Fahie In, Fraser Out: Big upset in VIP elections
The new president of the party is Dr Natalio D Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru, who was elected ahead of Preston P. Stoutt by 53 votes to 19. Mr Stoutt, a former Independent Candidate and son of the late H. Lavity Stoutt, was nominated from the floor for President.
In the main event, however, Hon Fahie, the former Minister for Education and Culture, shockingly defeated the veteran and much more experienced legislator Hon Fraser by a considerable margin, 52 votes to 22.
Traditionally, the Chairman of the VIP becomes the Premier if the party wins the General Elections of the Virgin Islands.
Meanwhile, Two days before the internal elections, controversy erupted when party member and former Second District Candidate Rajah A. Smith made allegations of the elections process being rigged.
Mr Smith told the media on November 28, 2016 that the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) internal elections process was being tampered with, alleging that Delegates were being demoted to Alternate Delegates, making them ineligible to vote.
Mr Smith was of the opinion that those party members being affected were persons who support Opposition Leader and party Chairman Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3).
VIP President Mr Carvin Malone had refuted those allegations, saying “There are no known or proven basis for allegations of the process being rigged.”
Party member and former Permanent Secretary Mr Julian Willock had stated that if there is legitimate evidence that something went wrong with the delegates' list then this needs to be addressed.
He had also said that while he was pledging his support for Hon Fraser to remain Chairman, both Hons Fraser and Fahie were capable of being the Chairman of the VIP.”
70 Responses to “Fahie In, Fraser Out: Big upset in VIP elections”
1st - 1st Chairmanship contest - Fraser - 44, Fahie - 30
2nd - Leader of the Opposition - Fraser 1 + Governor (whose "vote" counted), Fahie - 1 + losing VIP candidates (whose "votes" didn't count).
3rd - 2nd Chairmanship contest - Fahie - 52, Fraser - 22
When will the next battle take place between these two?
However, Fraser should step down as Leader of the Opposition and let Fahie take the reigns so that he is at the helm for the VIP both in the HOA and in the future campaign.
This is Fraser's third loss (1st - 2015 election, snap or otherwise, 2nd - VIP losing candidates abandoning him for the position of Opposition Leader in what was effectively an open rebellion and 3rd - 2016 chairmanship race). At heart, he is a good man but he needs to seriously broaden his social skills and repackage himself to be acceptable on a national scale, if he is going to challenge Fahie again.
Hon Fraser - take some time out for yourself and do some considerable self assessment.
Congratulations to Hon Fahie.
Common sense has prevailed. All the best Honorable. Stay humble and let God be your guiding force.
I have no reservations that Andrew Fahie will attract a strong list of candidates and support to move the party and country forward.
I doubt it would have mattered as Frasier's fate was sealed with that 2-11 shellacking at the polls under his stewardship. Normally some leaders would have resigned after that but not Frasier. He had to go the hard way.
Nonetheless, Fahie's victory is a small and first step in a long and arduous journey. The venerable VIP founded by the iconic and visionary late and former Chief Minister Hamilton Lavity Stoutt needs a structural and political renaissance. Winning the chairperson position was the easy part. Now the heavy lifting is yet to be executed. First Fahie needs to developed the plans and programmes to get the VI ship of state back on track and moving it. Secondly, he needs to identify the funding streams, identify problems, craft solutions, identify the national priorities, list what programmes will be deferred and delayed getting done, and attract the team to execute plans and programmes. Fahie needs to show that he and his team can deliver the same or more services with the same resources. The electorate will not be keen on changing government if nothing will change for the better.
Though the Hon Fraser may not have won the chairperson position, he has a lot to contribute and should part of the VIP team. Preston Stoutt, son of the founder of the VIP, is a formidable candidate in his own right and will be a strong at large candidate. The VIP at large team can include Preston Stoutt, Karl Dawson, Irene Penn-O'Neal, Danica Penn among others. Look like a fight is on. The Rattler Strike, Strike and Strike Again.
Hon Fahie, congratulations! But hope there is no popping of champagne and eating of caviar, for as PO noted, it is a first small step of a long and arduous journey. Let's not get things twisted, for the once seemingly invincible VIP is floundering and strong and effective leadership is needed to build confidence and trust in it again. Do not misread your victory as the majority of people approving. Long way from it. If success is going to be achieved, the foundation has to be laid and the construction started. The first of order of business is uniting the party. The Bible says a house divided will fall. The next general election is a just a few short months away. Be ready! In Rattler fashion, Strike, Strike and Strike again.
If he can get a good candidate for District 7 then I am voting VIP
First,the book of Proverbs basically prepares you for leadership. Do you know that if you read a Proverb a day, you can learn to avoid a lot of pitfalls? I am learning this every day!
Second, this post of servitude should never be, what Mr. Dawson correctly states, one of self-ambition. It is a post that calls for sacrifice of self for the greater good. Please understand this! It is not a post to be used to help a selected few, but everyone. It is not a post to help family members become rich or give them a step ahead of others. No! This is one of the many missteps that we constantly take because we want to help our family out, but this causes strife!
Third, it is not a post to be used to accept bribes! We must all strive to do what is right before God and man. God blesses us when we do the right thing. We are hoping that you will use this position for the greater God, and when you remain focused on that God will elevate you because of your humility. No need to let us know what your qualifications are, you are, at this time, the best candidate thus far. Don't let pride get in the way!
Fourth, please invest in the youths. Our youths are suffering tremendously because there are not enough good mentors out there who are diligently building them up. They go away to college, come back and only a select few make it. Do you know why? Because of a lack of mentors! The older generation see the younger generation and are threatened by them. They fail to work alongside them and remember that they are the future. We should form a united front! You speak of wanting to separate from England, but we do not have the mindset to do it! We are too busy fighting against each other to even make it on our own. When young people come home, assign them mentors in their field. Even if they cannot draw a salary, let them volunteer alongside that mentor so they can gain the practicum experience.
Fifth, please invest in teachers. I cannot hammer this one out enough. Teachers should have an association created where the older teachers can teach the younger teachers the job. There should be regular meetings where teachers can collaborate to discuss issues that they face; how they can be avoided or fixed. This extends to lesson plans, educational policies, issues faced on the job. It should be an arena used to promote polished and effective teachers. Our teachers help in preparing out future generation. Have an effective research department whose job is to constantly go through research to help improve the education system. Is anyone performing longitudinal studies on the new system that Mr. Walwyn suggested? How will we know that it works? Who is collecting all the information that we need?
There it is in a nutshell, sir, and I hope that if you read this post, you truly give it some thought.
Down goes Fraser, Down goes Fraser....
Hon. Frazer, if you plan to stay in politics, let us now start anew. let us come together and. make this country proud of true leaders. we only need to know that you realize you were saboatarged. take some time and give it your consideration.
You are truly living up to your shortsighted name. What baggage? Give us some details (other than some outdated google nonsense) instead of trying to cast aspersions on Fahie's name. Is he perfect? None of us are.
Frazier's reaction 'I'm out' says it all. Instead of congratulating his opponent all he could say is 'I'm out'. Telling. Well if he and his supporters leave and start their own party that might well be better for the party as I am sure they will find able replacements rather than be burdened by a discontented faction whose sole intention is to undermine. I assure you though that would be political suicide.
No work
No bus service
No ferry
No school
Solidarity is the only way politicians listen to the people.