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by pltm
(PLTM) - The $299,525,366 revenue projected for this year is not realistic, based on the economic climate in the Territory. This is according to Opposition Member, Hon. Julian Fraser.
Hon. Fraser, who described the budget as artificial, said that the BVI’s revenue base has been eroded significantly due to the August/September natural disasters.
“And to have figures like this, the public would not know until the end of the year, 2018. They (government) will probably come back with the actual figures which might then read $279M but right now has the Premier gives the figures he looks good and I think that is what it’s all about,” he said.
The Third District Representative stated that, “I am very skeptical because I don’t believe they are going to meet the figures. I think they are rosy, I think they are artificial and our economy is not the same size it was.”
He mentioned the fact that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) declined significantly and lamented that if the government continues not to collect revenues in areas such as customs duties on building materials, automobile etc, they are going to suffer losses in the millions.
“Any reasonable person could figure its pie-in-the-sky, we not going to meet. You talk about the loans going to augment revenue when you don’t even have the loans as yet.”
Working Together
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader, Hon. Andrew Fahie believes that all elected members have to work together. He said that there is no other way.
However, while he supports the Premier’s call for togetherness during this process, he said that the Premier does not practice what he preaches in public.
“I have never given anybody the impression that I don’t want to work together but let’s be real, plans are made and only when it’s time to get the vote in the House of Assembly is when you see them (government members),” Hon. Fahie said.
“We need to come together but at the end of the day the foundation which we started with is flawed.”
In relation to the figures in the budget, Hon. Fahie said, “Figures don’t lie, we need to sleep with our eyes open; be vigilant.”
He noted that there are indeed a lot of loans in the budget in order to dig the BVI out of the position its in, but he said that its unfortunate because of poor financial management over the five years that the government cannot negotiate from a position of strength on behalf of the people of the BVI.
“When I calculate it over the five years of this government you have close to over $200M unaccounted for,” the First District Representative claimed.
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