Info on unworkable relationship between Fahie & Jaspert surfaces 5 years later
A very toxic relationship
It was reported that the United Kingdom-appointed Governor at the time, Augustus J. U. Jaspert, was allegedly reluctant to swear in Mr Fahie as the Premier; however, he was advised by London, according to information obtained, to respect the democratic will of the people.
Tensions between the two men and a showdown for power ensued from the very beginning. A year later came COVID-19, further damaging the relationship. The Governor is said to have demanded that a state of emergency be declared, which placed him in charge of the country with full control during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Mr Fahie pushed back, citing the health laws that give the Minister of Health, hence the government, the authority to be in charge during any health crisis or a pandemic. This interpretation of the Health Acts was also backed by the then Attorney General, Baba F. Aziz.
What’s the truth about the military ship we were told Fahie rejected
Then, Mr Jaspert claimed, that during COVID-19, Mr Fahie did not want a military ship to patrol the Virgin Islands (VI) waters to ensure secure borders. However, different information has emerged over these claims by Mr Jaspert.
Research and other sources familiar with the matter stated that the military ship was not coming specifically for that mandate, but to tour the Caribbean waters, while doing its annual tour through the VI and other Overseas Territories waters and would have remained only for a month in the VI, as was the custom over the years.
These same sources claimed that Fahie wanted the UK military ship to stay for as long as the territory was battling COVID-19, as human trafficking was a major issue during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, according to information, the Governor could not guarantee this request as it was not met with favour, and Fahie was told to use the country's resources for permanent surveillance and to get through COVID-19.
Hence, because of the Governor’s rejection of the ship staying long-term, an action task force was formed for COVID-19 called the Joint Task Force (JTF). This involved Immigration, Police and Customs, who chaired the JTF. During the COVID-19 pandemic power struggle between Fahie and Jaspert, most often characterised by heated and violent language during verbal exchanges between both men, it’s alleged that Mr Jaspert promised Mr Fahie that 'he will teach him a lesson'.
Can the governor be arrested? Fahie put it to the test
In the height of tensions and threats to each other, Mr Fahie at one point wrote to the then Commissioner of Police, Mr Michael B. Matthews, asking for the Governor to be arrested and charged, according to the same source familiar with the matter. However, the former Attorney General advised that the Governor could not be touched as he is the Queen's Representative.
Mr Fahie then wrote to the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), but was informed that the response was basically the usual that the governor, "is our man on the ground and we are sticking with him". Under the constitution, the governor has sole and full responsibility for internal and external security, the police, the judiciary, and prosecution.
Was Mr Fahie, as Premier, fighting for the rights of the country at a disadvantage against the governor and the UK? Was the lesson to be taught promised by Jaspert, the sting operations against Mr Fahie? Was the lesson the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) and a witch-hunt that followed, with bogus arrests of residents who spoke out for justice?
Please stay tuned for these questions to be answered in a series of articles.
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21 Responses to “Info on unworkable relationship between Fahie & Jaspert surfaces 5 years later”
A lesson you see where Fahie is now?
Only lesson to be thought was greed. Can't bait a lion with a cabbage . Unfortunately fahie wasn't lion he was goat. Just greedy and hungry
Anyone with morals and integrity would of never ever fall for that scheme. If that was the case most bvi residents would be caught up in trade getting gun down cuz there's no Honor amongst criminals and thief's.