HoA had no clue $8M for EE/LL Sewerage Project was redirected- Hon Fahie
In total, the project cost VI's taxpayers some $85 million-plus, including cost overruns of at least $40M.
According to former Communications and Works Minister, Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4); however, the TPP investment was one of the best the Territory ever made.
Transaction was illegal – Hon Fahie
While in the Opposition, Hon Fahie challenged the funding redirection in March 2016, saying the NDP government’s transferal to the TPP project, some $8 million of a loan from FirstCaribbean International Bank intended for the East End/Long Look sewerage project, was illegal; however, he said he was ‘put down’ and told otherwise.
Premier Fahie, speaking at the June 22, 2020, sitting of the House of Assembly, said: “We have found out now without us prompting the Auditor General, that the Auditor General has flagged it.”
“The Public Finance Management Act says any monies received by loan or whatever the case will be, whereever the monies come from, have to go in the Consolidated Fund, For example, we got the grant from the Social Security Board, and that has to go through the Consolidated Fund,” he said.
The Premier said the Auditor General, Sonia M. Webster, in her 2015 report revealed that the then VI Government drew down $11.7M under a Hospital Outfitting and Sewerage Infrastructure loan in 2015 of which $8M was for the East End/Long Look Sewerage Project.
According to the Leader of Government Business, the AG report showed that the records stated $8M of the loan was not paid to the government, rather, transferred directly to the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) with ‘no advance warrant’ in support of the transaction.
HoA never told about repurposed funds
Hon Fahie noted the NDP never acknowledged to the House of Assembly that the transaction was for the TPP project, as such, it was illegal with the conformation now coming almost ‘5 years later”.
“The House had not a clue,” the Premier told legislators, adding that the sewerage woes continue for the people in the Seventh and Eighth Districts with its monies syphoned off to fund TPP.
“This is what happens when we don’t police ourselves," Hon Fahie revealed to the HoA.
"The people in the Eighth District... and Seventh have to deal with the sewage issues and now it has becomes ours and the people who sat there and let it happen are the ones who now questioning us on when the East End/Long Look Sewerage Project is going to begin,” the Premier said.
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15 Responses to “HoA had no clue $8M for EE/LL Sewerage Project was redirected- Hon Fahie”
Please lt us stop talking about it, we have been talking for too long. Please sir we have covid 19 money, we have SS, we have grants, Our Life in EE/ LL matter. Please let us put some action to play and get the project started to finish. Please oooo.
You are our rescuer, please rescue us in this 2020. God will continue to bless you.
for the opposition to be demanding when the ee/ ll sewerage issue will be dealt with is so far beyond any logical thought process when in fact it is they who pulled the rug out from under those at EE/LlL...they should be ashamed of themselves. they have caused the UK to doubt our money management ability and noone else.
shameful.