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Elvis J. Harrigan writes Governor to confirm support for Hon Fahie

- former D6 VIP candidate who had Mervin Charles sign letter to Governor for & on his behalf now confirms he supported plot against Party Chairman Hon Julian Fraser RA for Hon Andrew A. Fahie to be Opposition Leader
While the petition was being signed to influence Governor John S. Duncan OBE to favour Hon Andrew A. Fahie as Opposition Leader, Mr Elvis J. Harrigan was at the time overseas and had asked his Committee Chairman Mervin Charles to sign for and on his behalf, which he did, according to the letter obtained by this news site. However, on his return to the territory last week, Mr Harrigan went a step further to write Governor Duncan to confirm his support for Hon Fahie to be the Opposition Leader and advised that he had authorised Mr Charles to sign on his behalf. Photo: VINO
In another unprecedented move, former Sixth District Virgin Islands Party (VIP) candidate Elvis J. Harrigan (left), who was defeated by Hon Alvera Maduro-Caines (D6) in a landslide, has added his voice to the controversy within the VIP over the Opposition Leader‘s post by writing a letter to Governor John S. Duncan confirming that he had authorised Mr Mervin Charles (right) to sign the letter endorsing Hon Andrew A. Fahie as Opposition Leader. Photo: VINO/File
In another unprecedented move, former Sixth District Virgin Islands Party (VIP) candidate Elvis J. Harrigan (left), who was defeated by Hon Alvera Maduro-Caines (D6) in a landslide, has added his voice to the controversy within the VIP over the Opposition Leader‘s post by writing a letter to Governor John S. Duncan confirming that he had authorised Mr Mervin Charles (right) to sign the letter endorsing Hon Andrew A. Fahie as Opposition Leader. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- In another unprecedented move, former Sixth District Virgin Islands Party (VIP) candidate Elvis J. Harrigan, who was defeated by Hon Alvera Maduro-Caines (D6) in a landslide, has added his voice to the controversy within the VIP over the Opposition Leader‘s post.

It was this news site that first and accurately reported that some 6 defeated candidates who ran on the VIP ticket in the 2015 general elections had signed a petition to Governor John S. Duncan OBE in support of senior VIP member Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) to be the Opposition Leader.

This was after a nasty fight developed between Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) and Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) over the post of Opposition Leader following the elections where the VIP only obtained 2 out of 13 seats, keeping them in the Opposition in the House of Assembly.

Our newsroom’s sources close to the VIP was told that Hon Andrew A. Fahie had expressed an interest in becoming the Leader of the Opposition and Hon Fraser, who is the duly elected Chairman of the VIP, believes that he should hold the post as he heads the majority party on the opposition side of the isle.

Under the Virgin Islands Constitution 2007, the issue of political party does not play a role in the pick of the Opposition Leader as all that is required is a majority in the Opposition to advise the Governor in writing who will be their Leader.

However, according to the same source, Hon Fahie refused to go along with Hon Fraser as the Opposition Leader, therefore there remains an impasse.

The VI made history on June 23, 2015 when for the first time the Legislature was convened without an Opposition Leader. Governor Duncan has given the two warring factions a month and a day to see if they could break the impasse.

Harrigan for Fahie; placed it in writing

While the petition was being signed, Mr Harrigan was at the time overseas and had asked his Committee Chairman Mervin Charles to sign for and on his behalf, which he did, according to the letter obtained by this news site.

However, on his return to the territory last week, Mr Harrigan went a step further to write Governor Duncan to confirm his support for Hon Fahie to be the Opposition Leader and advised that he had authorised Mr Charles to sign on his behalf.

The letter was obtained by this news site through our sources inside the coup plotters’ camp.

Fraser caused us to lose, candidates signed letter to Governor

Outside of Harrigan, the other candidates signing the letter supporting Hon Fahie to be the Opposition Leader were At-Large candidates Irene F. Penn-O’Neal and Sharie B. De Castro, and District candidates Elton L. Sprauve, Oleanvine Pickering-Maynard, Elvis J. Harrigan, Andrew A. Fahie, and Zoe J. Walcott-McMillan.

Many party insiders said this move could be the beginning of the end of the 42-year-old VIP. Many of the candidates have blamed Hon Fraser for their loss at the polls as it is alleged that they were told on the campaign trail by the voters that people could not vote for them because Hon Fraser was the Party Leader. This news site understands this was one of the main driving reasons behind the signing of the letter.

VI political history

Looking at the Virgin Islands political history in the last 20 years, no party leader has ever been ousted once losing an election. In 1999 to 2003 the VIP won the election with then Hon O’Neal as Chief Minister. Dr Smith of the losing National Democratic Party (NDP) served as Opposition Leader.

In 2003-2007, the VIP lost to the NDP under veteran legislator Ralph T. O’Neal OBE, and he retained his post as Opposition Leader.

In 2007-2011 the VIP came back and won in an 11 to 2 landslide with Mr O’Neal serving as the first Premier. Dr Smith of the losing NDP was the Opposition Leader (2007-2011).

In 2011-2015 the NDP came back and won in a 9 to 4 result and Mr O’Neal remained as Opposition Leader of the losing VIP.

On June 8, 2015 to current, the NDP was given another term in office with an 11 to 2 majority and for the first time there are attempts to oust a party leader. It remains unclear the support in the VIP and the country for Hon Fahie as Party Chairman or Opposition Leader.

37 Responses to “Elvis J. Harrigan writes Governor to confirm support for Hon Fahie”

  • 911 (30/06/2015, 11:31) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well me bouy the ting start!
  • one eye (30/06/2015, 11:34) Like (12) Dislike (4) Reply
    Vino you are the best how the hell uou does get deeds thing i fo not know!!!!
  • Hmmmm (30/06/2015, 11:43) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    What to not start right will NEVER end right!
  • Rhodni (30/06/2015, 12:04) Like (38) Dislike (3) Reply
    Juggie's political career is over. Lost D6 to Omar D5 to Delores & then D6 again to Alvera. Done.
  • Smile (30/06/2015, 12:27) Like (16) Dislike (2) Reply
    I think that the point is being missed here.
    When NDP was defeated 11 - 2, Dr. Smith had the support of Dr. Pickering and was supported as Opposition Leader. And this is the case with the leaders of losing parties noted in the news story above.

    Fraser does not have the support of his colleague and as such has not been declared Opposition Leader.
    All I see is that both individuals are putting forward arguments on why he should be Opposition Leader
    - Fraser - I am the leader of the party in Opposition.
    - Fahie - I command the support of the majority of members (whether they won or not) of that party.

    I do not see any "coup", just party members that are facing reality, that the party may not win with Fraser at the helm. He should take the hint.
    I don't think it will win with Fahie at the helm, either.
    Thus the dilemna.

    I mourn for the VIP, the party of HL Stoutt and TB Lettsome.
    Help Dancia, Karl, Gerry or Colin.
    • Truth...but! (30/06/2015, 14:39) Like (23) Dislike (2) Reply
      You are half right. VIP will not win with Fraser at the helm but I also think that Fahie is worst. You may not see it because most attention was directed towards Fraser but let Fahie come as leader next time and you will see. With respect to Dancia, Karl, Gerry, Colin, they will all suffer the same fate as Ms. Romney last time around. Looks good on paper, may speak nice but the general populace will not vote for them. What the VIP need is a fresh young vibrant face, someone about real action, someone with a track record of success, not those who snub their noses and stay within their little enclaves and then when it suits them they hit the pavement. Which of those names stated at the end of your post come out among the normal people and genuinely show interest?
      • @Smile & Truth (01/07/2015, 09:04) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
        I see both of you as well as some other of you bloggers as hypocrites. People like you guys were out there saying a vote for a VIP candidate is a vote for Fraser to become Premier now coming on here to try to make it seem as if you care about the VIP. Also whoever the VIP put to lead the NDP will try to paint in a negative light but that will be short lived. Lastly for the record, I worked with Fraser, Fahie, Myron and Kedrick and the best leadership skills out of all of them was Fahie. Most of the status quo will fight Fahie from ever leading but who God bless in His timing no man can curse.
  • okay (30/06/2015, 12:41) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
    These people should be ashamed of themselves. They are hypocrites to the highest degree. In other places some of them would not even be looked at as candidates for election. Their political ambition is now scared. We need to scrutinize those who want to be political leaders from now going forward. Too many axes to grind. Get serious people. politics is not to retaliate. It is for service.Get that straight.
  • virgin gorda (30/06/2015, 12:51) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    Vino your cartoon was so right vip is dead and needs to be put to rip
  • W*F (30/06/2015, 13:19) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    Elvis Harrigan is trying to stay relevant, but he really is not. So Elvis Juggle Harrigan Get Lost
    • chad (30/06/2015, 14:33) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      You are right, but where is the woman who talked about demons just before elections? Why we can't hear her mouth now? LOL!! Will the real demons please stand up!
  • voter (30/06/2015, 13:35) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Harriman did not have a chance over algebra. His campaign tactics was poor. Stop blaming others and blame yourself. How many times you lost? Maybe this is not your calling.
  • wize up (30/06/2015, 13:41) Like (8) Dislike (19) Reply
    fellow Virgin Islanders; is it safe to say we now 2 factions of the Virgin Islands Party: fahie has is crew and fraser have his crew: I might be wrong but after 40 years in the political business the VIP has suffered a natural death: busy minding the NDP's business and forgot to pay attention to their own business: quick to tell this territory how corrupt the NDP is but look at the VIP now; its shameful, after so many years of good service to our development and end up like this( the VIP should have focused more on thier political strategy) VIP brougth nothing of substance to the 2015 campaign ( to much slander)
    • Yes (30/06/2015, 14:39) Like (2) Dislike (12) Reply
      The VIP is just like VIBES and SHOW TIME....Cain and Abel.
      • hello (01/07/2015, 23:14) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Please do not label VIP.... Fahie start this thing and the congress is not involved. Sometimes things happen for a reason. A rebuilt party needed here.
  • ha (30/06/2015, 13:54) Like (10) Dislike (3) Reply

    Fahie, you screw your self and who VIP organisation. People are not going to look at you as a genuine person/leader. You are are a h*****rite, and people are always wary of hypocrisy. You too are dome now. Watch out. You too will never become premier. Juggy is a trator. What can we expect from him! God looks low but he is high. The only prayer Gods hears from sinners is ( ask forgiveness of our sins) then he would listen to our prayers. Even then, he he does not always give us everything we ask for, it might destroy us.

  • pat (30/06/2015, 14:29) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    Smh after during the campaign saying fraser was the best thing since ice cream come on man!
    • wize up (30/06/2015, 15:51) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
      @ Pat; you so right with your blog!! I went right back and played the tape!!! ALL of them that signed that letter was telling our people that Fraser was the VI best hope: less than 1 week after the elections Fraser was pushed from the moving train; how can this territory ever regain confidence in the Virgin Islands Party
  • Yes (30/06/2015, 14:32) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Lucky and Shane still pardna? LOL
  • Dirty Laundry (30/06/2015, 14:37) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Why throw more gas on the fire????
  • Voter Too (30/06/2015, 15:23) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply
    Coward and Useless fool. ANYONE WHO CANNOT SIGN A PETITION FOR HIS SELF AND ALLOWING SOMEONE TO DO IS A COWARD AND USELESS AND DOESN'T WORTH BEING A REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE PEOPLE.VIP IS DOWN BECAUSE OF SOME SELFISH FOLKS WHO ONLY THING OF THEMSELVES AND NOT THE PEOPLE OF THE BVI.UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL
  • pat (30/06/2015, 15:37) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    choose the lesser of two evils and go from there. There is a bigger voice against Fraser who was in charge but also stuck his foot in his mouth repeatedly. If he had any political sense, he would step down in this moment to heal the party and help build it behind the scenes. There is no room for ego in politics.
  • Hmm (30/06/2015, 16:21) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    What does not start right will NEVER end right!
  • lmao (30/06/2015, 16:58) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Transition people transition
  • Yes (30/06/2015, 17:10) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Good bye vip here comes new party
  • chad (30/06/2015, 17:27) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    One thing about lucky. He always looked good and he still does. Wow old admirer.
  • VIP Supporter (30/06/2015, 17:43) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    To say that I am ashamed of this party is putting it MILDLY. I just cannot believe that they could treat each other in this manner. I watched the togetherness at several rallies and I did not see this coming. Some people are just power hungry, and Mr. District One, I blame you for most (if not all) of it. Why did we have to do this right after the election ? This tells me that there was a lot of grub worms eating away and could not see them. Then the losers went and sign letter to the Governor, as if they had power to do so. They are just like you and me, and that was another thing to be really ashamed of. I do think those who signed that letter has ended their political career. Zoe, Irene, All out, and whoever else, we are so disappointed in you all, we can only hang our heads in shame. I hope you know that your supporters are very angry with all of you. There is no trust in any of you any more. Let's start a NEW VIP and leave those power hungry people on the limb. They deserve to be left out there.
  • Boo (30/06/2015, 18:27) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    This man is a non-entity. Good lord you lost, you got beat bad. You have no say in who is appointed leader of the opposition, take a read of the VI Constitution Order and then chill. Please go and sit down and say some prayers for your now defunct political career.
    • new (30/06/2015, 21:48) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
      poor juggie a little two year old much better off than he...he would not get a new car this time
  • SHAME (30/06/2015, 21:25) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    all this is awful and embarrassing to the VI
  • alvera (30/06/2015, 21:56) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    poor child he know not better
  • Hypocrites.... (30/06/2015, 22:03) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    Most of y'all what commenting about the VIParty are hypocrites. BIG ones too. 90% of y'all VIP sent y'all away to college PAID in full. Yet, they never did anything for the BVI. Some if y'all had 4 yr scholarships that lasted for 10 years and still couldn't produce a degree. Free HLSCC, hand outs, contracts, name it, they did it. Even if one or two if them were hypocrites themselves. But HE without sin cast the first stone. Hon. Lavity Stoutt had his good and bad ways too but that did not stop him from being a great leader. Y'all need to stop calling down the party as it was the hard work and vision of the VIP that has gotten us to where we are today. The visions of it all has always been there. But they never got the chance to execute how they wanted as every minute some of y'all was always in their offices bawling for assistance to pay tall rent, feed y'all children, save y'all houses from being reposes, building retaining walls and paving private roads, helping y'all start up business that fell in a month, sending some of y'all children to college and fully financing it, and the list goes on and on. VIP ain't got this country brakes, its YOU the people who consistently preyed on the government. Its only now some of y'all know about teaching a man fish so he would eat for days instead of giving him handouts. Just like how y'all drained the VIParty just so y'all going drain the NDP smart. All it is is 'new money, different stradegy". Youths for NDP, all y'all are is a new breed of 'legal GANG". The youths that are not affiliated with the "Gang" are outcasts. Y'all only looking out for your own gang members to move forward. look how some of tall tertorized abd bullied other party members in the campaign trail. This I believe was one of the main reasons a lot of persons refused to vote. Y'all campaigning had people like they don't know who to rep, wether ' Bloods' or 'Crip'. I personally Dont rep a party Caz all are thieves and power and greed changes people in an instant.
  • @hyprocites (01/07/2015, 00:21) Like (3) Dislike (9) Reply
    Yes just like how the vip was at our homes beggin for our votes. Thats the diffrrence the ndp dont throw things back at their prople
  • No problem (01/07/2015, 08:46) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    I don't see anything wrong with this matter. Fahie is ten times a better person and leader than Fraser and most elected but Fraser and his gang and some NDP want to try to paint him black but it will not work. The only hypocrite is some of ayo who they have helped when they were up but want to kill them now that you think that they are down. Time will tell.
  • Al over the world (01/07/2015, 08:52) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply

    Every time something major in politics that is outside the norm happens in our politics we come on with blogs talking about what is embarrassing and what is shameful and the world is shame of us. Anyone who makes these comments obviously do not research before they post. These kinds of things happen ALL OVER just research, read and be more informed. And they will continue to happen when you have leaders who don't want to listen to the masses and try to hold on to power

  • So (01/07/2015, 21:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Sorry my thoughts are scattered....but that kind of focus is missing from Elvis .


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