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‘We should be able to sit & talk with UK’- Premier

-Says discussions lacking with Crown on Loan Guarantee issue
Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) says with the current issues facing the Virgin Islands (VI) and its decision to take up the UK Loan guarantee offer towards hurricane rebuilding, the territory should be able to sit with the UK and have a discussion on the matter. Photo: Facebook/GIS
Premier Andrew A. Fahie said even without asking, the UK should take it upon themselves to relax policies against the Virgin Islands (VI). Photo: Interent Source
Premier Andrew A. Fahie said even without asking, the UK should take it upon themselves to relax policies against the Virgin Islands (VI). Photo: Interent Source
VALLEY, Virgin Gorda, VI - Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) says with the current issues facing the Virgin Islands (VI) and its decision to take up the UK Loan guarantee offer towards hurricane rebuilding, the territory should be able to sit with the UK and have a discussion on the matter.

“This is no disrespect to the UK… we are mature adults, we supposed to be able to sit down with our mother country and say listen, I know that I have to be accountable, we not running from that at all, I know that if we get monies we have to make sure that it is transparent,” he said.

Premier Fahie continued, “But other than the ratios which have to be renegotiated… to make sure that we don’t fall outside the document that you tell us to live by, those are things we need to get right up front before we come to negotiate that should have been said.” 

Premier Fahie was at the time speaking at a public consultation meeting on the Loan guarantee issue at the Catholic Community Centre in Virgin Gorda on August 21, 2019.

UK should take initiative - Premier  

The government is currently seeking to have stipulations in the Protocol for Effective Financial Management signed between the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government and the UK in 2012, re-negotiated.  “It is only fair,” Premier Fahie said that certain ratios be readjusted to take into account the VI’s economic reality post-Irma and Maria.

He said even without asking, the UK should take it upon themselves to relax policies, “Why it’s a concern for me because people are saying that I pass the RDA, which I did at that time but in the opposition, I remember asking the question will the conditions of the protocols be relaxed,” he said.

Premier Fahie noted that the National Democratic Party (NDP) government assure that relaxing the policies was a work in progress with the UK, and they had been given assurance that it will happen.

NDP misled House?

“I said ok because you don’t want to get a loan and violate the very document for the people guaranteeing the loan and then they have to bring sanctions on you,” Hon Fahie said in relation to assurances given that the policies would be relaxed. 

He said unless that happened, it would have led to the VI becoming economic slaves to the United Kingdon.  

The Leader of Government Business further said that even though the previous NDP government gave assurance to the House that the agreements were being worked out, since taken up the Premier’s Office, he said, “I’ve found out there’s nothing in writing.”

9 Responses to “‘We should be able to sit & talk with UK’- Premier ”

  • UK (24/08/2019, 12:05) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is busy with other little project called Brexit. Not sure if they are interested to talk to our little island at the moment premier!
    • Money Problems. Split the thing. (25/08/2019, 06:59) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      No matter who is in Control of that money RDA or Government there will be bad and bias spending. Everybody has their special friends they want to help.. Everybody has some kind of connection. They will try to help someone who did them a favour in the past or who can do them a favour. Somebody will put their hand on the table.. Because the tax payers will be paying it back. I think the Premier our finance minister must have some say in the spending... Britain need to split that money in two. Give RDA half and our Premier half and at the end of it we all know who spent their half responsibly.. .
  • A New Angle Every Day (24/08/2019, 13:12) Like (10) Dislike (4) Reply
    This story just keeps twisting and turning. The Premier helped approved the RDA but now he is hot to trot to dismantle it so that he get his hands on the territory's Recovery Funds. WHY?

    Please let the RDA do their job. There are other things you should be focusing on.

    • Reply (24/08/2019, 14:48) Like (4) Dislike (7) Reply
      The ndp haters are out
    • @ a new angel every day (24/08/2019, 16:32) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
      No it was the ndp who we had to keep their hands off the money...set of thief now talking dog shit
  • Change has come to the bvi (24/08/2019, 14:50) Like (3) Dislike (7) Reply
    We love our premier no amount of negativity from the m n m boys going stop the progress of this country
  • one eye (24/08/2019, 16:33) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    Thank you Premier you are a diplomat
  • wize up (24/08/2019, 19:09) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    I personally have no concern with RDA once all financial transactions become public knowledge: the electoral government must continue to keep the public up to speed with all financial transactions....both parties are accountable to the people moreover the spendings of any money should be beneficial to the people of this territory because we have to repay any loan funding
  • Talk to them.. (25/08/2019, 06:49) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Too much bla bla about and against the people you need only deteriorate the relationship more... You are right. They are right. They want control. You want control and each party determined to be right..But things remained the same... Talk. build better relationship. Listen.. Make your case be willing to compromise knowing we caused this up on ourselves..


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