UK seems to be ‘itching to put military’ in VI jurisdiction- Premier Fahie
It was on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, that Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert, addressing the concern of illegal entry and smuggling and its connection to the spike in COVID-19 cases in the Territory, said the Virgin Islands (VI) Government previously refused an offer from the UK to help secure the border.
UK offer was not supported- Gov Jaspert
“As we impose restrictions internally and have strict measures in place for people travelling through the legitimate routes into the Territory, we must ensure that our borders are secure and that people comply with the required measures. The National Security Council is meeting later today. There was a previous offer from the UK to help to bolster the Territory’s border security in the early days of Covid-19. That offer was not supported at the time.
“I will be discussing with the National Security Council what support might now be needed and will update in due course,” Governor Jaspert stated.
The Governor’s statement created much consternation on social media and many persons resorted to slamming the elected Government, with persons speculating that there was a tug-o-war between the VI Government and the UK Representative, Mr Jaspert.
Military presence was not the way to go- Premier
Premier Fahie; however, said his administration declined the United Kingdom’s offer of military support because of his confidence in the abilities of the Territory’s law enforcement agencies to get the job done.
“First of all I am disappointed to know that it reached the public domain in the manner that it reached because this is not a time for persons to be pulling aside, it is a time for unity,” Honourable Fahie said during a press conference on Tuesday, August 25, 2020.
He explained that it is not a tug-of-war, but at the same time, it is in the public domain, and there is an inference that there was an offer and that offer was refused.
The Premier continued: “There was some discussion about military support, and I must say here that the UK and its agencies seem to be itching to put military personnel in the jurisdiction whether on the sea or on the land. That was the one offer on the table.”
He said every time the VI has been ‘pressured’ to accept military presence, it has “been required to consider the social, historical and cultural aspect of this decision,” and part of that includes the Territory’s march towards self-reliance.
“It is on this basis and the confidence in our personnel here in the VI it was felt that military was not the way to go and we decided on many measures that we would exercise first, and we have exercised our options, and we have done pretty well,” he added.
Joint task force for border patrol
So far, a joint task force comprising officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) Immigration Department and Her Majesty’s Customs has been formed to tackle the issue of border security.
This includes 24/7 patrol of the borders.
Hon Fahie also reported that one apparent attempt of illegal entry was already prevented due to the presence of the task force.
He pledged further support to the task force, which will come in the form of additional vessels and other equipment.
Breach of confidence!
Meanwhile, Premier Fahie said the deliberations of the National Security Council (NSC) are supposed to be confidential and “it is a breach of confidence to say who said what and who disagreed with what.”
He continued: “because of the implications of what has been put in the public’s domain, I am now forced to voice the deliberations of the NSC, but I will do my best not to compound the damage that has already been done by the statements that were made.”
Help or not?
After Hurricane Irma devastated the Virgin Islands in September 2017, instead of grants or loans, the United Kingdom only offered a loan guarantee to the Virgin Islands but at the same time refused to address the borrowing guidelines in the Protocols for Effective Financial Management, which limit the VI from accessing meaningful loans for its recovery without violating the protocols.
Additionally, as the Virgin Islands economy came to a grinding halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Premier Fahie requested a grant from the UK to assist persons made jobless or made to work reduced hours; however, the UK, through Governor Jaspert, told the VI to use its own monies from the reserves and Social Security Board (SSB).
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52 Responses to “UK seems to be ‘itching to put military’ in VI jurisdiction- Premier Fahie”
a w***** man is the head what you expect?
We tend to forget very easily about the past and quickly become hostile to all and behave as if we are immune to everything on this planet.
For such a small nation we really need to be humble, not saying that we must roll over but we need external support at some point in time or the other.
None of them put our safety and our economy first. We need to start doing what’s best for the humans who live here, not what’s best for a small number.
I really don't get why everyone thinks the UK has an ulterior motive other than looking our for its overseas territories. Would need to be something worth taking if they wanted to properly invade and I don't think sense of entitlement and xenophobia is worth that much to anyone
Lying to people about some take over and talking about slavery is a disgusting disrespect to those who endured those evil times. There is of course no chance that anything like that would happen again.
The only thing that might edge us towards the U.K. have to take charge temporarily for the benefit of the BVI people, is our inaction or inability to secure the borders (Which has been a running joke that is not funny in recent times more than normal even) and any other activities that are being wilfully ignored or even condoned. Wake up.
Trinidad police were caught directly involved in human smuggling this year down there.
Build you own people up and equip them for these duties no strings attached!
This aint no game to play with the UK they been trying so hard to put us back in time under false pretense.
You get hit with a hurricane they want to hold a loan over your head three years later, the RDF was pumping money out to them & they were hiring their own. Now they want to station military here because of covid
Recall when we shut down the first time they wanted the military here patrolling the streets, we had it under control. The sick part is people want to invite them in for people to get shot like they dont see whats happening with them BLACK PEOPLE in the states!
Then when it happens you cant even go to protest NO BLM socially distanced MARCH when they are already here and ready to shoot & maintain their order.
The same people that had us as slaves you all want to call to come kill people. Or sexually assault local women like around the US military base in Japan.
Soldiers have High instance of PTSD do you want groups of people with PTSD patrolling with live ammo or stationed here and sexually starved??? Didnt those UK officers break a some facility romping after the hurricane like are they not professional enough to do that off duty? Thats the conduct we saw & they were here for a short time.
Don’t get me wrong - I am militantly anti racists - but am also aware that there are other dynamics at play which affect humanity - ie humans, which we all are. And we are very diverse and not all the same because of the melanin content levels we happen to inherit.
And sometimes it’s better to do the smart thing that helps most people than to do the dumb thing because it makes you feel righteous.
Keep learning - but learn about everything, not just info that puts you and skin color at the center of everything. There’s more.
2. They have shown they had no intention of monitoring the borders. Everyone knows drug boats were circulating after dark during the past few months. They are not exactly quiet!
3. So now we have a red-faced government and a further opportunity to secure the borders...again the offer for help is turned down.
4. No-one is suggesting UK troops should come on land. The Navy patrols the Caribbean during this time of year anyway. In case you've missed it, they've been doing it for decades. Oh and maybe you weren't here for Irma, but without UK intervention then this island had days left. It's really sad how quickly people forget.
The Governor is responsible for both internal and external security in the BVI. The Premier have no authority to direct the Queen, where to have British troops on British soil.
Politicians, stop misleading the citizens.
The BVI is owned by the UK.
Full-stop!
the trouble is..here we are being offered free help from the UK. and we turn it down..we would apparently rather be spending 17,000 per DAY per barge ( if what the hon opposition stated today is factual) using three barges to protect our borders. you do the maths and tell me if its not unreasonable for the UK and the governor to say that we dont need financial assistance because we have plenty of financial resources of our own....Government just proving this by spending all of this money instead of utilizing free assistance when its offered. Premier putting pride before prudence on this one.....in my humble opinion.....we the people could be putting that 17000x3 ( daily) to work to help with subsidies and putting food on our tables.
respectfully submitted.
frustrated.
UK don’t care for us look who they’ve sent to head security an unelected civil servant gus!
He’s pathetic and useless!
All he does is take credit for government achievements and post constantly on social media his lavish holidays at our expense while we starve.
UK aren’t coming they’re a mess themselves!
We are responsible for our future and that doesn’t include gus.
We can’t wait for him to leave!!!
you pick appart the governor and for the most part i agree with what is generally being said...but he offered to have navy protect our borders in this very dangerous time..government turned it down..( same government who berated the NDP in 2017 for turning away the navy ship after the August storms).
Dont fault someone who takes a "lavish" holiday and posts it on FB. people do this and it has nothing to do with the BVI. What he does on his holidays is entirely up to him . HOWEVER....you fail to mention the " lavish" and totally unwarranted spending of the government on 3 barges at 17k per barge per day ( if opposition reported correctly) to house the border taskforce...that my friend is lavish...." at our expense while we starve".. and this from our elected officials...so lets start looking closer to home eh ?
I am an avid supporter of the VIP. always have been but they have slipped off track in my opinion with turning away help and spending this HUGE sum of money on something that we couls.have got for free or used something less expensive as a platform.
respectfully submitted.
America. Millions in asset behind an island 30square miles. That time they killing their own citizens and investing in health care while
Gunning down their own USA citizens.
They need clean their own yard
Step aside from that and you’ll notice Britain is collapsing in on itself, it can’t deal with its immediate borders let alone have any time or even the smallest interest in taking over this tiny little place on the map. The last thing it needs is excitement over here.
Your argument that wicked Britain wants to enslave you is a good way of making yourself feel important but it bears no relation to real life. That’s just facts, even if you don’t like them.