“This is wrong, and I call upon the Premier to have this practice ceased immediately and that a formal apology is given to each of those patients, together with a full reimbursement,” stated Hon. Julian Fraser, RA at the Valerie O. Thomas Community Centre on May 30, 2013. Photo: VINO

Residents of the Third District turned out in their numbers at the community meeting called by the District Representative, Hon. Julian Fraser, RA. Photo: VINO

Some others who were present to raise their concerns and listen to the presentation of Hon. Fraser at the community meeting held in Sea Cows Bay. Photo: VINO

First District Representative Honourable Andrew A. Fahie was present to lend his support at the Third District community meeting. Photo. VINO

This call was made last night May 30, 2013 at a community meeting at the Valerie O. Thomas Community Centre in Sea Cows Bay.

Hon. Fraser listed a number of issues he believes are hampering development as a consequence of the poor management of the Territory's affairs by the National Democratic Party (NDP). He was particularly peeved by the alleged unacceptable abuse of the rights of the elderly who would have visited the Peebles Hospital and were not fairly treated. He described the elderly as “jewels” who are to be treasured.

“It has long been established that healthcare for the elderly would be at no cost, and that included medication and medicine. Unfortunately, of late, all too often I have heard and seen evidence of harassment and intimidation by healthcare providers within BVIHSA at Peebles Hospital of the elderly to pay,” said Hon. Fraser.

He also said that in some instances the elderly ended up either paying, or they were deprived of the service. “This is wrong, and I call upon the Premier to have this practice ceased immediately, and that a formal apology is given to each of those patients, together with a full reimbursement,” remarked Hon Fraser.

The District Representative said that when it comes to care for the elderly he makes no bones about his conviction that no one can expect with a high degree of certainty that children will take care of their elderly parents, and there are a host of reasons to justify this. He said people are living longer so a child might very well be retired and on Social Security and can’t afford to take care of themselves much less their parent(s). They may not be on good terms either, Hon. Fraser noted.

“That being said, I also believe that it is the responsibility of the state to see to the well-being of all its citizens. I also hold dearly that no one should have to die a pauper because of a catastrophic ailment and no one should have to die a pauper because of old age,” stressed the Third District Representative. 

Raw Sewage  

The topic of the in-discretional dumping of raw sewage into the waterways is definitely not a new one but while it has been preached about on a number of occasions and brought up at the highest level of government, the issues seem to be falling on deaf ears since to-date the problem has not been addressed. Again the topic came up for discussion at the community meeting of Hon. Fraser when he noted that it is inconceivable that anyone on Tortola would talk about sewerage and not talk about the Third District, considering the fact that all the raw untreated sewage from all of Road Town, Lower Estate, Purcell, and others is dumped in the ocean off Slaney and allowed to wash up on the shores of Sea Cows Bay and Nanny Cay.

“Someone with good relations with the NDP government ought to ask when they expect to have a Sewerage Treatment Plant in place.” 

Virgin Islands is in free-fall

“You would have to be either blind or willful not to see that the economy in the Virgin Islands is in a free-fall and is in need of an infusion of capital. People are being laid off their jobs as a result of slow business; people are losing their jobs due to companies closing as a lack of business. People are working reduced hours; people are working without a paycheck for months. People are leaving the Territory and returning to their homeland because they have lost their jobs. Landlords are not being paid rent, landlords are stuck with vacant apartments, banks are foreclosing on homes, cars and other properties because business is not in adequate flow,” Hon. Fraser told his constituents.

The member of the Opposition insisted that the NDP government is cash strapped and therefore does not pay its vendors on time. Contractors, he claimed, can't get paid upon completion of work, which leaves their suppliers in a bind. “And this is the same economy when referred to as failing; the Premier took objections and said it is robust,” Hon. Fraser stated.

He stressed that the  high cost of living is not helping the situation expressed as a result of the bad economy and government is doing more harm than good. "Consider the most recent decision to double the departure tax on passengers traveling to St. Thomas, who usually make that trip to take advantage of the reasonably priced goods and services there. That increase is a clear intent to stop that."

On top of all that, Hon. Fraser continued, government has decided to tilt the playing field in favour of merchants by eliminating the customs duty on freight and insurance for imported goods for merchants only, with the "bogus argument" that they will pass the savings on to the consumer. “Needless to say, it never happens. Even the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce has called on the government to revisit the policy, as its impact has been miniscule.” 

Hon. Fraser on BUPA and projects 

Government Health Insurance Carrier BUPA sprung an unexpected deductible on subscribers on April 1, 2013, which came on the heels of Government cutting its employees increments by half. He pointed out that the Government has raised its fees on services exponentially, and it seems to be targeting those persons least likely to afford it. These services include passport fees, visa fees, work permit fees, and police record fees.

The issue was painfully stressed by concerned residents who attended the meeting and had expressed the view that the government should have consulted with residents before extending the contract of BUPA.

Acting director of Human Resources Ms Donavon-Stephens had said in a public forum recently that BUPA reported exceptionally high usage in the plan and they introduced a deductible and cabinet made a decision to introduce a deductible of $250 per policy holder and $500 for families of two or more $500.

However, according to Hon. Fraser, it was a case where the Government had to be running back to BUPA after giving them the nudge that they were going to be pulling the plug on the service as they were preparing to implement the National Health Insurance (NHI).

“When it comes to the handling of major projects it seems as if the Government is anaemic in their performance.  There is an apparent incompetence that is frightening. When basic questions such as the project’s cost are sought, there are answers such as: the information is not available...They are eighteen months into these projects and can't tell how these projects will be funded whether by way of borrowing or from the Consolidated Fund, and this is troubling."

What’s puzzling about this Government’s persistence to execute these projects, Hon. Fraser said, is that the provisions set forth in Section 19 of the Protocols for Effective Financial Management prohibits both borrowing and the use of the Consolidated Fund. "So it begs the question, does this Government know what it is doing?"

Hon. Fraser said the NDP Government continuously and persistently acts  in Violation of the protocols for Effective Financial Management, which was signed between the said NDP Government and the UK Government on April 23, 2012 to ensure good governance.

He said there is the case where Government continues to forge ahead with major projects such as the Airport; The Pier Park Project; and the Home for the Elderly knowing full well they are violating Sect. 27 (c) of the Protocols.

“The Government of the Virgin Islands is in breach, and they have neither sought nor received approval from the Secretary of State as required. So go figure,” stated Hon. Fraser. He further noted that routinely and defiantly, the government resorts to its old business as usual with its contract splitting as though the said Protocols do not exist.  

Hon. Fraser explained that in order to try and get around the Tendering and Procurement process, government will break up major projects into series of Petty Contracts and Purchase Orders, but this  still does not relieve them  of their obligation under the Protocol, because it says all projects.

“Case in point, Road Town Parking Lot $359.081- a major project broken up into 9 Petty Contracts and 29 Purchase Orders; Crafts Alive $1,408,667 a major project broken up into 21 Petty Contracts and 39 Purchase Orders; Manse Road $683.783 a major project broken up into 13 Petty Contracts and 40 Purchase Orders; Home  for the Elderly  at Spooners $1,061,497 a major project broken up into 19 Petty Contracts and 60 Purchase Orders.”

He contended that ordinarily this practice would not make news, but it was this NDP Government which went out on a limb advocating the virtues of these Protocols "despite the Member for the First District and myself telling them that they were bad for the Territory. Now here they are, having to violate the same Protocols in order to survive."

“Where is the UK Government in all this you ask?” Hon. Fraser concluded.