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‘I never approved any $1m fence for ESHS!’ – Hon Andrew A. Fahie

Former Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) dismissed as political chatter a statement being circulated that under his watch a perimeter fence was approved for the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) to the tune of $1 million. Photo: VINO/File
The Elmore Stoutt High School. Photo: VINO/File
The Elmore Stoutt High School. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Former Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) dismissed as political chatter a statement being circulated that under his watch a perimeter fence was approved for the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) to the tune of $1 million.

A text message came in during the Virgin Islands Party’s (VIP) radio show ‘Let’s Talk’ on ZBVI 780 AM on Wednesday November 26, 2014 which said that the Minister for Education and Culture at the time Hon Fahie had given out “some fence for $1 million to go around the perimeter of the Elmore Stoutt High School. Can you confirm this?”

In response to the text message, Hon Fahie said, “We heard that during the campaign and that is totally false.”

“One of the things we were doing when I was Minister for Education is making sure that we improve the entire school compounds because we were working on accreditation and one proposal that came to the Ministry one day in a meeting was a design to do a fence around the school,” he said.

“And when we asked in the meeting the cost it was $1 million. That died an instant death. It never left the office. But somehow it left and hit the campaign trail,” he said.

“It was not something that was approved. It was not something that was accepted. It never went any further than after it came out of the person’s mouth and we left it there so we would have had to get the other design. So that was never something approved by the Ministry nor the Minister nor the Government at the time,” said Hon Fahie.

“That was just political chatter,” he said.

16 Responses to “‘I never approved any $1m fence for ESHS!’ – Hon Andrew A. Fahie”

  • openyoureyes (03/12/2014, 14:49) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
    Now look at the picture and see the "junk ah building" that was built while Lavity was Chief Minister and what was put down after? Trailers and pre-fab building. The man must be saying "no, no, no, no way. Our children must not study in these defaced buildings." It is time to put more than fence. It is time to restore pride to that campus and build quality buildings and bring about a total transformation to that school that bears the name Elmore Stoutt. VIP or NDP, man lew we do the right thing.
    • Exactly (03/12/2014, 16:06) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      who got the contract to install those trailers as classrooms for our kids to learn in??!!
  • cay (03/12/2014, 15:39) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply

    M..on started that lie on the Bronx bummer

  • Story Teller (03/12/2014, 15:48) Like (33) Dislike (2) Reply
    Anything out of VIP mouth is the TRUTH and anything from the NDP mouth is LIES right ?????????

    SMH
  • shaw (03/12/2014, 17:05) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply
    If, at the time, a fence went up without permission, who was held accountable? Who was paid and was there a paper trail to see where it went back to? Instead of pointing fingers, track it down, then deny or own up to it.
    People would far trust someone who took responsibility and was transparent than feeding the rumor mill. This whole pre-election is disgusting. No one wants to hear it. Just maturely state what each party will do to move forward. I would rather have a list of bullet points to see the bigger picture than get sucked into gossip and garbage.
    • @shaw (03/12/2014, 23:39) Like (6) Dislike (9) Reply
      Give us a break. The VIP listed some very good plans for the future during their radio show. This segment is a small section of the show where Fahie was asked a specific question via a text from the public for which he answered. So give the man a break from talkimg piddle.
    • MICKEY MOUSE (05/12/2014, 06:36) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Exactly all of them only getting on like school children. Who saying my daddy better than your daddy. Tell what you will be doing for the children the future of tomorrow. When they behave like children. What kind of role are they.?
  • political handouts (03/12/2014, 17:07) Like (16) Dislike (3) Reply
    Boy i heard that the minister already started giving out petty contracts for the fence around the school.
  • water (03/12/2014, 20:51) Like (18) Dislike (3) Reply
    Jump high jump low ndp got to go!
  • about time (03/12/2014, 23:27) Like (4) Dislike (9) Reply
    I am glad Fahie cleared this up. The NDP to dam lie.
  • Voice of Reason (03/12/2014, 23:34) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Maintainace of schools is an ongoing something. No matter how much money you spend on any school for repairs at the beginning of the school year because of the ware & tear the school goes through as a result of the heavy traffic by students and teachers you have to do those repairs all over again by summer time. All Ministers of Education found that out and so will Myron. By the end of the school year most schools look like they were not repaired for years.
  • By Time (03/12/2014, 23:42) Like (4) Dislike (8) Reply
    It was by time this matter got cleared up because the NDP used this lie as part of their ads on the radio during the 2011 General Elections and is still trying to use this lie up to today.
    • Time longer than (07/12/2014, 18:38) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      So the BiWater contract ah lie? Are they the best thing for our country?
      Did the VIP have money to pay their bill while they were in power?
      Could they secure loans?
  • Observer (03/12/2014, 23:46) Like (7) Dislike (11) Reply
    I have observed that the NDP wants to say all manner of negative things about the VIP and others but do not want those persons respond in defense of their name. The NDP are some very bad people. They like throwing blows but can't take blows.
  • ss (04/12/2014, 13:25) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    we trust fahie and fraser never ball headed


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