Gov't owes over $5M in unpaid vouchers -Premier
Premier and Minister for Finance Andrew Fahie has said the Government of the Virgin Islands owes more than $5 million in unpaid vouchers.
Premier Fahie gave that indication during the Tuesday’s sitting of the House of Assembly. He said: “The dollar amount of all unpaid vouchers at the treasury is $5,423,09.80.”
Of that sum, payments to the National Health Insurance scheme as well as government subvention payments to the H Lavity Stoutt Community College and the Recreational Trust make up the bulk of the funds owed.
“I have to report to this honourable House that the date of the longest unpaid voucher based on what was submitted to the Treasury from the government agencies is February 10, 2020,” Premier Fahie said.
In the meantime, the leader of government business said the Treasury Department is not to be blamed for the debt.
He explained that the Treasury Department can only process vouchers for payments. These vouchers come from the Governor’s Group as well as government ministries and departments.
He further explained that there have been times when the respective departments of government would not process the vouchers promptly. This, he said, resulted in slow processing of these payments.
Of that sum, payments to the National Health Insurance scheme as well as government subvention payments to the H Lavity Stoutt Community College and the Recreational Trust make up the bulk of the funds owed.
“I have to report to this honourable House that the date of the longest unpaid voucher based on what was submitted to the Treasury from the government agencies is February 10, 2020,” Premier Fahie said.
In the meantime, the leader of government business said the Treasury Department is not to be blamed for the debt.
He explained that the Treasury Department can only process vouchers for payments. These vouchers come from the Governor’s Group as well as government ministries and departments.
He further explained that there have been times when the respective departments of government would not process the vouchers promptly. This, he said, resulted in slow processing of these payments.
