An unofficial list of Farmers & Fisher folk who are alleged to have received stimulus checks from the Government of the Virgin Islands is raising concern among residents. The list which names a number of local individuals who are said to be Farmers and Fisher folk show amounts ranging from $9,000-$22,000.
Our newsroom reached out to the Minister of Finance and Leader of Government Business Hon. Andrew A Fahie to confirm the authenticity of the list, the number of persons who have to date received funding under the farmers and Fishers stimulus package and the total amount paid in this particular stimulus. Fahie who was in the House of Assembly at the time of our request has not since answered the question, instead issued a statement to our newsroom stating, “The Government of the Virgin Islands has been made aware of a list that is being circulated, with information apparently including fisher folks and farmers’ names and amounts received for COIVD-19 Fishing and Farming stimulus initiative. The authenticity of this list is being examined as discrepancies have already been identified by the requisite authorities, which raises a major red flag. Upon completion of the review this entire matter, further information will be made available. The Government of the Virgin Islands continues to assist numerous persons and businesses during this ongoing global pandemic in a transparent and prudent manner that will withstand the test of time.”
In a day and age where Government Ministers take pleasure in calling everything fake news when it does not carry their agenda, Government officials in this case are yet to confirm the authenticity of this list, which begs the question is the list indeed accurate and perhaps not all persons have received checks as yet? Moreover, the stimulus packages for Farmers and Fisher folks was said to have been issued in 2020, if the list is not accurate or comes from a bogus source, why is it that the Minister of Finance along with his team are not readily prepared to denounce the said list and its content and then submit accurate data to the public? Is accurate data not being kept? Does the Minister of Finance and the requisite authorities not have an official list or the capacity to keep proper records?
Since the circulation of the list, some persons have publically come forward calling for the Premier to make clear as their names are published to have received when in fact they have not. One individual Nykolas Callwood, took to social media stating, “Can someone please explain how me and a few other names on this list and we haven’t received anything from this Government. Government of the Virgin Islands, Natalio Wheatley, Andrew A Fahie, your team have people bashing us and our names all over the place when WE DID NOT RECEIVE A PENNY. Can you all please provide us the people of these British Virgin Islands with a real list out of treasury department showing who really received monies. Get ayo list corrected NOW, we aint taking no blame for what we didn’t receive.”
The timing of such vague data from the Government of the Virgin Islands comes at a time when the territory is presently facing a Commission of Inquiry. The Commission of Inquiry (“the COI”) was issued on 19 January 2021 to look into whether corruption, abuse of office or other serious dishonesty may have taken place amongst public, elected and statutory officials in recent years.
More to come as the story develops.