PEP's PRO Mr Lorie A. Rhymer called on the NDP government to release the forensic audit that was done on the government of the last four years. Photo: VINO

Mr Rhymer told reporters present that PEP respects their work and would never pass any legislation that seeks to silence the media. Photo: VINO

Rhymer made public his support for the media fraternity in the VI as he pleaded with reporters to assist PEP in spreading the word calling for the release of the document. Photo: VINO

This was an objective very visible to a blind man as PEP’s Public Relations Officer Mr Lorie A. Rhymer called on the NDP government to release the forensic report of the previous government, something Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith had previously attempted to do during a sitting of the House of Assembly.

This attempt was strongly challenged by the opposition of the House, Representative for the First District Honourable Andrew A. Fahie. Mr Rhymer made the call at the launch of the PEP on Saturday evening March 29, 2014.

“I wish to take this opportunity now to call upon the government to release the forensic audit that was done on the government of the last four years, the forensic audit that shows the monies that were squandered, mystic, and how it is that we should hold somebody accountable for it,” appealed Mr Rhymer.

He asked the rhetorical question as to why that particular document was being kept away from the people of the Virgin Islands. “Why is it that [this] document is kept somewhere safe and away from the people of the Virgin Islands? We want to know,” he said.

Rhymer indicated that they are no longer prepared to keep VIP afloat by resurrecting it once again. “We resurrected the Virgin Islands Party in 2003. I do not know ladies and gentleman, if we can do it again. Can it be resurrected more than once? I leave that question with you,” he further said.

Rhymer made public his support for the media fraternity in the VI as he pleaded with reporters to assist PEP in spreading the word calling for the release of the document. “We are calling on you the media to spread the word out for us that we are calling on this administration now to release that document so that the people of the Virgin Islands can see how many millions of dollars were squandered, squandered away and gone.”

He told reporters present that PEP respects their work and would never pass any legislation that seeks to silence the media. “We would never pass any legislation that would muzzle you, we respect you, you do a great service for the people of the Virgin Islands, you unearth corruption, you probe into wrongs that happen in society and we respect you; for that and we thank you,” said Mr Rhymer.

He told attendees that PEP has been formed to the glory of God and for the service of the People of the Virgin Islands cognizant of the fact that it is not going to be easy. “This is not politics as usual, that style of politics is gone and what is not gone yet is going.”