Premier Fahie's private bodyguards replaced by RVIPF officers
This was later confirmed by Commissioner of Police, Mr Michael B. Matthews, who said the RVIPF has assumed responsibility of the Premier's security for "some time now."
"We have a policy where for obvious reasons we will not discuss specifics in relation to the security of any individual we are responsible for guarding. I can advise we had a number of officers trained in Close Protection tactics last year and that the RVIPF are solely responsible for the security of the Premier and the Governor," Mr Matthews told VINO on inquiry.
RVIPF Takes control
According to the Commissioner, "As CoP, I have always been responsible for the Premier's security but for a brief period of time we included private security guards working alongside RVIPF officers but they have subsequently been withdrawn leaving just police officers involved," he said.
During the Thursday, April 25, 2019, Second Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA), Hon Fahie dropped the bombshell news that there had been three major threats of assassination against him, hence the reason for personal bodyguards.
“We have sat down with the Commissioner of Police, we have sat down with private security… and we have made sure that the security that is needed, that will happen as the Premier of this Territory,” he told the House.
Citing the subject as a ‘National Security’ matter, he revealed that Commissioner Matthews had been on the case while noting that given the situation, personal security was necessary, hence the reason for his bodyguards.
Opposition to Premier's private security
The move to hire private security did not sit well with some Opposition Members, including Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4).
“Why is this security detail costing us taxpayers millions of dollars and why is this security detail that we have for Honourable Andrew Fahie, the man himself, and not for the position, the Office of the Premier?,” Hon Vanterpool said outside the House of Assembly on July 16, 2019.
Opposition Leader Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) had also moved to question the security detail of the Premier at a sitting of the House.
“What is the name of the company providing private security to him, the beneficial owner of company, when the services commenced and details of the cost of the services,” Hon Penn asked according to an HoA Order Paper for Third Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth HoA of the Virgin Islands (VI), released, May 14, 2019.
RVIPF was always going to take over- Premier
Questions posited to Premier Fahie today, January 2, 2020, on why the move to have RVIPF takeover his security, he told VINO, "the police were always going to provide the security to the Office of Premier. However, the C.O.P. stated from the inception that his officers needed training in this specialised area. It was agreed that a group of his officers would be selected and sent away to be trained."
According to the Premier, it was agreed that until the officers were trained then a private security company with such specialised capabilities would be contracted.
"That was done with the blessings of the C.O.P. As soon as the C.O.P. confirmed that the selected officers were now trained abroad, then the contract of the competent private security was closed," Hon Fahie further revealed.
RVIPF Officers performing admirably- Hon Fahie
Premier Fahie has since indicated to this news website that all the stages were always known from the inception by all stakeholders and that the trained officers of the RVIPF are now in place and performing admirably.
Further, he said the private contract was only for 6 months.
Malicious Opposition
"The calculation of putting it to 5 Years has no base. Some Opposition Members said that time frame knowing full well that it was malicious especially seeing that we only serve 4-year terms."
"The contract was always for 6 months and it only was allowed until the selected RVIPF Officers were trained," Hon Fahie told Virgin Islands News Online.
30 Responses to “Premier Fahie's private bodyguards replaced by RVIPF officers”
Go on B****** on earlier articles with Fahie. it is clear that there are people out there that dont like Fahie and I aint talking about just politically. The name calling and general terrible comments sometimes make me cringe. I could understand he had terrible policies like Trump but that kinda hate I see in the comments I wouldn't doubt anything.
His private security will not come close to Myron corruption wall of $1.6 m or Mark ports over run of $40 m then again the plane oh boy our $ 7.2 m gone up in smoke!!!!people get your priority right
Even though the security for him is costly, it cannot compare with the progress that has been made so far. The country cannot afford to sit idly by and loose our leader now because of the cost of security.
If we loose our Premier now, it will be time for the British to move in and take over the country. Don't be fooled by the rethoric. There is a plan and if Hon. Fahie is out of the way that will be the end. Yassar Arrafat was killed and until now the probe is still in progress as to who killed him.
People in the territory don't sleep, stay awake and defend your Premier for God's sake.
.