Hon Fraser will not be allowed to paralyse VIP- Hon Fahie
This was brought out when the Virgin Islands Party held its first talk show, VIP Moving Forward, on July 20, 2017. The show hosted by VIP President Dr Natalio D. Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru was aired on 90.9 CBN Radio and televised on CBN Channel 51 and included as guests the VIP Chairman and Leader of the Opposition Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), former VIP President Carvin Malone and party member Dr Karl Dawson.
The Virgin Islands Party (VIP) has been divided since Hon Fahie ousted Hon Fraser as Chairman of the party during its elections in November 2016 and then went back on his word by then seeking to take the Opposition Leader post from Hon Fraser, which he eventually successfully did with the help of Governor John S. Duncan OBE.
It was Governor who had chosen Hon Julian Fraser RA (R1) for the post following the 2015 General Elections after the two men failed to agree among themselves who should hold the post.
Why is Hon Fraser not here?
The first question by the host of VIP Moving Forward last night addressed the notable absence of Hon Fraser as he noted that a lot of persons would be wondering the former chairman as not on the programme “and, just in the spirit of openness, I know persons must be wondering what’s the situation, what’s the status of Hon Fraser in the party?” Dr Wheatley asked.
Hon Fahie stated firstly that it wasn’t a question that the party prepared but it was a good one and that he wanted to assure the public that his attitude towards leading the Virgin Islands Party is one of being open.
“We’ve had numerous meetings, we’ve had numerous events in the Virgin Islands Party, we’ve had a lot of things that we have done in the Virgin Islands Party and I’ve always made sure that I extend the courtesies to Hon Fraser to make sure he is a part of it. Thus far his schedule seems not to be able to accommodate it,” Hon Fahie said.
VIP will move forward with or without Hon Fraser
According to the Leader of the Opposition, he will continue to extend courtesies to Hon Fraser as long as he can and the party allows.
“Because at the end of the day whatever is there to be fixed I’m willing to sit down and have it fixed, but I’m not going to sit down and leave the Virgin Islands Party paralysed, trying to fix one issue. One thing I know is that we have to fix and keep moving forward and fix while you’re moving forward. So with that we have extended all courtesies to Honourable Fraser in many different means.”
Hon Fahie also assured that public that he has no feud with Hon Fraser.
“I have no, as we say on the streets, beef with Hon Fraser, it makes no sense. This is about country above self, so I have to put away any kind of childlike behaviour as a leader, to make sure that we forward the cause of the Virgin Islands Party. I’ve done that, I’ll continue to do it and so far his [Hon Fraser’s] schedule seems not to be one that allows him to be a part of our decision meetings and, I would say sessions, to clear the air. But I will continue to do what I have to do and the party will continue to do what it has to do and hopefully his schedule will allow him to fit us in somewhere. If not then then the Virgin Islands Party obviously will have to find out from him if he intends to still be with the Virgin Islands Party or not.
No time for ‘that type of politics’ Dr Wheatley
Meanwhile, Dr Wheatley added that he can attest to the fact that Hon Fahie has reached out to Hon Fraser and that he himself has done so as well.
“It’s a new generation and we really don’t have time for that type of politics. We want leaders who will put country first and who will put our needs head of their own interest and we have a lot of challenges that we have to face as a territory and we need leaders who will step up to the plate and address those concerns and put any selfish concerns on the side,” Dr Wheatley said.
No shortage of respect for Hon Fraser- Dr Dawson
Unsuccessful Territorial At Large Candidate in the 2015 snap general elections with the VIP, Dr Dawson said for the time he has been with the party there has been no shortage of respect for Honourable Fraser.
“As a politician, as a parliamentarian we have heard the man in the House of Assembly, we have seen his keen insight and his willingness to go to battle for the people of the Virgin Islands. That is not a doubt here at all but at the same time I have been around him and I know the efforts we have made to reach out to Honourable Fraser to assure him that he still has a place in the party as longs as he wants it.”
But, according to Dr Dawson, at the same time the party can’t be left paralysed. “At some point we have to say look you either with us or against us and then we need to move forward.”
Meanwhile, VIP Moving Forward will be aired every first and third Thursday of every month but will take a break for VI Emancipation Festival.
.png)
.png)
.png)
Follow Us On
30 Responses to “Hon Fraser will not be allowed to paralyse VIP- Hon Fahie”
Those VIP cr**ks undermined Fraser from day one and now they're here begging him to stick around? They ridiculed the man and threw him to the wolves and are now here playing saints as if everything is cool
His own non-professional behavior. He was a baby.
That way you can rid yourselves of both Fahie and Fraser. VIP will not win with either of those two as leader.
Time will tell when last you see any one move from side to side. The man is a trump card wait you will see. Hon Fahie the party need new servants. Strong servants who see country above self. You have a few but party need a lot of work
The Hon Julian “Liberator” Fraser, RA, needs to liberate himself. He needs to fish or cut bait. He is either in or out. He needs to stop acting like a RA.
He had the chance to lead and he bombed; VIP got shellacked 11-2 at the polls. With the behaviour being exhibited, it is no wonder that he bombed as a leader. Is his true colors oozing out? It is time for the VIP to move on without him, for time is precious.
Further, the party cannot let itself be sabotaged by any one member. Just find a viable candidate to run in D-3. Clearly, the honorable member has no interest in the party. He may be part of the problem, not the solution so it is time to part ways.
The professional thing for Fraser to have done would have been to formally tender his resignation. Fraser is using the RA behind his name. Does not the architectural organization that granted him the certification have a code of conduct and professional standards? Yes, it does.
Moreover, the behaviour being exhibited is not worthy of emulation. He has not demonstrated the leadership skills to get people to follow him up the mountain. He is a poor follower; if you cannot follow, you cannot lead.
Technical talent alone is not enough to command troops. A leader among other things must instill confidence in the troops.
Great talent but lacked the leadership and management skills to lead the VI through and out of the current storm. The VI is at a crossroad and needs strong, effective and proven leadership.
REPLY