Lies & secrecy surround tax payers $7.2M payout to BVI Airways
Honourable Fahie made clear that he supports direct flights between the Virgin Islands (VI) and mainland USA and understands the impotence of airlift, but it was a "bad deal with many questions."
One of the many questions asked by Hon Fahie was for the Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) to inform the people why the funds were disbursed to BVI Airways by the Government of the VI earlier than the dates set forth in the agreement schedule between both parties.
To this, the chief lobbyist of the bankrupt airline’s tax payers funded agreement, Premier Smith said, “conditions for the release of funds to BVI Airways were primarily based on timelines that were adjusted by mutual agreement, as conditions on the ground changed, and were related to the extended anticipated time for getting approvals from the regulator and various challenges faced in the acquisition of the aircraft required to provide the service.”
None of your business how your tax dollars was spent!
When the Opposition Leader pressed Dr Smith on whether the Government of the VI has received from BVI Airways an account of how the money received by the airline from Government was spent and if not, whether government requested such information and if was received and further if not, whether government would be requesting such information.
The answer took the public by surprise.
Primer Smith told the HoA that the information relative to the above questions “are commercially sensitive and I therefore cannot discuss these at this time.”
In addition, when Hon Fahie asked again about the ownership of the planes and the matter of lease or purchase planes, to establish who actually owns the aircrafts that the tax payers funded, Premier Smith said “as the airline is now currently in negotiations that are of a commercially sensitive nature, with respect to other operational issues it would be prejudicial to further discuss these matters”.
More Lies from Premier Smith
Another answer that shocked the public was when asked by Hon Fahie, if BVI Airways was in compliance with the contract, Dr Smith answered “yes, BVI Airways is in compliance with the contract signed between BVI Airways and the Government of the VI.”
In fact, the Premier was again misleading the public with lies, as some three portions of the agreements have been already violated.
The agreement stated that the $7M tax payers’ money will be given over three years; however, that was violated and given over 6 months. The agreement stated that flights should have started by October 31, 2016 and has not, while some three other promised flight dates have passed and still no direct flights between Miami and Terence B. Lettsome International Airport.
The agreement stated that the amount to be paid out by Government as an “investment” in the BVI Airways venture would be $7M, although an extra $207,000 was paid to BVI Airways to open an account, another violation. Premier Smith claimed there was cost sharing of this amount but provided no evidence to support his statement.
In addition to the many violations, the agreement stated that if there were no flights by December 2016 government could terminate the contract. To date there have been no flights on the paid for route or no discussion of contract termination.
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27 Responses to “Lies & secrecy surround tax payers $7.2M payout to BVI Airways”
Plain out lie and wicket. My goodness. Took tax payers money, invest it and the people cannot know what's taking place. What fricking sensitive nature this man taking about. If anyone had tell me that Dr. S would have treated his own people this way, I would have tell them no. Look how this man entered politics and cast away all his credibility