Former Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) said he has no clue about the over $1.5M unpaid debt left mostly at the Works Ministry by the former National Democratic Party (NDP) government.

Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie at Monday’s June 22, 2020, HoA sitting had said the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government has discovered some $1.5M of unpaid bills to vendors owed mostly at the Works Ministry.

"We have found those bills and venders have been calling us and we couldn't understand why because most of them either didn't have a purchase order, they were just sent to work in a different area," Hon Fahie said.

He said the majority of the debts were inherited at the Ministry of Works which was led by Hon Vanterpool; however, when a reporter from VINO reached out to the legislator for a comment, no response was received up to publication time.

‘I wish I wasn’t called a politician’ – Hon Vanterpool

Now, according to Hon Vanderpool at yesterday's June 23, 2020, Sitting of the House; while he received VINO’s inquiry, he opted not to responded because he was not aware of the issue, saying politics has a stigma attached to it.

“I couldn’t answer the gentleman because I didn’t have a clue what he [reporter] was talking about, up to now I don’t have a clue… and I’m sure we will learn more about it as the Premier will expound about it, and I’ll like to learn more about it,” he said.

Premier Fahie has since indicated that a team is now analysing the debts and promised that a full report on the unpaid amounts will come before the House, noting that those who are owed must be paid for their labour.