'We are wasting alot of time'- Hon Vanterpool on VI recovery - says territory should take UK deal amidst efforts to re-negotiate loan guarantee stipulations
At last night's September 11, 2019, third in a series of opposition-led community outreaches on the VI/UK relationship and other topics; this time at the Valarie O. Thomas Community Centre in Sea Cows Bay on Tortola, Hon Vanterpool said he remains concerned about what impediments are preventing the territory from proceeding with its recovery.
'Proceed with recovery' - Hon Vanterpool
"Whatever [it is] taking us to not proceed with the full recovery that we should proceed with, I have concerns about it... I am not going to object to the Premier [Hon Andrew A. Fahie] and his team going to London to negotiate, I am not going to object to whatever changes they are attempting to make," he said.
However, while Mr Vanterpool raised no objections to Premier Fahie seeking to re-negotiate the stipulations of the UK Loan Guarantee for recovery funds, in conflicting views, he called the exercise a waste of time.
"I personally think we are wasting a lot of time, we should be getting on with the country's recovery but that is their prerogative," he said in reference to the 7 month old Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government.
Premier Fahie has since reported that he has had productive meetings with the UK while calling it 'positive' with regards to advancing the cause of the Virgin Islands.
“Our constructive engagement with the United Kingdom will continue as we work to get the best for our Territory and the people of the Virgin Islands,” the Premier said in a statement.
Assessing the situation
Meanwhile, Hon Vanterpool questioned the position of the territory with regards to how resilient it is, if faced with another hurricane. "I would be very worried,' he said, especially for residents of low-lying areas while recounting the situation in the Bahamas.
"Stop the fussing and fighting, stop the re-negotiating and get on with fixing the country," he admonished the administration.
Hon Fahie in his drive to re-negotiate the stipulations of the UK Loan Guarantee had said the ratios in the 2012 Protocols for Effective Financial Management were set in different times, “since then we have had two catastrophic storms, as opposed to being offered grants, the territory is being offered Loan Guarantees.”
“I cannot as the leader of this country in good conscience, just sign off because I’m being bullied to sign off, knowing that the language is vague and it’s not precise,” the Premier said.
