I am ‘guilty’ of forming Boards with political non-supporters- Hon Fahie
“So we have to make sure that we involve everybody in the development of the Virgin Islands, and that is my aim,” Hon Fahie stated during the re-opening of the West End Ferry Terminal on August 2, 2019.
The Premier was at the time expressing gratitude to the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) “for catching the vision” and relocating the immigration booth at the Road Town Ferry Dock to a more visible location, where persons no longer have to “peep, like you playing hide and go seek, to see if the immigration officer was available.”
Fresh blood = new perspectives
Hon Fahie attributed the initiative to “when you put fresh blood in anything they come with different perspectives. You mix them with some of what was there and you have fresh perspectives.”
According to the Premier, that is what the territory needs, new ideas, and he has no apologies for recruiting young and enthusiastic persons, regardless of political party affiliation, who are willing to dedicate their energies towards the development of the Virgin Islands.
“I have been guilty of forming boards with persons who did not support us [Virgin Islands Party] politically.
“But I do not believe in that. I believe yes you got some of the people who support you politically, but they must have the ability. But if people are good and they mean well for the territory they can serve too. It doesn’t matter who they support,” Hon Fahie declared to loud applause.
The leader of government business noted, however, that he sometimes receives criticisms for his inclusiveness from his own Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Congress.
“So when I go to my Congress sometimes they rag me up about it. I say you could stop there but when my time is over and you come sit down outside, I have been the Premier, I want to be able to sit down in peace. Not sit down pleasing one and two people and then the majority are frustrated.
“So if that is the kind of Premier you looking for don’t look for me because I unconventional.”
Hon Fahie continued that there is much work to be done and all hands on deck are needed to get the territory to its destination of prosperity.
Service is key
“Our financial services have challenges, it was predicted from three years ago, so with the drop off that is there we have to make it up other ways. Our tourism product has to rise to the next level. That means the Tourist Board and all who are working in it have to do more retraining and retooling of people when it comes to service.”
On this note, Hon Fahie said “Service is key for us to be able to enjoy the new economy of the Virgin Islands.”
He said the BVI Tourist Board has a Customer Service training programme coming up for BVITB staff as well as for all the agencies that will be dealing with guests to the territory.
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What we need in the Territory are visionary leaders who can see the bigger picture years down the road, and not those blinded by the distance their noses span.