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Hon RT O'Neal steadied the ship 'with an even keel' during storms- Hon Fahie

- said recent hurricanes & storms give the incumbent government an idea what Hon O'Neal had to go through as then Minister of Finance
According to Opposition Leader Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), right, with the passage of Hurricane Irma and the other recent natural disasters, the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government has a clear idea what former Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Ralph T. O'Neal OBE, left, was going through when the Virgin Islands was hit by several storms during his tenure. Photo: VINO/File
Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc on the Virgin Islands on September 6, 2017. Photo: VINO
Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc on the Virgin Islands on September 6, 2017. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Who feels it knows and for certain the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government has a clear idea what former Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Ralph T. O'Neal OBE was going through when the Virgin Islands was hit by several natural disasters during his tenure.

It was during the continuation of the Twelfth Sitting of the Second Session of the Third House of Assembly (HoA) today, December 18, 2017, when the House was debating the motion to approve a Provisional General Warrant for the year 2018, that Opposition Leader Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) reminded of the challenges Hon O'Neal also had as Finance Minister under the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration.

"We were met with five hurricanes, not Category 5, but five hurricanes, and it was not a simple time," Hon Fahie stated, adding that despite what has been said about Hon O'Neal by the ruling NDP Government, the records will show that he actually did an amirable job as Finance Minister going through those five storms.

The NDP had claimed that Hon O'Neal and the VIP Government had left the country broke when it lost the elections in 2011, although this has turned out to be false, as Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith (AL) himself stated in answers to questions in the HoA between 2012-2015 that in fact the VIP had left millions in the Treasury.

Also, in the Audit Report ending December 2011 laid in the HoA in April 2017, it again confirmed that despite a deep world recession the VIP managed the British Overseas Territory’s finances very well.

According to the then Auditor General, Mrs Sonia M. Webster, the public debt at the end of 2011 stood at $116,807,696, and the Reserve Fund had a balance of $7,446,751. The Consolidated Fund had a balance of over $66,828,117.

A better appreciation

Meanwhile, the Opposition Leader Hon Fahie said the two major stoms, Hurricane Irma in particular, have given the NDP administration a better appreciation of what kind of Minister of Finance Honourable O'Neal was and what he had to go through and that, despite the storms, he was able to steady the ship with "an even a keel as could be."

Hon Fahie also took the opportunity in the HoA to recognise Hon O'Neal "because only now we can see really and truly what he went through and what he did" and wished him a happy belated birthday.

Hon O'Neal turned 84 on December 15, 2017.

14 Responses to “Hon RT O'Neal steadied the ship 'with an even keel' during storms- Hon Fahie”

  • nonsense (18/12/2017, 13:36) Like (8) Dislike (19) Reply
    What nonsense this man talk.
    • @nonsense (19/12/2017, 10:29) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
      Hon. Fahie is talking a lot of sense. The NDP lied on that man without mercy just to get power. Now they abusing the power and do not want anyone to question their Zzzz leader.
  • DON Q (18/12/2017, 14:29) Like (16) Dislike (7) Reply
    Ralph is way above dr zzzzzz unfair comparison
  • Julio sam Henry (18/12/2017, 16:10) Like (24) Dislike (4) Reply
    Ralph Oneal manage the bvi economy very well 2008 right through 2011 dispite the world economic crisis.

    In fact, two of our UK FCO's officials ( Simmons and Bellingham ) praise Mr O'neal for his management and stewardship of the territory's finances.

  • Sam (18/12/2017, 16:16) Like (27) Dislike (5) Reply
    The nDp party is not a real government. It's a national deplorable plague!!!! Worst than f@#%ing Irma. Ndp has caused more destruction and corruption than Irma did in one day. All you don't believe watch.
  • greene (18/12/2017, 16:23) Like (19) Dislike (3) Reply
    In the beginning god created heaven and earth. Doc created hell on earth. That man and he pretentious gang undo everything we forefathers build. Get rid of them allll.
  • Fran (18/12/2017, 17:02) Like (14) Dislike (33) Reply
    WOW! How soon we forget! If VIP was treating the people fairly, they would not have been booted out. This guy is talking trash because he was enjoying being on the band wagon at the time. He needs to be quiet and go sit down. I’ve been around for a long time and remember very well why NDP got in and re-electing them will the same crap again, no matter which party is in. HOGWASH!!!
    • Nadine (18/12/2017, 21:32) Like (8) Dislike (23) Reply
      Fran, you are so right! I remember well when VIP got booted out because if we were not part of their gang, we were treated as though we were not part of the BVI and left to die. Now NDP is no better and like you said, the same old heads taking turns at grabbing all they can. Same finger pointing year after year. Sick of them all!!!
    • @ Fran (19/12/2017, 01:58) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
      The big difference is the NDP is 10 Times more corrupt than the VIP was. Now who can challenge that?
  • chad (18/12/2017, 19:13) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Another $100m to be wasted to full up their pockets for themselves and their friends when the UK step in to end this onslaught of our ppl taxpayers money.
  • PD (18/12/2017, 19:46) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    I have all respect for Ralph (Happy Birthday!). But those hurricanes were NOTHING compared to Irma and Maria.
  • Lb (18/12/2017, 23:48) Like (14) Dislike (12) Reply
    O'Neal never went through anything like what bvi just went through so please stop!
  • ............................ (19/12/2017, 01:59) Like (12) Dislike (4) Reply
    Andrew is correct yet again forward even backwards never!


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