'Character assassination, Total disrespect'- Premier on Vanterpool's crazy rant
The swearing-in ceremony, which came following months of court action surrounding the D4 Seat, saw Hon Vanterpool launching a vicious attack at the Premier in the compound of the HoA, questioning his security detail and, amongst other claims, pointing out that Mr Fahie had not been honest about the reason for his need for personal security.
Standing Orders breached
According to Premier Fahie, “Having taken the oath, Mr Vanterpool insisted on making a personal statement, in breach of the Standing Orders, without any regard for the agenda of the House and in total disrespect of the ruling by the Speaker [Hon Julian Willock] that Mr Vanterpool would be allowed to give his speech under the appropriate agenda heading which would be lower down in the order of business.”
Premier Fahie’s criticisms came via a media release today, Thursday where amongst other rebuttals, the Leader of Government Business accused Mr Vanterpool of peddling falsehoods.
The Premier noted, “Mr Vanterpool’s theatrical and petulant outburst was improper, unparliamentary and totally unacceptable. As an experienced parliamentarian, Mr Vanterpool knows the rules of the House better than most of the other Members, but he deliberately set out to breach them because he wanted to be put out of the House,” Hon Fahie said.
Fahie’s reasoning is that Mr Vanterpool’s aim was to ‘claim victimhood’ and use that as an excuse to launch what he called vile and slanderous personal attacks against him.
Plans thwarted
The Premier said the plan, however, was thwarted with the Speaker Willock's calling of an early recess as a result of the persistent disruption of the proceedings by the newly sworn in Member.
He said the press conference outside the House, led by Hon Vanterpool, was an unacceptable tirade against the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government, in addition to the Premier.
“Mr Vanterpool’s smear campaign had as its primary and sole objective, character assassination and bacchanal. There was no regard for the truth or facts as outrageous fabrication and malicious falsehoods formed the basis of Mr Vanterpool’s fictional play.”
The premier insisted he has nothing to hide, and maintains a clean hand and a pure heart. “This was clearly a pre-planned, stage-managed affair that was designed to seek maximum attention and grab news headlines,” Hon Fahie said.
At the HoA, during Vanterpool’s vicious tirade against Hon Fahie, anti-government propagandist and National Democratic Party (NDP) supporter, Lorie A. Rymer, was heard shouting, "Yes, put it to them."
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