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Child support defaulters will be blocked from leaving Territory- Premier Fahie

- said legislation coming to dragnet men with child support issues
Government is seeking to introduce legislation to go after men defaulting on child support. Photo: Internet Source
Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) says he has an issue with men not supporting their children. Photo: VINO
Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) says he has an issue with men not supporting their children. Photo: VINO
Her Majesty’s Prison in Balsum Ghut: Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) is of the belief that fatherless children are more prone to end up in jail, ‘some of them end up stealing, murdering and it all started because they didn’t have that father figure.’ Photo: VINO/File
Her Majesty’s Prison in Balsum Ghut: Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) is of the belief that fatherless children are more prone to end up in jail, ‘some of them end up stealing, murdering and it all started because they didn’t have that father figure.’ Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The issue of men failing to support their children and causing them to be a burden on society is being grabbed by the throat by the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government, which will be introducing legislation to clamp down on such persons.

Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) dropped the bombshell announcement yesterday January 20, 2020 at a press conference held at the Village Cay Conference Room on Wickham’s Cay I, Tortola.

It was a day of surprises as the press conference was called to announce that third term legislator, Honourable Alvera Maduro Caines (R6) had left the National Democratic Party (NDP) to join the Virgin Islands Party (VIP).

The switch now moves her from the Opposition side of the House of Assembly (HoA) to the Government side of the HoA. It also created a historic three-woman team in the HoA.

‘I don’t know why men get children & don’t support them’

With the continued expression of the Commissioner of Police Michael B. Matthews and most recently the Resident Judge, Her Ladyship Justice Vicki Ann Ellis, lamenting the sore issue of the rising numbers of domestic violence and related issues, Premier Fahie was asked what his Government was doing to tackle the problems.

While noting that legislations are coming, Premier Fahie shared that a particular legislation will seek to dragnet men who are defaulting on child support.

“Even with child support, I do not know why men go and get children and don’t support them. I have an issue with that,” Premier Fahie said.

He expressed, “So one of the legislations we are going to bring forward within the second quarter or so of this year is that they can’t leave the Territory again, ever, until they pay off their bills and we are going to attach their names to every single thing in government.”

“So when they go to pay one, say they have to pay Social Security to get contract, with the e-government legislation that we are doing, their name will pop up that they owing Inland Revenue or they owe somewhere else and you not getting nothing until you pay up that child support and all those other things.”

Fighting for single mothers

Making it emphatically clear that parenting requires both parents, Hon Fahie added, “We have to understand that when we get children and we don’t support them we are putting them to be a burden on society and asking a lady to do all of that, raise the children and to get monies, that is too much and I don’t take that lightly.”

According to Premier Fahie, the female legislators, along with Deputy Speaker and At Large Representative, Honourable Neville A. Smith and Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (Al), have been tasked with handling the drafting of those legislations.

“We are going to be fighting for the single mothers.”

Premier Fahie also alluded to the domino effect caused by children lacking support from both parents, which he said in many cases results in them becoming a burden on society.

“Some of them end up in jail, some of them end up stealing, murdering and it all started because they didn’t have that father figure.”

51 Responses to “Child support defaulters will be blocked from leaving Territory- Premier Fahie”

  • matt (21/01/2020, 10:58) Like (33) Dislike (1) Reply
    Well done Sir, now you have to make sure that the checks gets paid to these mothers on time not all the way to the month's end. These schools, daycare fees plus food can't wait until month end.
    • Yep (22/01/2020, 12:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Factsss !!! It's ridiculous ...The funds should be taken directly from their accounts.
  • Bias (21/01/2020, 11:07) Like (84) Dislike (0) Reply
    Please note that it's not only men that does not pay child support and/or take care of their children. There are good fathers out there who have sole custody of their children and the mothers are free to walk around without contributing to their child's development. The minute the father fails to support, the mother runs to the court, to the politician and here we go. So lets be fair and say, "I don't understand why people (men/women) get children and don't support them". We need to "fight for single fathers" as well. FAIR IS FAIR! That means sending the default mother to serve time at Her Majesty's Prison.
  • jah (21/01/2020, 11:10) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Got 2 of us pregnant and only care for one that lives in the bvi
    • Jahi (21/01/2020, 13:12) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      What if the child dont live in the bvi
    • Jahi (21/01/2020, 13:16) Like (24) Dislike (8) Reply
      MOTHERS TAKE THE CHILD SUPPORT MONEY AND DO HAIR AND NAILS AND DONT SPEND ANY ON THE CHILD
      • Hmm (21/01/2020, 16:43) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
        Do you have proof of this? Stop watching people and assuming!
      • Yep (22/01/2020, 12:57) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
        You know why, because some of us have already exhausted all her funds supporting our children and when we finally get a cheque it's for us to now...sorry not sorry
        ..
    • Jahip (21/01/2020, 13:19) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
      Premier fahie have to looking to that the baby mothers dont spend any of the monry on the child
    • Tsk Tsk (21/01/2020, 16:55) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      Why did you give him permission to do that?
  • Pay Deductions (21/01/2020, 11:21) Like (38) Dislike (1) Reply
    They wouldn't be in arrears if the child support was taken directly from their pay.
    • VIslander (21/01/2020, 17:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      This is what I thought made more sense. Let them make whatever they need to make and get any contract they can and take the $$ out before they get it. They children would suffer if their parents can't get contracts because they owed in the past.
  • Hmmmmm (21/01/2020, 11:46) Like (8) Dislike (5) Reply
    Women, you who shelter, clothe & feed the products of your womb, be kind to these wicked men for Almighty God knows how to deal with them. Leaving mine to the Living God for when he does the job it is well done.
  • lord o. (21/01/2020, 12:02) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is a good move. For years all we've been getting on this issue is talk. Now we have action. Great. I just hope all means all and not some. Locals. Xpats. Rich. Poor.... Allllllll...... Nice...
  • Yes (21/01/2020, 12:08) Like (14) Dislike (3) Reply
    Don’t really blame the man them; but the foolish who falls for it 3rd and 4th time. A lot of young people have to take responsibility and stop depending on Government...
    • . (21/01/2020, 12:53) Like (16) Dislike (3) Reply
      Garnish their wages, do not renew their passports, drivers license, trade license etc until they pay their child support. Detain them when trying to leave if possible and also detain them when they enter customs and immigration. A holding cell is needed at the ports of entries if they do not have them already. I am tired of these useless mothers and fathers.
      • Foolish (21/01/2020, 14:22) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
        You sound like a dummy, if you take away all these things tell me how are they going to pay the child support, trade license ? You want them to pay not rob and commit crime to get the money to pay it.

        I am not against what the premier wants to do but you cannot take it all away, they still have to make the money to pay, be reasonable .
  • Really (21/01/2020, 12:41) Like (6) Dislike (10) Reply
    Like every thing else on which he pontificates for audienceship,it is all sensationalism .
    Wont be enforced and for the mot part it is unenforceable without massive lockups,hardship,clogged courts,men sitting around with no jobs and papers ...
    Mos these so called women need some kinda sanction for not using birth control and child production repeatedly. by men with multiple wayward children east west and across the seas. Decent women raise decent kids with or without man in house We see it all the time and all over the world
    Reminder: Barack Obama came from one parent household and his recollection if seeing his father briefly for a short minute.
  • several parties (21/01/2020, 12:47) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply

    I know one party member/politician who is a dead beat dad

  • GG (21/01/2020, 12:53) Like (13) Dislike (4) Reply
    I am happy to see this but I wanted the government to make sure that those kids get the money because some mothers get the money and turn and send on themselves doing hair nails . They have to make sure those get the right kind of food to eat school supplies and they go to the doctor when they get sick
  • question (21/01/2020, 13:01) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    What about offenders who are being deported? Will the legislation being contemplated apply to them also?
    • Yeo (21/01/2020, 19:01) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      A bunch of noise he making ..no real plans just to keep some people in his corner..How u will take everything from somebody so they cannot work and expect them to pay. Ir prevent them from leaving if their time has expired or prevent them from being deported..foolish pretend nonsense.
  • Jahi (21/01/2020, 13:13) Like (12) Dislike (7) Reply
    Women have to show where the child money spent
  • @jahi (21/01/2020, 13:57) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Show where child money spend when some of you all spending what you all owe the child spanish bars and on other women children
  • um (21/01/2020, 14:08) Like (9) Dislike (11) Reply
    What about the ladies who get pregnant without the consent of the father? Why should a man have to pay for a child he wasn’t planning for?? Plenty of ladies with children from multiple fathers only after money. Try making the system fair to all.
    • Eh? (21/01/2020, 15:02) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      Men ,just so you know,can also use methods of their own to prevent conception.Talk to your poppa and momma and let them school you or use the internet or your physician for info in this matter.
  • Opportunity Costs (21/01/2020, 14:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Don't forget the opportunity cost of the amounts outstanding as well as the costs associated with great distress.
  • due (21/01/2020, 15:05) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    Take care of your kids mom they will get big i did it all by myself thank you jesus
  • NOT JUST MEN! (21/01/2020, 15:10) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Look, it's not just men pay child support. I think it is high time we start being gender biased about this thing. The majority is men but it have some men who are better mothers to their children than the women and they get hard time to get child support from the mother. The system is gender biased in favour of the mother. Block the women too! and send the defaulting women to Balsum Ghut too.
  • rewrsdffds (21/01/2020, 15:11) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    That is good!
  • FIGHT FOR THE FATHERS TOO (21/01/2020, 15:16) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    Premier, fight for the single fathers too who out there supporting their children but the women want to bleed them dry and when they go to the Magistrate, her starting rate is $300 and don't consider the man's means or whether he was neglecting the children. Child support don't have to always translate into cash in the woman's hand...it could be buying groceries and clothing. Nuff of these women use the child support money for hair and nails.
  • usa (21/01/2020, 15:32) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Burn them good, men and women. You owe child support in the USA be it men or women, your pay check is garnished, you will not be allowed to apply for a passport or if you have a passport it will be red flagged, all of your income tax refund will be seized by the Government and disbursed to the child/children. I have seen one of my co workers lay across his desk sobbing like a babyLOL, because the Government held his State and Federal refund a total of $6,000 because he was not paying child support. Every dime went to the child. LOL, the single Cruise he was planning to go get TURNED UP on with his boys got turned down. LMAO.
  • loophole (21/01/2020, 15:47) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
    Them island man going stop pay child support just to remain here
  • parent (21/01/2020, 18:12) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    So why is it that the father have to pay more money for child support than the mother???
  • want to know (21/01/2020, 18:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is the maximum amount of money for one child in the BVI.?
  • Citizen (21/01/2020, 18:56) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply

    C**k Tax gone up, it is now 300 minimum and the max depends on the child responsibility. However i will courage women to try other means first before going to court. Most children need support after 18 mainly for education purposes. On that not the state cannot demand payment. However good dads will be there to support.

  • Victim (21/01/2020, 19:29) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Should a man be paid back the child support money that he has been paying Child support and then a DNA test proves that the child is not his ?
  • Victim (21/01/2020, 21:59) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Which this was around in my days when my children were kids. I was working minimum wage the father had is own business making thousands a week no child support many days the kids go hungry while he feeding and clothing stepchildren.Many days the poor kids go hungry he would help friends and family while the poor kids suffer. I prayed and ask god ever day to deliver me thank god they are adults and working now and can take care of themselves. I feel the pain of those single parents. Especially now it is even worst than ever a one bedroom apartment now 1000$ and up don’t talk about the two bedroom and a family of three is about 350$ per week for groceries just imagine a single parent working minimum wage how can they survive.
  • Mark (22/01/2020, 02:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The NDP took the easy way out, now you have the VIP dealing with issues that matters. Good Job Premier.
  • father (22/01/2020, 06:39) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    If the maximum for child support is $300, what if the father have at least 4 other child to support too. How much money does that father needs to pay for the one child’s child support knowing he has 4 other kids to take care of also?
  • one thing (22/01/2020, 07:12) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I'm only in agreement with not allowing to travel until child / Children debts are cleared... How would this be done.? How would you know all who are outstanding.. there are a lot more father not paying than those in the Court..... I will suggest government get social development to create a register for female parents to register / complain. Have someone call the Father about the complain... Here what he has to say. Try resolve the matter. If the matter cannot be resolved then it goes to Court for a remedy...How would the ports be informed ?
  • facts (22/01/2020, 08:00) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    God don't sleep nor slumber i keep all my recipts as proof cause i'm fed up of the nonsense
  • Outsider (22/01/2020, 12:04) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Social Development needs to GET OUT THE Office and see what's happening with all parties involved(father, mother, child/s). Me personally a single mother of now 25& 35+ girls, did it all on my own. Every one knows their responsibility. But I experienced aman paying support for 3sch age children. Mother have 7 children, collecting from 4fathers and children still hungry. What she doing with the money? Putting the children in private sch and paying car note!!
  • hm (23/01/2020, 14:48) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    You make a child mind him or her that’s both parents responsibility however some fathers blaming the mother’s when carrying false news to get new front aNd impress them friend the mother bitter when in actuality the child support pay if they pay at all ain’t more 200-300 the Max a month which can’t even cover school fee full payment when daycare fees ranges from 250 and up the mother is still left to cloth and feed the child and pay for any medical bills for the said child while the father upset for contributing less than 500 a month smh
    • rewrsdffds (23/01/2020, 22:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Funds need come out them pay them want spend big limin but hate spend on child maintenance


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