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2 days later Premier fires back @ BVI Airways; ‘We did our part’

- Gov't wants BVI Airways to fly despite it not having money to do so!
From left: Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith (AL) and CEO of BVI Airways Jerry D. Willoughby. The public spat between BVI Airways and the Virgin Islands’ Government continues. Photo: VINO/File
BVI Airways recently announced it has laid off all staff and blamed the Virgin Islands Government for its failure to honour its agreement of direct flights to the Virgin Islands from Miami, USA. Photo: gobvi.com
BVI Airways recently announced it has laid off all staff and blamed the Virgin Islands Government for its failure to honour its agreement of direct flights to the Virgin Islands from Miami, USA. Photo: gobvi.com
Leader of the Opposition Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has warned the public that ’cows will fly over the moon before BVI Airways flies’. Photo: VINO/File
Leader of the Opposition Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has warned the public that ’cows will fly over the moon before BVI Airways flies’. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The public embarrassment and war between the bankrupt BVI Airways and the Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) Administration continues.

The public was shocked last year when Premier Smith announced that it had bailed out the defunct BVI Airways with some $7Million of public funds in exchange for direct flights from Miami International Airport in Florida, USA to the Terrance B.  Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island in the Virgin Islands.

More money please-BVI Airways  

However, the National Democratic Party (NDP) government was blindsided on Monday July 17, 2017 when BVI Airways, after receiving in six months some $7.2M of taxpayers’ money, announced that they still needed more money, therefore, without the extra funds, they had to immediately lay off all its staff, including pilots and flight attendants.

They further blamed the Dr Smith Administration for not doing what they promised in the agreement at the local airport. In addition, BVI Airways claimed that the proposed Terrance B. Lettsome Airport runway extension will hurt them.

This is the second time that BVI Airways had blamed the Smith Government for not flying, after the public was given four take off dates which never came to pass.

Slow to respond to the second anti-government statement by BVI Airways, Government late Wednesday July 19, 2017 issued a short statement.

We did out part so please fly-NDP

The statement from Dr Smith said, “the Government has provided all the financial support agreed between ourselves and BVI Airways, and furthermore, the Airport Authority has put in place most of what was agreed to enhance the arrivals and departure experience of BVI Airways passengers, including an office, additional seating, air conditioning and two ticket counters.”

Furthermore, Government stated that “the Airport Authority is awaiting a definite word on the time of commencement of flight operations to complete any further arrangements specific to BVI Airways.”

The NDP regime also fired back in the continued public war by warning BVI Airways “having provided the agreed support, this Government and people are awaiting the commencement of the much anticipated direct Miami/BVI flights.”

Cows will fly first- Hon Fahie

The public has been outraged and have expressed themselves via social media, talk shows, blogs and coffee and bar chat about the nasty public fight between government and BVI Airways after they got a bailout of over $7.2M money that could have gone to roads, schools, hospitals, scholarships and much needed social services.

Leader of the Opposition Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has warned the public that “cows will fly over the moon before BVI Airways flies.” In response this week to the latest BVI Airways announcement, Hon Fahie warned that this matter is “serious” and we need nothing but the truth.

28 Responses to “2 days later Premier fires back @ BVI Airways; ‘We did our part’”

  • Windy (20/07/2017, 11:08) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Trouble in the bull pen
  • just wrong (20/07/2017, 11:10) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    but still no one will go to JAIL
  • Eagle Eye (20/07/2017, 11:13) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    No more money; no flights, BVI got left holding the empty bag
  • carvin (20/07/2017, 11:17) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    let me get out the popcorn yall
  • wow (20/07/2017, 11:23) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    mr fahie is right
  • just wrong (20/07/2017, 11:55) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ummm doesn't "laid off" mean "gone" as in bye ???
  • Harry (20/07/2017, 12:03) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    The Premier was wrong in the first place to give BVI Airways the taxpayers money. That airline owed this country money. A BVIslander would have never got that favor. He must get that money back or he will have to pay back. There is no accountability from his government.How long will they be allowed to do as they please and hurt the people of this country. What role did the Chairman of the Tourist Board who resides in Bahamas play in it? Is law only for the poor man in this country? The same airline the premier fought a VI Airlink a BVICompany for is now cutting sticks to break his back.
  • Black UHURU (20/07/2017, 12:27) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    For even going into a closed door meeting with Traglodytes and expecting honesty and transparency? These nigs must be crazy.

    For giving Traglodytes 7 million tax payer money upfront AND NOT EXPECTING TROGLODYTES TO FRAUDULENTLY PAY OFF PERSONAL DEBTS? These nigs must be crazy.

    All Traglodytes want to do business with the BVI from TPP on down especially NDP government because they all know..........THESE NIGS IS CRAZY!
  • Tears ah fallin (20/07/2017, 14:45) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply

    Of course the public does not know the details, but some indications are, like [the electric generators] we got screwed in the a$$ with a telephone pole with sharpened spikes welded on to it again Doc. and Black UHURU!! Maybe better updates are, well, being consciously timed for dissemination? Let's always for the best for our country. Keep hope alive!!

  • Ohhh (20/07/2017, 15:08) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Talk about rising from the ashes....I wonder who are sill involved? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/air-baltia-worst-airline-rebranding-but-will-it-ever-fly/?WT.mc_id=tmgoff_fb_tmg
  • Freedom! (20/07/2017, 16:04) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    This deal needs to be invetigated
  • Dead VIP (20/07/2017, 16:19) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    THE OPPOSITION IS VERY WEAK
  • Interested (20/07/2017, 16:48) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Speechless! May The Lord have mercy upon us all.
  • Just saying (20/07/2017, 17:05) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I hope bvi airways do not expose them
  • Jack Kevorkian (20/07/2017, 18:20) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    so when the UK takes over the BVI, Not a man should cry racism or say we are being re-colonize, as with this mess we deserve them coming in and cleaning house
  • to (20/07/2017, 18:49) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Jack Kevorkian, no problem we have that we are unable to rectify by ourselves. It is very unfortunate that there is mentality of such asking for the return in the physical of the offspring of our bondage and colonial oppressors. "We" have a very long way to go, indeed!
    • dream on (22/07/2017, 03:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The British have been over these islands for over three hundred years. They gave us a little slack and we think we are in charge of something. How can we be in charge making such stupid deals? We do indeed have a long way to go.
  • goat (20/07/2017, 20:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The morale in the Administrative Complex must be positively funereal.
  • Gypsy Man (20/07/2017, 22:09) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    NDP CANNOT HANDLE ANY TRUTH. GUILTY KNOWLEDGE WILL DO THEM IN EVERY TIME.
  • Freedom! (1) (21/07/2017, 08:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    @Freedom! 2 It would be right if the original Freedom! (1) wasn't co-opted by a patronizer or a mischief maker. Have no verbal creative thought processes or skills? Sad, very sad.

    The original "Freedom!" has no mental frameworks for the investigation of or prosecution of the NDP or any of its members. There is much confidence and hope still left in many of its supporters, just to inform if the obtuse don't mind.

    The nature of politics; the nature of political leadership and management and the particulars of managing a country and its finances are complicated matters whose micro details are never available to public scrutiny.

    So whomever this trouble making character is, cease and desist. Use the alphabet and the imagination to create a handle that matches the character.

    For example, would it be in good character or taste to co-opt the handle, "Scary Mary?" No, it would not be!

    Do exercise your"freedom" judgement and taste in a more grammatical ethical manner.
  • hawker (21/07/2017, 10:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    From reading the stories from drifferent news outlet this sound like the government put up the 7 million dollars and those Bvi investors did not put in one red cent because if Bvi airways did put in money themselves they would have had money to operate the flights to start with...........think about it.........7 million is a lot of money.............they could have wet lease the aircraft to test the market before buying if they did purchase the aircrafts...........money was wasted..........
  • foreign (21/07/2017, 20:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    when the v i p was in power you all ask for a change so the change come so shot up and take the n d p regime lashes with grace. No complaining.
  • wet (22/07/2017, 22:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This does not even make sense to us seniors, and hopefully younger folks, too.
  • Voter # 6 (22/07/2017, 23:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Stop selling the BVI, it’s not yours to do as you wish.


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