VI's 'back & forth' with UK Gov’t concerning- Opposition
Honourable Penn was at the time speaking at a public meeting with Opposition Members, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3), Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) and Hon Alvera Maduro-Caines (R6) on Wednesday, September 11, 2019, at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School in Road Town, to discuss the VI/UK Relations and other issues.
Maintaining Relationships
According to Hon Penn, “We are also very concerned of the recent interaction between… the Premier and the UK Government, more specifically, the engagement between him and Ben Merrick who is the Governor’s [Augustus J. U. Jaspert] Boss essentially of the Overseas Territory,” he said.
Hon Penn noted that is also concerning that the interaction between the Government and the UK is also being played out in a public way.
Touching on the need to implement beneficial ownership in the VI financial services industry, the Opposition Leader said, “In addition to that we have some serious headwinds in terms of the UK and leadership, currently there are some concerns with the current leadership, there’s a back and forth battle with the UK.
“So we feel this is not the time for us to be engaging in this kind of politics with the UK,” he said while reiterating the need to maintain good relationship with the United Kingdom and to spark a dialogue around the subject.
Premier now in the UK
On September 2, 2019, in a letter made public on the request of Director of Overseas Territories Mr Merrick, the UK official had accused the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government of causing engagements between the Virgin Islands (VI) and the United Kingdom (UK) to weaken.
In the letter addressed to Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), Mr Merrick also accused the administration of misleading the public by stating the UK wants the VI Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) to have full control of the territory's finances.
Premier Fahie had publicly disputed the claims, stating there was a ploy to tarnish the image of his government and sway public opinion.
The leader of government business is currently on a mission in the UK to address the concerns and to seek 'common ground' regarding the UK loan guarantees aimed at providing financing for hurricane rebuilding efforts in the Virgin Islands.
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16 Responses to “VI's 'back & forth' with UK Gov’t concerning- Opposition”
What kind of logic is that bossie
Alvera she just going along
Time is longer than twine.
Here we are and the RDA is established with the CEO getting a whopping over $350000.00 US per annum salary. In addition to allowance. Should the Virgin Islands accept accept the loan guarantee then the government will have to allow the RDA to spend the monies at their pleasure.
At the same time with an open register of companies conducting businesses in the territory, there may be companies that will relocate their business to other jurisdictions and cause a decline in government's revenue. If the territory is unable to repay the loan, the UK government will take the territory as being pawned to them.
On another note: IF the Premier was pissy drunk by the Watering Hole falling down and talking about things that he shouldn’t be talking about it would have been all over social media but when that one did it we ain’t hear a peek about it. The time will come to play the tape.
Bob Marley day to emancipate yourself from mental slavery.