VI Constitution & way of life more @ risk of repeal or UK interference- Hon Fahie
Everyone knows the rest of the story. The NDP was re-elected in a landslide, with just Hon Fahie and Third District Representative Hon Julian Fraser RA managing to gain seats in the House of Assembly.
The victory, according to Hon Fahie gave impetus for the NDP to continue being unaccountable and disrespectful to the people by refusing to answer questions of spending and other matters presented by the Opposition or in some cases being inconsistent with its answers and allegedly victimising people opposed to its autocratic style of leadership.
Since then there have been frequent reports of the Government being broke following alleged lavish elections spending and overspending on the controversial cruise ship project and questionable road contracts. Many people, according to Hon Fahie cannot get paid for their services to Government as they are often told by the Treasury Department that “there is nothing there.” This is ironic since, according to Hon Fahie, Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith boasted during the elections campaign of having more than $90M in the bank.
And even after Governor John S. Duncan OBE refused to order a Commission of Inquiry into allegations of corruption and recommendations for such by the then Auditor General Sonia S. Webster and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), there have even been more allegations of corruption. Recently, former project coordinator of the ports project Mr Hugh E. Darley made scathing allegations of overspending, high-handedness and even that Government is refusing to pay monies allegedly owed to him.
UK interference
And with the slippery slope that the NDP Government seems to be on, and still within a year of its four-year term, Hon Fahie fears the worst- United Kingdom interference.
“I’ve stopped by to make all of us aware that unless corrective actions are immediately taken, The Constitution of the Virgin Islands and our way of life is more at risk of repeal or direct interference by the United Kingdom Government than any other time in the last 65 years,” Hon Fahie lamented.
Addressing the approximately 100 persons that showed up at the venue in Capoon’s Bay, Hon Fahie said it is a very difficult statement to make but, “those with ears will hear. This is not something that I wish. To the contrary, this is something that we must all avoid! But, to do this, there is a role for each of us. The old people taught us that the ship that is not ruled by the rudder will hit the rocks.”
UK interference in OTS
In August of 2009 the UK dismissed all international, democratic principles and suspended the Turks and Casicos Islands (TCI) elected Parliament, taking direct control of the day-to-day running of the island.
The action by the British to force out a democratically elected government through an act of its own Parliament, imposing its direct rule was triggered amid ongoing allegations of widespread corruption in the TCI.
In 2012, the UK Government stripped the Cayman Islands of the Ministry of Finance over alleged financial mismanagement. The UK gave conditional approval to the Cayman Islands’ administration’s final budget, however with four stringent conditions, in particular the establishment of a ‘budget board’ headed by the Deputy Governor, which means that the role of the Finance Minister established by the Cayman Islands 2009 constitution was handed back to the UK rather than the elected government.
UK interference, according to political pundits, should be a concern to those who value democracy, and a backward step to colonialism.
No more disrespect & marginalisation
The former Minister for Education, who also spoke at length about some of his accomplishments realised in his district despite with what he considered the limited funds made available to him, said the people must demand better from their Government or someone else would do it for them, probably again hinting at UK interference.
“No longer can the NDP Government continue to disrespect and marginalise the role of the Opposition and continue to disrespect and marginalise the role of the people of the Virgin Islands especially those that may not support their political philosophies. Good Governance cannot be realised if the NDP continue to rely merely on fancy slogans; misleading statements; inaccurate reports and deception. The Virgin Islands deserve better and better we will demand.”
He further said that if there was any respect for the House of Assembly, the questions asked by the Opposition from 2012 to date would have been truthfully answered and the suggestions made by the Opposition, at minimum, would have been looked into and corrective actions taken.
“No, instead rules are being fabricated to limit the number of questions that can be asked and the length of time that Members can speak in the House of Assembly. They want to silence us so that they can politically enslave us. This course of action is a direct abuse of power. These attempts will be fought with every breath of air that we have. The business of any Government is the business of the people. You cannot be private in public business.”
We lost the elections but not our rights
According to Hon Fahie, he is fully aware the NDP won the elections. “I respect the democratic process that allowed this. I respect the fact that my side lost. But we did not lose our rights as Virgin Islanders.”
Hon Fahie continues to be vocal in putting fire to the feet of the NDP Government in a valiant attempt to hold them accountable in the name of democracy and transparency. His philosophy of “calling a spade a spade” had also seen him take much flak during the elections campaign but as more light continues to be thrown on his warnings and continued allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement by Government pervade society, it remains to be seen whether his “voice in the wilderness” will be heeded this time around.
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43 Responses to “VI Constitution & way of life more @ risk of repeal or UK interference- Hon Fahie”
Told everyone before election to vote none of the above Because like you I have no confidence in either party.
Bring in UK they can't be worse than what we have
Allthat aside, when is Andrew going to give a report about his work in District 1. Thank goodness there is an NDP otherwise there would be nothing for him to mirepresent and attack.
oh...
and you believe in Santa Claus too? cuz you don't want to believe your corrupt NDP will be the end of the BVI as we know it ?
They will lead to the UK taking over the BVI not Fraser and Fahie
Plus Dr Smith tells too much u*tr*ths
The man is a L**r ....
PROVEN , L**R .....
Prove, not accused ....
I need to simmer in the knowledge that in 2016, there was upwards of 1,500 blacks gunned downed in the
US by the police.
My heart aches for the children of Flint , Michigan, poisoned by the municipal water.
And now,in the VI with a stable Gov and unprecedented progress, efforts are being made to destabilize and disrupt with unrelenting and unproven accusations and much disrespect for the elected Gov and the Queens Rep.
We are under attack, globally.
When the FBI points at you, this arm of the US Government exacts a price for your freedom.
The cost could be the stability and healthy economy of your country.
Say I say so. It's in the history books. Books that are less read.
It seems to me that Hon. Fahie is only interested in the party at election time and after that is finish, he can battle his way through. The party comprised of all the members in the various districts. The views of the party is supreme and all the members MUST abide by the wishes of the party democratically. Without that principle, the VIP will find itself an a quandary.
Andrew is a one man show and is under the tyranny of another power.
He has a job to do.
The greater issue here is the need for transparency in the way the Government conduct business and manage the people's purse. There is dire need for transparency in Cabinet hearings, to govern the issuing of contracts and to oversee capital projects. Then there is the need for the Government to listen to the people and conduct various meetings before pursuing major projects and initiatives that will affect the majority of people. Is this too much to ask for?