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Governors refused to deport convicted expats out of VI- Premier

-Hon Fahie said VI Gov'ts fought losing battle to have persons deported after leaving HM Prison
Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has revealed that past Governors of the VI had refused to take a decision to deport convicted expat criminals after they served a sentence in H.M Prison, despite being pressed by the Elected Government to have convicted criminals deported. Photo: HoA/Youtube
Premier Andrew A. Fahie the government had lobbied to have convicted criminals who serve time deported, however, that was denied by the Governor. Photo: VINO/File
Premier Andrew A. Fahie the government had lobbied to have convicted criminals who serve time deported, however, that was denied by the Governor. Photo: VINO/File
DUFF’S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI – Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has revealed that past Governors of the Virgin Islands (VI) had refused to take a decision to deport convicted expat criminals after they served a sentence in Her Majesty's Prison (HM Prison), despite being pressed by the Elected Government to have the individuals deported.

Hon Fahie raised the matter during the October 28, 2021, 12th Sitting of the 3rd Session of the 4th House of Assembly at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff’s Bottom, Tortola.

“One of the things that we were fighting in that persons who don’t have any status here that were in Jail and they came out, and they still here walking around and we told the Governor how they can’t be deported?” he said.

He said the matter spanned several governors however, no action has been taken.

'From here' individual cannot return to VI - Premier 

Hon Fahie juxtaposed the scenario to a case of a young basketball player who lived in the VI all his life, had represented the territory in sport, but had committed a crime in another jurisdiction, yet could not return to the VI to serve his time.

“Who not from here that come out of jail based on the powers under the Governor, we can’t get him to deport them, but who from here that could come back and finish their sentence… [they] can’t get in,” the Premier said.

Hon Fahie detailed that when presented before the CoI, the details of the case in the subject was misrepresented. 

He Fahie further described a process of ‘heavy blockade’ to prevent the young man from returning, which also included a secret report filed at the hands of a Governor. 

19 Responses to “Governors refused to deport convicted expats out of VI- Premier”

  • Yes (30/10/2021, 15:52) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    So DA wasn’t an expat?
  • 1 (30/10/2021, 16:13) Like (13) Dislike (22) Reply
    keep telling the people about the slave master Fahie
  • Strupse... (30/10/2021, 16:14) Like (23) Dislike (5) Reply
    REALLY.., let who-ever it is, spend their time where-ever they commit their crime. Why does the Hon Premier wants a criminal back in a land he wasn't born in?
    • A VOTER IN #6 (31/10/2021, 18:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I DON'T THINK THAT ANY GOVERNMENT COULD HOLD A PRISONER THAT DO A CRIME IN A OTHER MAN'S COUNTRY. REMEMBER HE HASN'T DONE ANY CRIME IN TORTOLA
  • reality (30/10/2021, 16:52) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why is it that the laws of the BVI always allow an escape clause to allow ministerial or even governmentorial discretion. It should be easy to make the law so that if someone commits a violent crime or whatever crime the people feel should be on the list , then the person is deported . My opinion is that if the rules of law are firm then it eliminates the possibility of payment for favors by friends and family of the criminal to the relevant authority to waive the deportation..
    Too many of our laws invite the possibility of payment for favors and make one wonder if this is on purpose.
  • shantel (30/10/2021, 17:09) Like (31) Dislike (0) Reply
    In my opinion, he or she should stay where they commit their crime, why fight to bring them here?
  • Jeeze man (30/10/2021, 18:25) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    Past GOVERNORS You say FOY? So what is the problem now? So what are you going to do about it now or expect to be done about it.
  • Shaft (30/10/2021, 18:28) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    PERHAPS HE CAN CHANNEL SOME OF THAT ENERGY TO FIXING THE HIGH
  • WEW (30/10/2021, 19:24) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    I find that hard to believe. Maybe if the criminal was going to be set free in his home country and not serve his prison time. make them serve out their time here then deport them
  • Heckler (30/10/2021, 20:19) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    if he send them out you will give them belongers and bring them back
  • j j (30/10/2021, 20:51) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Fahie I know how you feel I myself have complained to a few governors in the past about life-threatening incidents that took place on the job yet, nothing was done.
  • Bulls**t (30/10/2021, 21:25) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    all the government need to do is have immigration revoke their status and then they have to leave the country, its pretty simple
  • Papa Smurf (30/10/2021, 21:40) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    And you topped that by giving one Belonger Status! Two wrongs don't.......
  • Law & order (30/10/2021, 22:59) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    I agree with allowing the criminals to serve their time in whatever country that it was committed in. I also support Fahie in his effort to deport criminals who are not belongers rather than to set them free in our streets. I can think of one such murderer who is a free man today in our community but he wasn’t born here or have ancestral roots in the VI.
  • WHAT!!!! (31/10/2021, 12:02) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    Fahie you are speaking out of two sides of your mouth. Did not the HOA discuss bringing a convicted rapeist serving time in the US back here to be in jail plus grant him belongership because he “made a mistake”
    Utter nonsense on behalf of the VIP.
  • You know what (31/10/2021, 16:04) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    I am a person that give everything the benefit of the doubt, a procrastinator but at the end of the day I am simply done. I will admit, I voted for you last election, my mistake and I will admit that. However, I WILL NOT and many more is not going to support you next election. No matter how many expensive PR PERSON, ADVISORS, SPEECH WRITERS ETC… YOU ARE NOT GETTING ANOTHER TERM.
  • FOLLOW FASHION (31/10/2021, 20:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    SO IF THE GOVERNOR JUMP OVER A CLIFF / WOULD YOU BE WISE ENOUGH TO DO THE SAME ? ? ? / PLEASE LET ME KNOW SO I CAN SEE HOW ITS DONE
  • nope (01/11/2021, 16:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What the Premier is stating is not done in isolation! When criminal elements are to be deported it has those in the society who appeal on their behalf - 'put their hand in the fire for them'. All expats who are given deportation orders need to go! Revoke what needs to be revoked. AND we don't want any!
  • Mistake Crime (04/11/2021, 21:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Which crimes are mistakes and which ones are not. Let us stop the BS and do what we know is right.


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