A subtle call for independence?
The motion was brought forward by Hon. Julian Fraser, RA earlier in the day for a special committee to review the protocols that were signed on April 23, 2012 between Government and the United Kingdom Government. The main objective was to ensure that the Territory was managing its finances responsibly.
However, Hon. Christopher acknowledged that from the heydays, she heard the grumblings of how Virgin Islanders felt they were being treated by the UK and now in 2012 people are still bawling. She charged that it’s time to make a change.
“We must turn around Madame Speaker and put on our leadership caps and think of how we are going to turn around. The point that I was making about Lavity Stoutt is that when he was told that we would no longer be given grant aid, he had a zeal and a determination that we were going to make it and from that day on our Territory began on a path that we came to the point that we flourished and then we wasted, and we may as well admit that we wasted a lot.
“We wasted too much but perhaps it’s not yet too late for us to check, but don’t let us check now and if they smooth us down we say okay we will live with you a little longer if you give us a bigger bedroom. Time to get up and get out the door Madame Speaker that is what I believe,” the 5th District Representative told members of the House.
Hon. Christopher disclosed that there is a "certain word" being discussed on the streets and some think it’s crazy. However, she opined, “we must begin to talk about it, yes its going need a lot of education for our people…we have to face up to the facts.”
However, the district representative acknowledged that in the meantime it would be very good “for us, for our own benefit to put our financial house in order, and this is the effort that is being made.”
Spending freely?
It does seem to Hon. Christopher that the Territory has been spending freely.
“I believe that we have to move beyond the point of just playing blame games. The global downturn did not just start,” she stated.
She pointed to the fact that just before the November 2011 election, a number of contracts were signed and that tied up monies, “and now we are claiming, we would not know where those monies would come from.”
Hon. Christopher disclosed further that just recently she was approached by residents who proclaimed they had contracts to move all sorts of things, which was quite shocking.
“Were we aware at the time that we were in a financial bind Madame Speaker? Apparently not! Even during the Standing Finance Committee, a lot was brought out during the long months of sessions. It was obvious that monies were being spent without having a second thought. Now we seem to be in a crisis situation and in my view Madame Speaker this is not a time to run helter skelter but we have to behave as though we are in a household, stop throwing food through the door, stop wasting the water and everything else and really try to hold it down.”
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