Opposition Leader, Andrew A. Fahie (R1), kick-starts his Territory-wide consultations, on the sister Island of Jost van Dyke, on Tuesday August 21, 2018, as he engages residents in order to prepare formal submissions to the United Kingdom’s review of its future relationship with its Overseas Territories. Photo: VINO/File

Foxy's on Jost ban Dyke as seen from the water. Photo: VINO/File

The announcement by Hon Fahie, comes after a meeting at the Village Cay, Hotel and Marina, on Thursday August 16, 2018, with volunteers willing to lend expertise to the five thematic areas up for review by the UK.

Involve People

In a subsequent statement released first on social media, on August 17, 2018, Hon Fahie said, after last night, “I am now more proud than ever to be a Virgin Islander…Once again this initiative proves that once we involve our people at every level and give our people the forum and opportunities to excel then together as one people we can fix and improve the entire Virgin Islands and keep it on the cutting edge.”

The five working groups formed, will be accompanying the Opposition Leader “to gather the public's views of the future relationship of the UK-BVI relationship.”

Not Political

According to Hon Fahie, “we all agreed to keep this initiative about the future of the Territory and not about politics.”

The meeting, he said was well attended, “powerful and informative…next week we invite all Virgin Islands Nationals and Belongers to attend the public meetings and fully participate.”

The first of the scheduled public meetings on the future relationship between the BVI-UK, will be held on at 9:30 AM, at Foxy's on Jost Van Dyke

The following evening, Hon Fahie will be meeting with stakeholders on the main island of Tortola.

That meeting is scheduled for 7:00 PM for Treasure Isle Hotel.

On Thursday, August 23, 2018, the Opposition Leader and team will meet with the residents of Anegada at the Community Center at 4:00PM.

The final meeting is billed for Friday, August 24, 2018 on Virgin Gorda, at the Catholic Community Centre at 5:30 PM.

Stark Contrast

Hon Fahie’s approach to hold consultations ahead of preparing submissions to the UK Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations is in stark contrast to the position adopted by the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government—headed by Premier, Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL).

Premier Smith on August 15, 2018, confirmed that the government will ‘unilaterally’ respond to the UK’s Parliament request, regarding the formal review of future relations with its OT.

The move by the Dr Smith Administration comes almost one month after the UK Parliament formally tasked its Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Foreign Relations, with opening up a formal review of the UK’s future relationship with its OTs.

The Government Information Service (GIS) announced Dr Smith’s position—hours after a press conference held by Hon Fahie—who earlier in the day outlined his plans for Territory-wide consultations with the people of the VI.

Notably, Hon Fahie had announced his plans to establish a Domestic Committee to seek consultations with the people of the Via week prior—an initiative he confirmed during his August 15, 2018 press conference.

This, in order to prepare a ‘consensus based’ submission, on behalf of the people of the VI—a starkly different approach from that announced by GIS, for the NDP government to prepare its own submissions and submit to the UK, on behalf of the people of the VI.

The Premier—unlike Hon Fahie’s approach to traverse the Territory and meet with the people in a Town Hall meeting format—said, “my Government has already commenced work on responding to inquiry and any member of community is invited to also make their submission to my office.”

Dr Smith has essentially decided to have the NDP leadership submit to the UK Parliament, its unilaterally concluded submission, while ignoring the views of the people Territory-wide, since there will be no consultations held.

Since taking power in the 2011 Elections, the NDP government has demonstrated a track record of ‘secrecy’ in its transactions while ignoring the input of residents of the VI.