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Premier defends capabilities of VI to review & correct its shortfalls

-Hon Andrew A. Fahie says Gov't will review, analyse & use recommendation to strengthen local laws
Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has defended the capabilities of the territory’s strong Government, Opposition and Democracy to be able to review and fix the local shortfalls of the country without UK intervention. Photo: CoI/Youtube
Premier Andrew A. Fahie defended the VI's ability to manage itself in an emotional, but strong statement while as a witness at the VI Commission of Inquiry hearing day 14 on Friday, June 18, 2021. Photo: CoI/Youtube
Premier Andrew A. Fahie defended the VI's ability to manage itself in an emotional, but strong statement while as a witness at the VI Commission of Inquiry hearing day 14 on Friday, June 18, 2021. Photo: CoI/Youtube
Regarding the late submissions, the Premier said it cannot be used as the measuring stick for the competence and the seriousness that all legislators, whether past or present has for this respect for legislation and the House of Assembly. He told further told CoI Commissioner Sir Gary R. Hickenbottom that he without sin must then cast the first stone. Photo: CoI/Youtube
Regarding the late submissions, the Premier said it cannot be used as the measuring stick for the competence and the seriousness that all legislators, whether past or present has for this respect for legislation and the House of Assembly. He told further told CoI Commissioner Sir Gary R. Hickenbottom that he without sin must then cast the first stone. Photo: CoI/Youtube
WICKHAM’S CAY II, Tortola, VI – Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has defended the capabilities of the territory’s strong Government, Opposition, and democracy to be able to review and fix the local shortfalls of the country without UK intervention.

Premier Fahie made the comments in an emotional, but strong statement while as a witness at the VI Commission of Inquiry hearing day 14 on Friday, June 18, 2021, while addressing breaches of the Register of Interest Act, 2006.

Only leaders know the complexities of the office  

“Let me say this in my current capacity… nobody knows what it’s like to lead a country and people until they are actually in that role. And you cannot know what it is like for example, Prime Minister Boris or President Biden of the UK and USA respectively,” Hon Fahie said.

“They cannot know at the same time how it is to lead in an OT, it’s like comparing apple to oranges. But at the same time too, we know for sure the complexities of the office, and we know for sure that there are so many things competing for importance and while this is one of them. That is why when we analyze this area, we have to improve it.”

Premier Fahie said while legislators have no excuse for the late submissions, the way forward is on how to improve the current system, which was already in the works even amidst the challenges of the past years.

“In this last few years, we cannot divorce ourselves from the challenges that all representatives were facing from Irma and Maria which we haven’t rebound from yet and we cannot divorce from the last 16-17 months of COVID.”

Legislators dedicated time to serval issues - Premier 

Hon Fahie continued, “Now one may say well what does that have to do with it, it has a lot to do with it. Because we spend over 90 meetings in Cabinet and a next set in the house, and there's lot of things competing for the importance of time and competing in important for deadlines.”

Regarding the late submissions, the Premier said it cannot be used as the measuring stick for the competence and the seriousness that all legislators, whether past or present has for this respect for legislation and the House of Assembly.

He told further told CoI Commissioner Sir Gary R. Hickenbottom that he without sin must cast the first stone. 

“I used to teach commissioner, I don't know if you know that but one of the things when you're teaching and you have an item where all the children are getting it wrong, then you can’t say that the children are bad.”

Gov't will strengthen legislation through analyze & review

Using the analogy, the Premier said the Government will analyze the situation, propose new ideas, and use recommendations to strengthen and review legislation for the better.  

“The House has already dedicated itself to improve this system and the Government side is working feverishly to get to Cabinet the legislation that is going to hold us more accountable in a manner that we cannot even miss [it] without the Registrar giving us a prompt now and again."

Hon Fahie reminded the CoI Commissioner Sir Gary R. Hickenbottom, the territory has a strong government and opposition in addition to a strong democracy, that is capable of addressing shortfalls and strengthening laws.

22 Responses to “Premier defends capabilities of VI to review & correct its shortfalls”

  • rnrrb (19/06/2021, 18:53) Like (26) Dislike (17) Reply
    capable maybe, willing to is another question
  • bvi (19/06/2021, 19:51) Like (25) Dislike (38) Reply
    PREMIER WE ARE COUNTING ON YOU TO CARRY US THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT CHALLENGE!!!
  • Youth (19/06/2021, 20:07) Like (30) Dislike (42) Reply
    I have a new found respect for the Premier. He is a true leader.
  • omg (19/06/2021, 20:08) Like (22) Dislike (31) Reply
    I love our PREMIER.
  • facts (19/06/2021, 20:11) Like (16) Dislike (45) Reply
    The UK are hypocrites. They violate more laws as Parliamentarians than any where in the world but come to try to make us think that we cannot do anything right. Look colonialism at work.
  • Hmmmm (19/06/2021, 20:12) Like (19) Dislike (51) Reply
    I really do not understand why the UK are wasting our Representatives time with this because this is foolishness and for sure this isn't corruption.
  • My concerns (19/06/2021, 20:17) Like (16) Dislike (41) Reply
    Why isn't the former Governor and the former Commissioner of Police being questionef in this COI? Obviously this is not about truth and justice but about the UK trying to flex their powers to try to get to our finances because the UK is broke and need as much cash and asset as possible to stay alive. Their wicked plot will fail.
    • We in Trouble.. (19/06/2021, 20:44) Like (26) Dislike (3) Reply
      When we start been fair and respectful and stop been bias and oppressive, then we will rise as a people, The problem we have in this country are the people with power..Power without love, care and compassion is useless to its cause.
  • NDP supporter (19/06/2021, 20:19) Like (26) Dislike (36) Reply
    Fahie now has my support. Marlon and Dr. Smith let me down big time. Fahie has proven to be the leader for a time such as this.
  • question (19/06/2021, 20:27) Like (44) Dislike (3) Reply
    Why the wait on a CoI to disclose these irregularities? True leaders are proactive and take the initiative to self assess and realign action in order to strengthen strategic objectives necessary to reach the goal. This is all too reactive. Had there not been a CoI would we have been hearing this today?
  • East End woman (19/06/2021, 20:31) Like (20) Dislike (35) Reply
    BVI open your eyes. This is the same way these same people enslaved our foreparents. They always try to make us look corrupt and inferior to them so they can use that to try to justify their attempts to take over.
  • UK lady (19/06/2021, 20:34) Like (16) Dislike (31) Reply
    What the UK is doing down there in the OTs is wrong. They cannot get up here in the UK managed properly and down in BVI trying to condemn a government and people that are doing much better than them. The UN needs to step in now.
  • facts (19/06/2021, 22:31) Like (10) Dislike (65) Reply
    So far Willock was the best
  • agreed (20/06/2021, 01:35) Like (8) Dislike (26) Reply
    Are we going to
    Lose what our forefathers fought for?
    This is not about past present n future gov it’s about holding on to what we have and protecting ourselves our kids our generations to come from
    Any foot on neck.
  • strategy (20/06/2021, 06:35) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    The first 2 weeks of CoI interviews have been interesting. The shortfalls in the HOA have been exposed in regard to legislators late on non-existent declarations of their properties and interests. What do your suppose is the next focus of the CoI on corruption will be?
  • Observer (20/06/2021, 12:57) Like (5) Dislike (15) Reply
    The Premier made calls for enquiry into 7.2 million plane money, pier park, the wall and nothing was done. This Coi is so unfair with the moves they are making. The police force from the days Morris and the second man in charge and the Coi is not investigating the force that falls under the governor.
  • Windy (20/06/2021, 15:37) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    As history tells us that BVI government has NEVER felt bad about it's shortfalls. Just quietly sweeps them under the rug and never say another word about them or blame someone else.
  • Dancing in the sunshine (21/06/2021, 10:08) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
    Hurrah, Hurrah For Hon. Premier Andrew Arturo Fahie. In my assessment of government leaders in the Virgin Islands, this is the first time I see a true leader. Many people are critical of the premier for being outspoken. Well all the critics will go to rest. When the life blood of your country is at stake, you need a leader to represent you and that man for the territory is Andrew Fahie.

    He used every ounce of energy in his body to stand up for the territory. He could have left the people to fend for themselves. However, he didn't. I have full confidence in Premier Fahie. Hon. Dr. Smith or Hon. Marlon Penn would have buckled under pressure from the Commissioner. As the Premier stated that "HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE" Even the British Prime Minister has problems to administer England and they are coming to dictate to us what is needed for good governance.
  • stop (21/06/2021, 11:58) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has declared that his administration will not be defined by any areas that are work in progress rather, by its record of making good governance a priority. This guy don’t have any shame, How all of a sudden the Register of Interests is a work in progress some of you have gone as much as 6 years without a declarations and many reminders and still won’t do your duty but now that the COI called you all out it’s a work in progress. Andrew A. Fahie you can only fool the people who are your sheep we can see right through you. On Friday when you were been questioned it sounded to me like you were campaigning with your long drawn answers you didn’t really have the COI interest most of the time, play it back and listen to yourself., Your problem is you think you are smarter than these guys, you are not even close.
  • Mannn (22/06/2021, 06:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    by reading the comments I can see that most bvi lenders don't know how a coi works
  • Dancing in the sunshine (22/06/2021, 13:25) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    @ Stop; When I read your comments it lacks any depth of intellectual defense in the court of law. The content of your statement is more of character assassination. In a debate we will look at the content and explicit nature of the argument. I am not a staunch support of the Hon. Premier, rather, I am in defense of the Virgin Islands from being taken over by the British. Should that happen it will be like in the Turk and Cacaos islands and the outcome will affect everyone. That is why I am in strong defense of the territory from people who don't look like us.

    I wasn't born here, however, I will strongly defend the territory from any foreign occupation. Do you remember the Falkland when England invaded the island and disturb the people's way of life. Before some of us go blogging, I would strongly recommend to read Google. The Foreign Influence In the Caribbean. Then you will see what the so call saviors did to the Caribbean from Jamaica to Guyana.


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