‘I am not for airport project now’- Hon Turnbull
The Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) told the public immediately after winning the 2015 election that an airport runway expansion is a top priority and was willing to obtain a loan to make it happen.
His Deputy Premier and the sponsor of the project Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (R7) already told the House of Assembly the airport runway expansion is a “done deal.”
But today February 28, 2017 Second District Representative Hon Melvin M. Turnbull and Junior Minister for Tourism and At Large Representative Hon Archibald C. Christian, during their contribution to the Appropriation Act of 2017 in the House of Assembly (HoA), objected to the project going ahead now.
Hon Turnbull told the public that while he is for an airport runway extension, “now is not the time”.
He called on his party to take care of the other important things first like, roads, schools and healthcare.
The first term representative warned that his position is rooted in “principles not personalities….and people may think that because I am a child of god, persons might think because I am Christ like means I am mice like.”
I will always speak the truth- Hon Christian
Meanwhile, Hon Christian said anyone who knows him can attest to the fact that he always speaks the truth even though people sometimes can’t handle the truth, but the truth has to be told.
Listing a number of areas that need attention including road works, the ports, and immigration, the question has to be asked whether the territory can afford an airport expansion project at this time.
Noting that he has utmost respect for Premier Smith as the leader of the territory, Hon Christian said as “elected members we hear the cries and concerns of the public and we cannot just hide it in any shape, form or fashion.”
“The public as well have their concerns at this time and their concerns are well founded, Madam Speaker.”
Concerns included the VI’s capacity to pay back the loan for the airport, the project’s its effect on the territory’s “borrowing guideline”, the environmental impact, and the impact the project would have “on the yet to fly BVI Airways.”
“Madam Speaker, these are all valid concerns and valid reasons why I think we should take a second look at the best approach possible for the expansion of the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport [runway].
NDP rebellion
Hons Turnbull and Christian join others in the Administration like Hons Alvera Maduro-Caines (R6), and Delores Christopher (R5) to try to get the Dr Smith Administration to stop the airport project and concentrate on other priorities at this time.
The Virgin Islands Treasury has been left broke many say because of the reckless spending of the ruling NDP government. Governor John S. Duncan OBE has confirmed in letters to the Premier and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office his concerns over reckless spending, and lack of transparency.
Many are waiting to hear the contributions from the front bench and the position of two Ministers in particular (Hons Skelton & Walwyn) on the airport runway expansion.
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27 Responses to “‘I am not for airport project now’- Hon Turnbull”
Why not fix the schools, once and for all; One project done
Fix the roads, another project done.
Fix the VG Clinic, another project done.
Fix the Sewage in Road Town and East End, for God's sake, a big project done.
Clean up the BVI where the Tourists you want to bring will come; great project done.
Plant Beautification trees; a big project done.
Clean up that beach where all the tourists go - CGB; nice job done.
Buy a nice Ferry to trek the people from St. Thomas to BVI in the meantime; an interim project done
See how the finances will go in the next two years, after the mad-man Trump is president; then consider the
airport project.
Oh, lawdie -- start the biggest Agricultural projects -- survival project done.
NDP, VIP, the Virgin Islands belongs to all of we; not a selected few. We love it too, so please do the right thing for our future. Old people used to say, "learn to listen. Mine eh."