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Hon Vanterpool slams Governor for trying to intimidate VI Premier

- Says VI leaders must be able to run the territory without fear or interference
H.E. Augustus J.U. Jaspert stands behind Premier Andrew A. Fahie during a Government COVID-19 update in May 2020. Photo: HoA/File
Hon Mark H. Vanterpool has accused the sitting Governor, H.E. Augustus J.U. Jaspert along with past Governors, for what he called 'intimidation' of the democratically elected Premier of the Virgin Islands to lead the territory according to the mandate of the people. Photo: VINO/File
Hon Mark H. Vanterpool has accused the sitting Governor, H.E. Augustus J.U. Jaspert along with past Governors, for what he called 'intimidation' of the democratically elected Premier of the Virgin Islands to lead the territory according to the mandate of the people. Photo: VINO/File
DUFF'S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI- Fourth District Representative in the House of Assembly (HoA), Hon Mark H. Vanterpool has accused the sitting Governor, H.E. Augustus J.U. Jaspert, along with past Governors, of what he called 'intimidation' of the democratically elected Premier of the Virgin Islands to lead the Territory, according to the mandate of the people.

"This whole concept where the Governor of this country got certain more powers than before, I don't know where it came from!" Hon Vanterpool told the House of Assembly on June 23, 2020. 

"I grew up hearing the Governor was a figurehead... he was just there to be the Queen's representative."

Mr Vanterpool continued, "I'm not talking only about just this governor, I'm talking about several governors before... who seem to want to run the country, without having the mandate of the people."

I couldn't support HoA motion against Governor - Hon Vanterpool 

Hon Vanterpool; however, said it was out of respect for Governor Jaspert that he could not support the motion brought to the House by fellow Opposition Member, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) to reprimand the Governor over the late tabling of the BVI Airways Audit report to the House. 

"I wasn't in support of that motion the other day because that's not respect. He is in a position and we must respect him, but it doesn't mean we can't let our people know that we have elected a leader of the country, duly elected to lead us," Vanterpool said. 

He said in that democratic spirit, the Premier, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) must be supported to run the country and to lead it without fear and without the intimidation from anyone outside of the Territory. 

Unelected Governor intimidating VI leaders?  

Just recently, HoA Speaker, Hon Julian Willock revealed that the Governor wrote the Premier to get him to 'Strongly Urge' the HoA to meet and table the BVI Airways Audit Report he held for almost three months, "that I believe was an overreach as an interference in the legislative branch," the Speaker had put on record as saying.

Governor Jaspert has long been accused by political pundits and social commentators of interfering in the domestic affairs of the local government and not crediting their efforts in office.

This latest accusation of 'intimidation' of VI leaders though the Governor's seat now comes directly from a legislator in the House.

35 Responses to “Hon Vanterpool slams Governor for trying to intimidate VI Premier”

  • Needs to stop (25/06/2020, 18:40) Like (47) Dislike (12) Reply
    The hate towards the Governor need to stop they obviously intimidated by him because unfortunately he’s one of the many governors they can’t out smart and he actually speaks.
    • Wrong (26/06/2020, 03:53) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
      The legislature is correct. UKs concern should only be about national security but lately it feels as if they forgot. Remember the Governor also tried to intimidate the people by threatening to bring criminal charges against anyone who exercised their freedom of speech to question the details of the covid-19 death instead of, as a matter of national security, assuring the people that the matter would be looked into in terms of the health services authority's response, or lack thereof. The matter should have been looked into to determine what measures should be in place to update the HSA's procedures as a matter of national security but No, he used some intimidation tactics on the people. All due respect to all the leaders but one still has the right to call it as they see it so that our leaders can improve their leadership. That's all it is.
  • Tired (25/06/2020, 18:41) Like (44) Dislike (10) Reply
    I’m tired of mark, Skelton cline and the others trying to harass the Governor. Leave him alone!! That’s why UK not helping us
    • Local (26/06/2020, 00:29) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
      Tired the UK can't even help themselves they in More of s mess than we are , we have to be thankful and grateful for what this Government did by shutting down and closing our boarder our else we would have been having funeral every week. The government only throw a ball asking for help from the UK so the people could hear what the answer would be and we all knew it would be No but for the. Hard headed audience that believe so much in the UK. Governor first response was we have healthy reserve . Time to get off this dry up breast and create our own path. Who want to stay under the UK let them go and live in the UK and keep them UK passport.
    • What? (26/06/2020, 03:56) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
      This is a questionable mentality to have. Im tired of Skelton cline also BUT Mark said nothing wrong. Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery...Only yourselves can free your mind...
  • Queen (25/06/2020, 18:44) Like (33) Dislike (8) Reply
    That’s why he not letting the queen give ayoo no grant keep provoking him
    • What? (26/06/2020, 04:06) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our mind. Have no fear for atomic energy cause none of them can stop the time. How long shall they kill our prophets (and in this case profits) while we stand aside and look. Some say it's just a part of it, we've got to fulfil the books. Wont you help to sing, this song of freedom, all we ever have, redemption song.

      Temember the set up is the result of slavery. Old pirates robbed the ancestors and sold them to merchant ships but after slavery was abolished, so call, they left the head of the command of the pirates (so to speak) for the purpose of oversight instead of paying the country its reparations and leaving altogether. Remember, they met the ancestors in Africa trading successfully, managing its communities successfully, having rich culture. The slavery mentality forever makes people like you depend on pirates like them because you did not take the time to understand who you really are (assuming you are from African heritage).
      • smfh (26/06/2020, 16:47) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        People like you are forever slaves in your mind. You cant move forward. Dont even know what century we are in. Always blame the white man. We are free. We Have been free for some time now. Get over it already and take responsibility for yourself. Stop blaming others for your failures.
  • D4 resident (25/06/2020, 18:44) Like (24) Dislike (9) Reply
    Mr vanterpool need to go back Anguilla I’m over him
  • Tracy (25/06/2020, 18:46) Like (8) Dislike (18) Reply
    Why the government have hatred towards our Governor but not against them island people. Shake my head
    • @ Tracy (26/06/2020, 07:51) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      WOW!! hatred towards "Island People". I don't blame you. You were given a platform and faucet to spit out that hatred. It would appear that some one is benefiting from this. This leaves me to ask the question Why did we march?
  • My girl (25/06/2020, 19:12) Like (19) Dislike (3) Reply
    Stop provoking the man, leave the man alone pls... this is ridiculous.
  • WHERE ARE WE GOING (25/06/2020, 20:02) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply

    With this silly @$$ mentality where are we as a country going. These people are hopeless. Look at where we are now compared to what we had back in the day. We are practically strangers in our own land and its the doings of our own people. Stop the wickedness toward your country men and stop perpetuating the slavery brainwash. A set of modern day JUDAS. You will certainly reap what you have sown.

  • insider (25/06/2020, 20:11) Like (3) Dislike (14) Reply

    The w**** man has been bad news childish and bias

  • hh (25/06/2020, 20:56) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Never trust them...evil comes with smiling faces
  • backwards (25/06/2020, 21:49) Like (16) Dislike (6) Reply
    These black people are brain wash thinking the white governor is there God so sad very sad
    • Oh Really? (26/06/2020, 08:12) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      @backwards, the blacks is the ones brainwashing their own with the greed, envy and jealousy towards each other. No white person living today ever own a slave, no black person living today was ever a slave.
  • So tired (25/06/2020, 22:20) Like (17) Dislike (33) Reply
    Mark you should be ashamed of yourself and your bad behavior. What is your angle, are you trying to slide your way over to the VIP side now? This Governor is one of the best we have had thus far. You guys cannot control, manipulate or run over this Governor. The UK is watching and taking notes . You cannot continue to bite the hands that feed. You guys will learn your lessons one day.
    • W*F (26/06/2020, 04:09) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
      Oh no, the uk is watching...yes Masa, no Masa...sound like something a brainwash person would say on a plantation. Educate yourselves people. That's the only way to free your mind from mental slavery.
  • Oh pleazeeee (25/06/2020, 22:23) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well Mark, when the UK hand down its punishment, you can easily pick up your millions and sail away on your mega boat leaving the pheasants
    • OMG (26/06/2020, 04:10) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      Why the comments on this platform sound like brainwashed slaves are speaking. Crazy!
    • @Oh pleazeee (26/06/2020, 08:00) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      You mean to his 5 million dollar house hidden in the Bahamas !
  • Bohannon (26/06/2020, 03:37) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    When they cannot control, manipulate and run over you, they dislike you.
  • Jose (26/06/2020, 05:35) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    I remember Mark Vanterpool and other local politicians 3 years ago, after Irma, praising the same governor and UK force for their job. These ppl from UK saved then, the boat called BVI from sinking. I remember so vividly that Thursday and the few days after- a leaderless BVI drifting and Hurricane Jose not faraway from our shores. Fortunately the Brits came and Jose chaged course. The BVI was weakened before Irma hit. So much $ destined for vital infrastructure went into the bottomless pockets of few from all sides of the political spectrum throughout the past years.
    How ironic it is that local political figures from all sides, are uniting now vigurously in bashing the governor. On top of that, they play the race card. Disgusting and pathetic!
    With this governor is to hard for them to build walls at $1 milion apiece.
  • Vision (26/06/2020, 07:19) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Governor needs to do his job when you play with puppy. Politicians here feel they are above the law and above those who are responsible for the authorities that uphold the Law. Mark you are something else look at the conditions of the roads and the amount of money spent on the one project you did for eight years. And the Governors just sat there and won't even make the finding of the investigation public. The people are fedup.
  • Commentator (26/06/2020, 07:20) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mark please sit down. Shouting in the house of assembly against the Governor will achieve nothing. Jaspert goes another one comes.
    When we had the chance to reduce the Governor’s power during the last constitutional review we failed to act. Just shut up
  • seems (26/06/2020, 08:21) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mark seems to have a shouting problem. Just stay off the Governor’s back. Because you can’t control this Governor he is the enemy? I agree, when things hit the fan, you can easily grab your millions and hightail it out of the BVI like BABY DOC did in HAITI.
  • @vision (26/06/2020, 08:28) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    probably the last governor get his cut ....and this one wants his share ....who knows.?
  • @f..jose (26/06/2020, 08:33) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    bit....catch your dam self it the hard working essential works that give free labor is who pull this damage place back together...give the jacket jack...it was unity that pull us through..all now so many ain't get paid
  • T Hodge (26/06/2020, 12:27) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    When I hear ourselves say that someone returns from where they were born, that causes me the same as racism "GF" as many Bvi natives are in Atlanta, so far for 33 years I live in this place and nobody has told me to come home, my mother couldn't get to the hospital I was born in Long Bush I'm Hodge and Hodge let's be humble
  • wow oh boy (27/06/2020, 13:32) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    how could the government discipline their worker's when they themselves show such little if any respect to their authority the governor. I wonder


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