Report on BVI Airways audit to be made public 'shortly', says governor
The report into the controversial deal between the Government of the Virgin Islands and the defunct airline, BVI Airways, will be made public ‘shortly’.
This is according to Governor Augustus Jaspert who gave that indication during a conference with members of the media on Friday, November 1.
He said: “The Auditor General has been working very hard on her report into the BVI Airways. That report is now concluding and it will be given to me. And after that point, I believe up to a period of three months it will become public. So that will be coming forward shortly.”
Governor Jaspert further said the report was done because the BVI Airways deal raised questions.
“I didn’t commission them (the Office of the Auditor General). The Auditor General operates independently and she can look at any area that she deems warrants an investigation. We discuss areas, but she also looks at areas herself,” the governor said.
The Governor first announced news of the audit back in July of 2018. The previous National Democratic Party (NDP) government gave the controversial airline $7.2 million to commence non-stop flights from the British Virgin Islands and Miami in the United States.
Since receiving the funds, BVI Airways has missed all its promised dates to commence the flights. It then laid off its staff claiming it needed more money to fly.
In the meantime, Premier Andrew Fahie said the territory is suing its former attorney Lester Hyman, who is or was a director of the defunct airline, BVI Airways.
“I would say that the matter is in court in the United States of America, and we have been told to refrain from commenting. But, I would just like to say that there is no secret that the BVI has a strong interest in retrieving its $7.2 million,” Premier Fahie said at the time.
He said: “The Auditor General has been working very hard on her report into the BVI Airways. That report is now concluding and it will be given to me. And after that point, I believe up to a period of three months it will become public. So that will be coming forward shortly.”
Governor Jaspert further said the report was done because the BVI Airways deal raised questions.
“I didn’t commission them (the Office of the Auditor General). The Auditor General operates independently and she can look at any area that she deems warrants an investigation. We discuss areas, but she also looks at areas herself,” the governor said.
The Governor first announced news of the audit back in July of 2018. The previous National Democratic Party (NDP) government gave the controversial airline $7.2 million to commence non-stop flights from the British Virgin Islands and Miami in the United States.
Since receiving the funds, BVI Airways has missed all its promised dates to commence the flights. It then laid off its staff claiming it needed more money to fly.
In the meantime, Premier Andrew Fahie said the territory is suing its former attorney Lester Hyman, who is or was a director of the defunct airline, BVI Airways.
“I would say that the matter is in court in the United States of America, and we have been told to refrain from commenting. But, I would just like to say that there is no secret that the BVI has a strong interest in retrieving its $7.2 million,” Premier Fahie said at the time.
