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CoI has 'requested' info on failed BVI Airways deal- Premier Fahie
Premier Fahie was at the time addressing a question by Opposition Member and Third District Representative Hon Julian Fraser RA during the continuation of the Eleventh Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) held at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff’s Bottom, Tortola today, August 16, 2021.
The Opposition has the answers!- Premier
In posing his question, Hon Fraser said “Mister Speaker, for several years across this and last administration, the Opposition has been stonewalled, and at times downright refused answers relating BVI Airways and an associated missing $7.2 million of Government funds. Could the Premier and Minister of Finance please: a. Tell this Honourable House whether his Government is actively pursuing the retrieval of these moneys? b. If the answer is yes, how is it being done? And c. If the answer is no, why isn’t being done?”
Before addressing the question, Premier Fahie noted he has been left “mind-boggled” because the persons who can give Hon Fraser the answers are sitting in the Opposition with him, referring to Opposition Leader Hon Marlon A. Penn, Fourth District Representative Hon Mark H. Vanterpool and Second District Representative Hon Melvin M. Turnbull who were all part of the last NDP administration when the controversial deal was made.
CoI has requested info on airways deal
But, according to Premier Fahie, while his government is about transparency and accountability he could not respond accordingly to the question due to Standing Order 17 Subsection 1 of the HoA.
The Standing Order states that a question shall not be asked which deals with matters referred to a Commission of Inquiry or within the jurisdiction of a chairman of a select committee.
According to the Premier, the question falls directly into that category as the Commission of Inquiry has requested this information that spans the tenure of this current administration as well as information of similar nature for the immediate past administration.
“In addition, Mr Speaker, this matter is also part of an ongoing criminal investigation.”
Premier Fahie had first disclosed of the criminal investigation during the Eighth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) on May 28, 2020.
“I cannot say anything further on this matter as we have been informed by the Commissioner of Police that this is now under a full criminal investigation,” Premier Fahie had said.
Successful defense of $10M lawsuit
The Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government had pledged to go after the monies paid out to BV Airways and had filed a lawsuit in a US court.
BV Airways in return had filed a $10m lawsuit claiming fraud and defamation; however, this lawsuit was defeated in March 2021.
Premier Fahie had hailed the victory and vowed to leave no stone unturned in its pursuit of the recovery of the sums paid to Colchester Aviation LLC, BV Airways Inc and individuals connected with those companies.
He further stated, “Anyone legally responsible for the BVI’s loss will be held to account to the extent that the law permits; we will now move to the next phase of our recovery strategy, having successfully defended this claim.”
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17 Responses to “CoI has 'requested' info on failed BVI Airways deal- Premier Fahie”
They walking around playing Gangsters, yet they soft..They allow 3 little white men - boy out smart them and take 7 Mil from them...The One who think he is Gangster need to pay ***** staff their money, promissinig, promissing, promissing...Them acting bad but them soft..Wait - Watch. These Kinda-garden politicians only have strength for locals....Dont cover for them Fahie give up the info. They wont cover for you..Time for Balo.
The Bible clearly say the all humans are liars, so the politicians have many like-minded equal, we. We all tell lies, and steal too, in one way our the other. So speaking of putting NDP politicians in jail, then we should agree that we all should be put in God's jail.
Believe it or not, receive or not, dislike it or not, it is the truth. "Let God be true, and every man a liar."