However, these comments are in stark contrast to ones made 2 days later by Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) on September 12, 2019, when he accused the Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) led Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration of wasting time with the negotiations instead of proceeding with the territory's rebuilding.

Divided Opposition?

According to Hon Maduro-Caines, "Our country is at a crossroad with these three main topics, the RDA, the loan agreement and... now what I call strained relationship with the UK, which is something that I don't think we can afford to have at this time."

However, she said, "that doesn't mean that we have to lay down and play dead, we have to enter negotiations, keeping our people's best interest at the forefront," while noting that maintaining the territory's relationship remains paramount.

Hon Vanterpool in the September 11, 2019 Opposition meeting at Sea Cows Bay had admonished the administration, "Stop the fussing and fighting, stop the re-negotiating and get on with fixing the country."

The opposing views now signal a possible division in the Opposition, regarding the territory's handling of the issue. 

Auditing the RDA

Further, Hon Maduro-Caines called for the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) to be audited with its execution of work in the territory.

"The RDA how I see it, it should have been set up... how the Finance [department] has the government set up, where any job that is being done should be audited. I don't think they should be left to just give out contracts and we as a government have nothing to say about it," she said.

Government has expressed similar concern with the lack of monitoring for the RDA.