Hon. Fraser to pepper Government with questions in HOA!
Third district representative and the former Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Julian Fraser RA, now in his fourth consecutive term as a Parliamentarian, is to ask both the Premier Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith and Works Minister Hon. Mark Vanterpool a series of questions.
To the Minister of Finance, Hon. Fraser will fire off questions on what were the cash balances of the following Funds; Consolidated, Development, Pension, Reserve, Emergency/Disaster, Contingencies and the Repairs and Renewals Funds.
The Leader of the Opposition, former Premier Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal OBE, and current 9th district representative, will also question Dr. Smith about Tax Information and Exchange Agreements (TIEAs) signed between the Government of the Virgin Islands and countries during the period January 1, 2012 to the present, July 24, 2012.
During the last time the National Democratic Party (NDP) Administration (2003-2007) held power, they did not sign any of the TIEAs, a decision many in the Financial Services industry said could have damaged the Virgin Islands (VI) reputation as a well regulated offshore financial jurisdiction.
Biwater status-questions to be asked by Fraser
A major achievement of the Virgin Islands Party Administration was the Biwater project signed to provide Tortola with extra portable water and fix the sewerage system in Road Town, but the project status seems to have gone dead under the NDP Government, who campaigned vigorously against the project and promised to end it.
BiWater questions are to range from the Sabbath Hill Reservoir on Tortola constructed by the British company and its commissioning status, along with a request for a copy of the report containing the project information.
Hon. Fraser, the outspoken popular House Member out of the third district, will also inquire about the date set by BiWater for delivering water into the Government's distribution system and ask Hon. Vanterpool to provide the House with a copy of the BiWater report containing such information.
The Communications and Works Minister Vanterpool will also be peppered by Hon. Fraser with questions on the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Loan of $15.7 million US dollars negotiated by the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Administration, as to which projects were approved by the CDB, the cost of each project and the schedule for the execution of those projects. Hon. Fraser will also shoot a question about the Baugher's Bay Water Plant turned over to the VIP Government by Ocean Conversion (BVI) Ltd., despite government advising the company they had no interest whatsoever in running a water plant.
Many Department reports, reading of Bills and SAPThe Order Paper for today’s sitting also has a laundry list of Departments and Agencies Annual reports which includes the first, second and third readings of bills and a Supplementary Appropriation Provision (SAP) to be laid before the House by the Minister for Finance Dr. Smith.
The SAP will request that Recurrent Expenditure of fourteen million, five hundred and thirteen thousand, eight hundred dollars ($14,513,800) to be charged against the Consolidated Fund of the Territory; and Development Expenditure of five million, four hundred and sixty six thousand dollars ($5,466,000) to be charged against the Development Fund of the Territory by way of funds transferred from the Consolidated Fund.
The HOA session starts at 10:00 a.m. and will be carried live on CBN channel 51, and by local radio station ZBVI 780 AM.
Please see Order Paper attached. Order Paper for the 8th Sitting of 1st Session of the 2nd HoA
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