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'Bad attitudes & over regulation make it difficult to do business in VI' - Hon Fahie

- says the services of the Gov't of the Virgin Islands must be improved to encourage more investors
Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), Opposition Leader and First District Representative, emphasised that services of the Government of the Virgin Islands must be improved to attract more local and foreign investors. Photo: VINO/File
Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), Opposition Leader and First District Representative, expressed that the territory needs investors but pointed out that some of the public service workers and government policies are discouraging the investors from conducting business in the territory. Photo: VINO/File
Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), Opposition Leader and First District Representative, expressed that the territory needs investors but pointed out that some of the public service workers and government policies are discouraging the investors from conducting business in the territory. Photo: VINO/File
Newly appointed Deputy Governor, Mr David D. Archer announced plans to transform the public service sector as part of the recovery of the territory, which includes efficient services. Photo: GIS
Newly appointed Deputy Governor, Mr David D. Archer announced plans to transform the public service sector as part of the recovery of the territory, which includes efficient services. Photo: GIS
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- While the Deputy Governor, Mr David D. Archer announced plans to transform the public service sector, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), Opposition Leader and First District Representative, expressed that the territory needs investors but pointed out that some of the public service workers and government policies are discouraging the investors from conducting business in the territory.

Hon Fahie stated that the local and foreign investors have lost confidence in the Virgin Islands, especially since the passage of the hurricanes of September 2017 that severely destroyed the territory.

Hon Fahie said during the debate of the Bill 'Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency Act 2018' at the Third Sitting of the Third Session of the Third House of Assembly on March 26, 2018 that: “The local and foreign investors want to get back their confidence in the BVI. We need more investors local and foreign. We need more entrepreneurs and we need to also make sure that those already existing in the businesses get the boost they need to go ahead. We have to make sure our services are better. We need to improve the services of the Government of the Virgin Islands.”

He continued, “Most of the investors locally and foreign right now are out their wondering if we are going to recovery or if we going to start it so that they could know whether to keep their money here or whether to go somewhere else and I understand the pressures going on,” adding that other Caribbean islands that were damaged by the hurricane have already gotten back on their feet.”

Some top civil servants have 'bad attitudes'

In addition, the Opposition Leader explained that the public sector requires a complete revamp which must include proper training for the public servants in the territory, adding that persons in top positions have some “bad attitudes”.

He said, “It is difficult to do business in the British Virgin Islands. We over-regulated and we have more laws than what John read about. Also, we have some people to the top with some bad attitudes and we ain’t getting nowhere till we change some of those things and some of the persons.”

Hon Fahie further commented that working on improving things within the public service is a part of the recovery and must be done or persons are not going to want to invest in the territory whether local or foreign.

Using getting a liquor license as an example, Hon Fahie believes that better collaboration should be done among the departments involved in the process because it is taking over a month or more for a business to get a liquor license, since they have to go through one section at a time.

Meanwhile, Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert aka ‘Gus’ had announced during his Speech from the Throne on March 1, 2018, that amendments will be made to the policies for persons renewing their liquor license.

7 Responses to “'Bad attitudes & over regulation make it difficult to do business in VI' - Hon Fahie”

  • Madness (28/03/2018, 11:46) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
    It's funny that Fahie will get away with saying this but if other people say it they're raked over the coals. It shouldn't matter who the messenger is, we need to realize what's wrong and work towards fixing it. The fix starts with admitting there is a problem and quite frankly too many of us locals are so busy beating our chests and shouting what a proud people we are and don't want to admit that we have real issues to resolve.
  • Don't Be Afraid (28/03/2018, 11:52) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    to do things differently. Make BVI a Freeport and capitalize on the increased volume in business. Review all Fees and taxes and come up with a new model. Think outside the box its a new day.
  • cay (28/03/2018, 12:18) Like (1) Dislike (22) Reply
    Is he beating up on civil servants?
    • To Cay (28/03/2018, 13:15) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
      I didn't get that at all. He's speaking about a few of them that are the problem that are stifling success and progress. That's all.
  • trrefdrfds (28/03/2018, 15:18) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    He is right they all have bad attitudes even them who we elect
  • Fran (28/03/2018, 17:23) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    Looks like sour grapes
  • polite point (29/03/2018, 17:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Its also hard to do business or conduct business when your telecommunications keep getting blocked by faked
    Google messages and ALL of your 'frequencies' of telecomm are tampered with or shut off - to the point of
    preventing one from talking to anyone via the internet in the US or UK. That isn't very cool. And if that is caused
    by something outside of the BVI, then England or the BVI should stop farting around and get the bastards. And
    if some banks here want to know how much a deceased relative left in inheritance to the living - those banks
    should be run out in a pine box. Wake up! You know who this is.


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