Former Premier Dr. D Orlando Smith has “wholly” rejected the conclusion issued in the Commission of Inquiry Report which states that serious dishonesty took place among government officials during the failed $7.2 million BVI Airways project.
Dr. Smith responded to the Report in a recent Facebook post where he disassociated himself and members of his National Democratic Party Administration from having any involvement in criminal activity as it relates to the project.
He said, “As the former Premier of this territory, I find it necessary to clear the air on the Report’s findings in relation to BVI Airways and the suggestion that there may have been criminality on the part of those BVIslanders involved, including myself.”
“More specifically, I refer to the passage at page 374 of the COI’s report which found that the project was an example of poor governance on the part of the government due to a failure to require financial statements from BVI Airways; inadequate due diligence; and other examples of this kind,” he added.
The conclusion is not supported by facts
Dr. Smith said the highlighted instances of poor governance did not equate to acts of criminality and while rejecting the conclusion, he said it is “not supported by any facts.”
“I state categorically that at no time during the four years or so that my government was involved with the US promoters of BVI Airways, in an effort to get the Airline started, was there any criminal activity – deliberate or by accident on our part. No facts have been alleged and no evidence shown which indicates otherwise. The COI Report itself does not set out a justification for the suggestion that BVI Government officials may have committed a crime,” he expressed.
Gov’t relied on the trust of the advisor
The former premier admitted to being let down by the United States attorney and advisor to the project Lester Hyman, who had in excess of three decades of experience working with previous BVI governments.
He admitted that in placing that trust in the advisor and not carrying out sufficient due diligence, poor governance was exhibited. However, he said such “could never be elevated to criminality on the part of either the previous Financial Secretary” or himself.
“I owe it to you the people of the Virgin Islands who placed your trust in me for over 19 consecutive years to reaffirm to you that not one day, did I violate that trust. In hindsight, errors may have been made in terms of due diligence but at no time was there any act even remotely bordering on criminality committed on the part of myself or my colleagues,” Dr. Smith explained.
Dr. Smith said his legacy must never be associated with claims of criminality, as he maintains such acts were never practiced during his almost two decades as an elected official.
What did the COI report say?
Tune into our 7pm newscast for the full breakdown of the claims associated with this story.