly overgrown unfinished park . Of course the roads leading to and from the park are almost impassable . We always complain but do nothing . Business as usual . Money wasted . A few people with zero national pride get rich and try to convince us they are statesmen. Very sad . Who gets hurt in the long run ? Honest working folks .
  • Cookie Monster (09/02/2016, 22:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    More mistakes for us to pay tax to cover

    This is an SOS from the BVI
    Location seven miles off the coast on St Thomas
    SOS! SOS! Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!
    Help! Help!

    Chorus
    Captain this ship is sinking
    Captain these seas are rough, oh yes
    We gas tank almost empty
    No electricity, we oil pressure reading low
    Shall we abandon ship
    Or shall we stay on it and perish slow
    We doh know, we doh know
    Captain you tell we what to do
  • King Kunta (09/02/2016, 23:21) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    I still maintain the ndp must go
  • Yes (10/02/2016, 00:06) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    NDP said that VIP built a bath room for 200 thou...Now NDP bought a water fountain purchased from home depot for 200 thou.
  • Captain Kidding (10/02/2016, 16:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Everyone on poop deck!
  • W*F (14/02/2016, 14:15) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    NDP spent $200,000 on a f**** water fountain, and we don't have water. What a set of jokers this a** hole Government. LMAO.


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