Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

‘It wouldn’t be right’ to reprimand Gov Jaspert – Premier Fahie

- said 'because over the years the House itself was late for many things'
Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), right, said the reason he could not support the reprimand of Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert, left, for causing the late tabling of the Audit Report for the BVI Airways deal was because the House of Assembly (HoA) has been late with items in the past. Photo: VINO/File
Governor Augustus U.U. Jaspert had said he was delayed with sending the BVI Airways audit report to the House of Assembly due to COVID-19 and the handling of the pandemic locally. Photo: Facebook/File
Governor Augustus U.U. Jaspert had said he was delayed with sending the BVI Airways audit report to the House of Assembly due to COVID-19 and the handling of the pandemic locally. Photo: Facebook/File
On May 28, 2020, Third District Representative, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) moved a motion to reprimand the sitting Governor, His Excellency Augustus J.U. Jaspert over the late tabling of the BVI airways audit report delivered to the House; however, the motion failed with only two votes. Photo: Facebook
On May 28, 2020, Third District Representative, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) moved a motion to reprimand the sitting Governor, His Excellency Augustus J.U. Jaspert over the late tabling of the BVI airways audit report delivered to the House; however, the motion failed with only two votes. Photo: Facebook
DUFF’S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI – Debating on the need to balance government’s financial accounts through the Supplementary Appropriation (2014) Act, Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said the reason he could not support the reprimand of the sitting Governor was because the House of Assembly (HoA) has been late with items in the past.

On May 28, 2020, Third District Representative, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) moved a motion to reprimand the sitting Governor, His Excellency Augustus J.U. Jaspert over the late tabling of the BVI airways audit report delivered to the House; however, the motion failed with only two votes.

HoA lateness 

According to Premier Fahie, it is because of the HoA's lateness he couldn’t support the motion, “That’s why I couldn’t join to vote against the lateness of the BVI airways [report] because over the years the House itself was late for many things.”

The Premier said that under the Audit Act, while the report was late and the Governor had nothing to add or take away from the report, there is also lateness in the HoA.

“That’s the premise why I didn’t vote for it you know… I can’t crucify a man for something that we weren’t doing right ourselves, it wouldn’t be right,” Premier Fahie said.

He said, however, based on principles, he was not going to go after the Governor although the report was late and was outside its statutory deadline.

The Premier pointed to the Supplementary Appropriation (2014) Act as an example of how the HoA is and has been late.

'Supplementary Appropriation (2014) Act' six years late

The VI Constitution Order 2007 states, “Where in respect of any financial year any supplementary estimates have been laid before the House of Assembly in accordance with subsection (3) and approved by resolution of the House, a Supplementary Appropriation Bill shall, as soon as practicable after the end of that year, be introduced into the House to provide for the appropriation to the purposes in question of the sums included in such estimates that have been expended for that year.”

"Mr Speaker, if we don’t get these accounts up to date, then we will be sitting down at the table [UK Negotiations] starting from behind and that is what this [bill] is about,” Hon Fahie said.

The Premier further noted, “This is monies re-allocated in 2014 that we coming now in 2020 to regularise, look at the parallels of it [BVI Airways Audit Report]… it’s the same,” he said, calling for penalties for both the Governor and the House regarding lateness.

17 Responses to “‘It wouldn’t be right’ to reprimand Gov Jaspert – Premier Fahie”

  • best (24/06/2020, 08:28) Like (26) Dislike (4) Reply
    Best governor the bvi ever had and we respect and cherish him.
  • bystander (24/06/2020, 08:37) Like (7) Dislike (18) Reply
    Fahie cave, the governor is bad news bottom line
  • one eye (24/06/2020, 09:03) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    Who said the governor was a racist? Not so fast
  • wow (24/06/2020, 09:27) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
    3 words TURKS AND CAICOS, AYO GO LEARN!
  • we (24/06/2020, 10:34) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Fahie doing the right thing....When you are leader you do the balancing act...It doesnt vindicate the governor, He weighed both sides of it and after doing some accessment decided to leave it alone
  • asking for a friend (24/06/2020, 11:18) Like (2) Dislike (9) Reply
    Why in 2020 we still have a white governor?
    • Blackman Responds (24/06/2020, 12:21) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
      Because you the VI is a Territory belonging to an originally white country. Did black man originate out of England?
    • Jaigon (24/06/2020, 14:01) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply

      @ asking for a friend. Simple. Because we are still an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. You don’t want a white Governor, go independent. Set ah backward @$%s all you be.

    • @asking for a friend (24/06/2020, 18:12) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      It is obvious that your friend do not like you.
  • think (24/06/2020, 13:42) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Don’t make the UK step in for disrespecting their people. They know how to manipulate things. If you going at war with the governor make sure you know what you doing and how you going to do it
  • Challenger (24/06/2020, 19:27) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    @ jaigon.....@ blackman responds...@ asking for a friend

    it truely has nothing to do with BVI Being an overseas territory or being Governed" by a predominately white country.......have you ever considered that there may have been no applicants for governorship who are black.......? its the same question as the top cop position....nobody is thinking during the selection process...."ooooh we cant have a black person fill this job"... lets get some reality in the thought process here people. dont loose sight of the facts.
    if what you are actuay saying is why are there no BV Islanders filling the Governor job or ( my reference to the top cop). then the answer simple......in such a small community you just cant have people in these two positions who are from the very territory they are to govern...and protect agaainst crime. there has to be some removal from the " family tree" to effectively manage those positions. black...white...doesnt matter...the colour of someones skin does not change the way these jobs will be done......if they are doing their job properly. do you think the island would react differently if a black govenor was getting the same " results" as this (white) govenor....the only difference would be noone could call him a racist.
    so please look through the colour..if you want a BVIslander then say so....
    respectfully submited
  • grow up (24/06/2020, 20:21) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    We need to grow up and rid ourselves of this race issue. We have too much at stake to be caught up in this kind of issue. The BVI has done well so far and there is no reason to turn back. Let the USA and other countries with genuine problems work out and address their issues.
  • blm (25/06/2020, 04:29) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Colour is a d....issue yes ...@grow up. Psychology wen u get in touch with ur psychological sence ...u see wat scheme this system is...on ones mind ...from religious down is. white images...bull shit and the truth is totally opposite...people wake up and see ...the truth for wat it is ...
  • @blm (25/06/2020, 04:32) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes bro ....and if colour dont matter why it so much in there favor ..black people remember u are 400 years behind. cetch up
  • blame the governor (25/06/2020, 09:18) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where else can you find a Governor with such discipline and for the respect for the rule of law? I concur with andrew fahie on this one.


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.