Hon Fahie denied leave from 5th, 6th & future HoA Sittings- Speaker
The Speaker revealed her decision today, July 19, 2022, in an address during the Fifth Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Fourth House of Assembly at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom, Tortola.
Key Points
-Speaker says Absence from three consecutive in any one session sitting without Speaker’s approval means the member must vacate seat according to standing orders
-Previous Leave of Absence was granted given US Court Trial was set to commence in July 2022
-Speaker takes note that Hon Fahie’s US Court trial was moved to January 2023 at his request
-Speaker says it is not in the public interest for 1st District Representative to be absent for 5-6 Months
-Hon Fahie may have to vacate seat unless US bail conditions change & he can return to attend HoA sittings
Speaker George-Massicote in a statement to the house said, “I wish to indicate that the Member for the First District, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie has provided notice of his absence today. In this light, I make a statement in relation to the Honourable Member,” the speaker told Members of the HoA.
She said in recent days, there has been considerable public interest as to whether leave should be or has been granted to Hon Fahie with reference to the ongoing criminal proceedings in the USA.
“I felt that it would have been inappropriate for me to make a public comment on this matter and thought it fitting to address this to the House and clarify the matter, as it concerns the House,” she said.
First leave of absence granted on condition it would be temporary- Speaker
The speaker revealed that on June 23, 2022, Hon Fahie had provided written notice of his absence from the HoA, while identifying the terms of his bail condition in the US as preventing him from attending.
Quoting the Standing Orders, the Speaker said that Members should alert the Speaker as early as possible of their inability to attend.
“In my view, there are two limbs to this obligation. A member should give notice of his/her absence to the Speaker in advance of the meeting and (2.) A member should provide the Speaker with an explanation of those circumstances which prevent his/her attendance,” she added.
The Speaker revealed that in the first instance, she was satisfied that the Member gives notice as required and provided circumstances which prevented his attendance, as such, she granted leave for the Fourth Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Fourth House of Assembly, given the leave appeared to be temporary as Hon Fahie's US court case was set to commence on July 18, 2022.
No time frame for return given in the latest HoA application- Speaker
She said, however, with the case moved to January 2023, a decision for Leave for the Fifth and Sixth Sittings had been subject to scrutiny, given they were new applications and that Hon Fahie also did not provide a time frame for his return.
The Speaker added, “I must note a request made on his behalf to have his trial traversed to January 2023, if the Member was within the territory and facing the same circumstances then leave would be irrelevant.”
The Speaker added that since Hon Fahie is not in the VI, he will be unable to attend Sittings and fulfil his duties as a Member of the House over the next 5-6 months.
“This, in my view, is not in the public’s interest,” she added.
Current & future leave of absence denied
Speaker George-Massicote, in revealing her decision for the two Sittings, detailed: “I am minded not to grant leave to the Honourable for this Sitting, or any subsequent Sittings for such time as the circumstances of his non-attendance remains the same,” she said.
The Speaker said that as per the Standing Orders, members who fail to attend sittings to the HoA without an approved notice of absence would have to vacate their seat after three consecutive absences in any one session.
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18 Responses to “Hon Fahie denied leave from 5th, 6th & future HoA Sittings- Speaker”
Under the BVI Constitution, "you belong to the Virgin Islands". You from HERE
The VI is not your property.
The 1st District is not your property.
Let it go.
anyone know the true answer to that pls ?
Why is he still in his job is the question.
That's all I am waiting for...and it WILL happen
This man still trying to secure a place at the table?? Andrew if the bvi EVER meant anything to you then just go ahead and retire. It’s what any respectable person would have done by now. Even if you are able to beat the charges, which I doubt, respect this territory enough and NOT try to continue to hold a place in politics. We did not trust you before we knew what you were into, what do you think will happen now? Just retire man, your family and this community has been through enough of your sh**.
it will take these islands 50 years to remove the tarnish from our name all because of the greed of one man
Will charges be brought against fahie in this jurisdiction because the conspiracy to commit some these offences began right here in road
It is amazing how politicians in this territory can be associated with questionable matters yet no one go to the jail house but meet you with a joint or some weed 3 years
3 million gone and sewage still up east
money done and the wall not done
where the plane or the money
I am putting a political party together next 4 years
CJU(Cookie Jar United)