On Wednesday evening, opposition member Andrew Fahie released a broadcast calling on government to release its audited financial statements from 2007 to 2015.
After decrying government’s lack of transparency and accountability, Mr. Fahie (R-D1) announced that he had sent a formal letter to Governor John Duncan requesting that he use his constitutional powers to ask for the audited documents to be presented at the House of Assembly.
During the broadcast, Mr. Fahie, who was elected chairman of the Virgin Islands Party in November, also questioned Premier Dr. Orlando Smith’s recent decision to ask for the resignation of BVI Health Services Authority Chairman John Cline.
Dr. Smith (R-at large) requested that the preacher resign following a radio interview he gave last Friday, which, according to Mr. Cline, the premier found unsupportive.
Mr. Fahie claimed that Dr. Smith could be overreaching his powers.
“The chairman of the BVI Health Services, in accordance with the law, was appointed by Cabinet,” Mr. Fahie said. “Which begs the question: Does the premier, without the approval of Cabinet, have the authority to demand the resignation of the chairman?”
Mr. Fahie also questioned whether Dr. Smith could have that kind of sway over a statutory body.
“Now we should all remember that [BVIHSA] is a statutory board, which according to the interpretation of [Attorney General Baba Aziz] is not considered to be part of government for contractual purposes,” said the First District representative. “Yet, interestingly, the chairman of this statutory board can be summarily removed.”
See the Jan. 19, 2017 edition for full coverage.
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