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Premier justifies calls for business donations towards ESHS redevelopment

-reveals that private donor already committed $4M towards project
Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has reiterated calls for businesses to make donations to the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) re-building project, while highlighting that the plea comes as the cost of building materials has increased significantly since the original RDA contract. Photo: VINO/File
The Premier speaking at a press conference today, April 8, 2022, said as a result of the increase in cost for materials, now is a time for perrons to give back, given the high school has created a lot of successful persons in the territory. Photo: GIS/Facebook
The Premier speaking at a press conference today, April 8, 2022, said as a result of the increase in cost for materials, now is a time for perrons to give back, given the high school has created a lot of successful persons in the territory. Photo: GIS/Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has reiterated and justified calls for businesses to make donations to the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) re-building project, while highlighting that the plea for donation comes as the cost of building materials has increased significantly since the original RDA contract.

The Premier speaking at a press conference today, April 8, 2022, said as a result of the increase in cost for materials, now is the time for persons to give back, given the ESHS, former BVI High School has created a lot of successful persons in the territory.

Project focusing on 'giving back - Premier 

Hon Fahie justifying his calls for donation added, “We can go into the reserve, we could stop some projects that is happening, we can go in a line of credit, we could decide to do many other things to get it done as a backup, but why should we?” he added.

“It is important to move our children from the area they are right now in Pasea… it was not made for a school, it was a makeshift after hurricane… but they are there now too long and they have to move and they have to move right now!” he said.

Meanwhile, the Premier revealed that a private donor has committed $4M towards the project and that donor was not even a student of the school.

“If someone who did not attend the Elmore Stoutt High School, could come forward and say I’m going to contribute $4M, what about those who attend it? and those who attended and has gone into institutions here and make them multi-millionaires,” Hon Fahie added. 

Donations will be vetted - Premier  

The Premier said the $4M commitment was vetted thoroughly to ensure the money came from a legal and legitimate source and he noted that donors will be informed about how their money was spent, including receiving their name on a special plaque at the ESHS for their contribution.

“This is going to be a full campaign to encourage persons to donate through the Ministry of Finance, to RDA. Every single penny that you donate you’re going to be part of a team that is informed of how every single penny of your money is spent,” he said.

Meanwhile, Premier said persons and alumni have always started to come forward and raised cash for the donation drive, “And it’s not only the building, its also going to go towards the supplies, whatever the teachers need,” Hon Fahie added. 

13 Responses to “Premier justifies calls for business donations towards ESHS redevelopment ”

  • Well Primer (08/04/2022, 17:27) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    You need to justify the gas prices in this place. You blow up on the radio saying that all those places that put up prices on gas must put it back down. We'll the greedy gas owners put up their prices higher. Imagine in the 9 district gas was $3.85, then it went to 4.05 now today is 5.65 p/gal. Where are our elected officials man. Don't tell that u want to use this as a political stunt too. We don't want to see no changes taking place at the brink of election we want to see changes NOW. Sunny gas station you need to do better than this. And look nah, up to now no new shipment of gas has come in. So it's ok for business owners to rape their merchants like this? Come on man



  • musa (08/04/2022, 18:00) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am confident the school need $ and when I saw the building up I will make my donation.
  • Yeah Right (08/04/2022, 19:11) Like (19) Dislike (2) Reply
    The Government get enough money where they can build and properly furnish the school. If I was a business owner I would not donate a dime. Why have the school furniture made in Trinidad when the furniture could have been made in the BVI.
    • @yeah right (08/04/2022, 22:33) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      I agree. Why not make the furniture on Island. We have people here on the Island that is capable of making school furniture.
    • True (09/04/2022, 08:44) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      When will the BVI get it together, we are stuck on the back burner. I honestly believe we don’t want better for ourselves. Something as simple as School furniture we have to go to Trinidad to get made and waste money when it could have been done right here in the BVI.
  • taxes (08/04/2022, 20:07) Like (24) Dislike (1) Reply
    We pay taxes to build schools, roads, etc. Ask the contractors who got the big contracts to reduce their costs.
    What a shame!
  • Business Owner (08/04/2022, 22:39) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Not one red penny will I donate. You guys collect enough funding for the schools. If a teacher need supplies for his/her classroom I will donate to that cause.
  • Really (09/04/2022, 04:46) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    The wicked Elites don't use money so stop trying to take the poor people's money. You all don't do nothing for the people besides given them the mark of the beast
  • Hypocritters (09/04/2022, 08:58) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    A lot of businesses are struggling because of the government. How dare you ask them for donations!
  • Ehh (09/04/2022, 09:11) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    What a pathetic leader. These islands definitely will never grow with these persons leading it. They literally have no skill or talent for running a country, the only skill they have is stealing money and making idiotic decisions.
  • civil servant (09/04/2022, 11:00) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why not use the extra monies you have used to invest in you and the other government ministers and donate that.
  • ESHS Alumni Association "Go Fund Me" (09/04/2022, 15:52) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    BVI High School now ESHS has truly planted the seed for myself (Class of 1990) and many other proud Virgin Islanders both internationally and locally..Many of us I guarantee will be ready, and willing to Give Back to ESHS, monetarily in a heartbeat! It's our way of saying thank you ESHS for all that you've done to ensure our professional success, you paved the way! Think about this initiative please, allow us the opportunity to truly express "BVI LOVE", to our very owm ESHS.!
  • Shambolic (09/04/2022, 16:33) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Government never seems to amazed me. No plans, no future preparation, just make it up as you go along.

    Government seems to spend money on all sorts of frivolous projects without dealing with the most important matters first. The monies for the use of the barges, 40 million Grant from social security etc etc, would have fixed this problem. Didn't government realise this project was a priority then? Maybe not, why did the government rejected the 400 million dollars loan, what was so bad about it that the government was afraid to accept it, when it was backed by a G8 member and interest rates was at an all time low. This loan would have fixed the school problems and much more, now we acting like a third world nation, with millions wasted from financial services receipts . Now I wonder what this donor wants for his generous pledge?


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