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Hon Turnbull accuses Premier of ‘hijacking’ airtime

- says Opposition won’t be intimidated
Member of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, Honourable Melvin M. Turnbull (R2), right, has accused Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), left, of hijacking airtime on ZBVI 780AM, forcing the pre-planned Opposition press conference to be pushed back to one hour. Photo: VINO/File
From left: Members of the Opposition Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3); Opposition Leader Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) and Second District Representative Hon Melvin M. Turnbull during the press conference on September 30, 2020. Photo: Facebook
From left: Members of the Opposition Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3); Opposition Leader Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) and Second District Representative Hon Melvin M. Turnbull during the press conference on September 30, 2020. Photo: Facebook
Opposition Member Honourable Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) has failed to mention whether he had contacted the management of the privately run entity ZBVI Radio on the programming and whether it was any fault of Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) that his programme time overlapped with the Opposition press conference's. Photo: VINO/File
Opposition Member Honourable Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) has failed to mention whether he had contacted the management of the privately run entity ZBVI Radio on the programming and whether it was any fault of Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) that his programme time overlapped with the Opposition press conference's. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Member of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, Honourable Melvin M. Turnbull (R2) has accused Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) of hijacking airtime on ZBVI 780AM, forcing the pre-planned Opposition press conference to be pushed back to one hour.

The press conference, which was laden with complaints and whining and zero support for the elected Government, even in this COVID-19 pandemic, was spearheaded by Opposition Leader Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8), Third District Representative Hon Julian Fraser RA and Second District Representative Hon Melvin M. Turnbull.

Among his many childish complaints, Hon Turnbull, who has a reputation of disrespecting authority, having disrespected his own boss at the time, former Premier Dr D. Orlando Smith, in the House of Assembly (HoA) back in December 2017, and recently making injurious statements without presenting facts, accused the Premier of trying to sabotage their press conference.

During the day, the Government Information Service (GIS) released a flier stating that the Premier’s debate contribution during the Fourteenth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly on September 29, 2020, would be repeated on ZBVI, ZKING, ZCCR,CBN and TOLA Radio between the hours of 2:00pm to 9:00pm on September 30, 2020.

“We had a start time for today’s press conference of 3:00pm, so it is not any fault of our own, so we want to make sure that it is abundantly clear. The Premier even in his contribution last night stated that we were going to have a press conference today so he was well aware of the press conference and he would obviously be made aware of the time. And, he hijacked the time to allow for his statements made in the House of Assembly to run for almost two hours on the media,” he remarked.

Honourable Turnbull failed to mention whether he had contacted the management of the privately run entity ZBVI Radio on the programming and whether it was any fault of Premier Fahie that his programme time overlapped with the Opposition press conference's.

Won’t be fazed!

The former National Democratic Party (NDP) member Honourable Turnbull, who has been receiving strong criticism for stating that a local barge owner has been receiving exorbitant fees from Government for barge services for border surveillance without presenting facts and even while Premier Fahie has stated it is not so and presented different figures, said the work of the Opposition would continue despite the setback.

“So we are here nonetheless to do our job. We will not be intimidated or fazed by the tactics and the games that are being played because if you see a game, you know it’s a game. You see somebody dribbling a ball and shooting a ball, that’s a game, but they will tell you that’s not a game.”

He added: “We are here in our continued commitment to carry on a conversation where we do our job which is to hold the government responsible and to hold them accountable.”

20 Responses to “Hon Turnbull accuses Premier of ‘hijacking’ airtime”

  • This MOMO (01/10/2020, 08:10) Like (21) Dislike (42) Reply

    Mitch ST*U you egotistical fool! Can’t wait until election to get this fool out of the house!

  • ??????? AND (01/10/2020, 08:27) Like (21) Dislike (17) Reply
    How is this relevant Mitch. Half of don't even listen to the radio, but now we got to see and hear about this irrelevant bit of stress. Futher more Hon. MITCH,RESPECT YOUR PREMIER !
  • Interesting (01/10/2020, 08:45) Like (10) Dislike (13) Reply
    You got that right Hon Turnbull, they are dribbling, obviously they are shooting but unfortunately not scoring.
  • Rick (01/10/2020, 09:00) Like (24) Dislike (14) Reply
    Sick and tired of these crybabies.
  • Wait (01/10/2020, 09:01) Like (17) Dislike (5) Reply
    ''Among his many childish complaints''........lololol
  • Buckingham (01/10/2020, 09:04) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Poor thing them. I feel sorry for them.
  • PVIM (01/10/2020, 09:09) Like (7) Dislike (7) Reply
    yes mitch! blow the whistle!
  • we all agree (01/10/2020, 09:10) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    It was done deliberately
  • No Mitch (01/10/2020, 09:16) Like (14) Dislike (9) Reply
    Please go and sit in the corner somewhere and wait your turn. This is why your ARROGANT, disrespectful, COCKY IGNORANT BEHIND IS NOT TAKING SERIOUSLY. Instead of B****ing about airtime you need to go clean up your SWAMP LOOKING DISTRICT. You are not that important. #JERK OF DISTRICT 2. YOU WILL BE KICKED TO THE CURB NEXT ELECTION SO CONTINUE MAKING A FOOL OUT OF YOURSELF.
  • Psychology 101 (01/10/2020, 09:16) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    “So we are here nonetheless to do our job. We will not be intimidated or fazed by the tactics and the games that are being played because if you see a game, you know it’s a game. You see somebody dribbling a ball and shooting a ball, that’s a game, but they will tell you that’s not a game.”

    Sounds like the voodoo man speaking about himself. LMFAO
  • lol (01/10/2020, 09:21) Like (13) Dislike (8) Reply
    ItchM is really trying very hard to be relevant. Poor thing
    • I'm with you Mitch... (01/10/2020, 10:58) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
      Continue to do your Job,,,Don't be intimidated,. Or discouraged..... ur not perfect, none of us is....But envy And hatred is real. . It's very popular in the BVI..
  • for sure (01/10/2020, 09:24) Like (18) Dislike (18) Reply
    It is time for Mitch the CLOWN TO BE EVICTED FROM HOA. Just who does this rude, cocky, distasteful, little short man think he is? Get lost short man, you don’t run things. #short man complex syndrome.
  • drake (01/10/2020, 09:27) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
    Andrew what is wrong with you have ypu read and knkws the history behibd the sir francis high way abd tge sir frabcis drake channei well please go learn this. are you forgetting that the bvi belongs to britian. the revoing if then b sence there are things in the BVI which needs adressing and it does not make make the steo muchl less the premier desk Who will get the money if England decides to pay i think it is the Government treasury and not us as indivudials. Premier you need to go and sit down and try to do things to help the less fournate in the country. Before England decides to pay monies so much people would have passed this way, The United Kingdom does not have the BVI to study especially with foolish claims, Big A hell to get payment from England because America was once owned by Britian. Andrew i honestly believe that the Governor wants to help you and the BVI but you is putting up a front that is making things hard, What are you hiding, from what NDP did you must be got to hide so that some do not get caught up, LEAVE THE GOVERNOR ALONE HOPE YOU ADRESS THE NEW GOVERNOR THE SANE WAY YOU ADRESS JASBERT, YOU BETTER WATCH THE NEW GOVERBOR WITH MANY EYES BECAUSE HE WILL BE WATCHING YHE BVI WITH EYES, LENS, SPY GLASS, TELESCOPE, MAGIFYING GLASS,GLASSES, AND TWENTY TWENTY VISION. PREMIER MOVE WITH CAUTION BECAUSE SIR FRANCIS DRAKE IS OUT THERE SPYING, LEAVE THE NAMES AS THEY AREBECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE SA LOT OF WORK TO DO YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE OTHER ISLANDS THAT SIR FRANCIS DEALT WITH SUCH AS ANTUGIA AND THE USVI AND OF WHICH THEY DEPEND ON THE SIR FRANCIS CHANNEL FOR FREE TRAVEL MOT ONLY THE BVI HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. CLINE KEEP OUT OF THIS
  • wellsa (01/10/2020, 09:50) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    THE SO CALL CHRISTIANS IS THE ONES MAKING THE MOST TROUBLE INSTEAD OF HELPING THE PLACE TO MOVE FORWARD. WITH ALL THIS NONSENSE HOW THEY EXPECT TOURIST TO COME IN THIS MESS TO SPEND THEIR HARD EARN MONEY. THE GOVERNOR DOING WHAT HE THINKS IS RIHGT THE PREMIER TRYING TO CURVE THE VIRUS AND YOU HAVE OTHERS GOING TO THE MEDIA TALKING //// I CALL THIS EVERYONE WANT TO BE THE CAPTAIN BUT I DO AGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR BRINGING THE SHIP TO SECURE THE BORDER.
  • Lucifer (01/10/2020, 09:56) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    They all the same anyways. All about looking out for themselves and their families at the expense of the taxpayers, while throwing abuse at the Governor to keep everyone distracted. This is where the real conspiracies are. So transparent
  • Hon Turnbull. Jump in (01/10/2020, 10:52) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Make your way in... There are so many things wrong with this government. . Bring solutions.... What's the opposition open borders plan.. Put it out there for us to see... Demand air time...
  • Ghost (01/10/2020, 14:17) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    The opposition seems to be acting so “petty”.. all of the stupid infighting needs to stop.. re: safety of our borders regardless of what is said we need “All” the help we can get.. the House (both sides) needs to stop their nonsense and get back to more important issues like keeping the people safe from this virus and rebooting the economy..So tired of all the nit-picking!
  • Ms Cleo (02/10/2020, 07:11) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    for 8 years mitch also penn miss managed your tax money now suddenly both of them acting so christ like poor fraser a man with great leadership skills(have you ever watch the ball during a game of ping pong!!!!)
  • Clearly (02/10/2020, 09:57) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    All Mitch does is complain and make mischief.


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