Premier left ‘shocked’ over leaked confidential letter to UK Foreign Minister
Honourable Fahie, speaking to Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) today, Tuesday, September 29, 2020, told our news centre that the letter carried in its entirety by a local media house, was confidential correspondence with the UK and that he had “no clue” how such a high-profile letter could have leaked.
Gov Jaspert trying to bulldoze elected Government – Premier Fahie
In the letter seen by VINO and confirmed by the Premier, Hon Fahie told Sugg on September 25, 2020, that he was dissatisfied and outraged with the hijacking of the Territory’s sea border by Governor Jaspert.
The Premier said the Governor’s decision was made based on a “grossly inaccurate and exaggerated misrepresentation” of the capabilities of the VI’s resources to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Governor Jaspert’s intention to deliberately bulldoze the elected Government is pellucidly clear as he has issued a public statement at 6 pm local time today, 25 September 2020,” he noted.
The Premier said the Governor's statement essentially informed the public that, “the UK Government would be providing various things which my Government and I have not asked for and which we advised him of our objection to in the format in which he is proceeding to act.”
The Governor in his missive to the public had announced, amongst other plans; that against the orders of the Premier, a UK Military Navy Ship, ‘HMS Medway’, would return to the Territory to provide border security support.
The Governor’s unilateral decision came even as the Fahie Administration had strengthened its collaborations with the US Virgin Islands (USVI) on border security and utilised local vessels to patrol VI’s waters through a joint task force comprising officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), the Immigration Department and Her Majesty’s Customs, a move that has been very effective in keeping the borders secured.
Gov Jaspert’s statements ‘injurious’ to Gov’t/VI public relationship
Hon Fahie said through the actions of the Governor, the relationship between the administration and the public, now risk some amount of injury.
“He [Governor Jaspert] has further, and yet again, made statements aimed at injuring the relationship between the people of the Virgin Islands and their democratically elected Government, and conducted himself in a manner that jeopardises the relationship between the BVI Government and the UK Government."
Premier Fahie continued, “Your Governor’s imperialistic, rough-shod behaviour in this matter is offensive and insulting to my Government and I, as well as to the aspirations of the people of the Virgin Islands who are struggling to realise the centuries-old dream of their enslaved ancestors to one day be fully free of the grip of the British, as encapsulated in Article 73 of the United Nations Charter.”
UK Military has a role to play in border security – Premier Fahie
The Premier said that the Governor’s decisions were made even though he penned Mr Jaspert on three occasions; September 15, 23 and 24 September 2020, informing him that the VI wants to develop the capacity to manage its own border security affairs with limited UK military assistance.
“I have been very clear that from a cultural perspective, the people of the Virgin Islands see a role for the UK Military in assisting certain aspects of our border protection strategy, but because of the desire to develop our domestic capabilities the invitation for UK Military assistance is limited to certain functions,” Premier Fahie said.
VINO will bring more details on the leaked letter to the UK.
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66 Responses to “Premier left ‘shocked’ over leaked confidential letter to UK Foreign Minister ”
Peter really talking for Paul on this one
In the matter of consultation, Governor is to Government as the Government is to the community.
Clearly by the three dates in the leaked letter, the Governor DID consult with the Premier.
We the public had NO such courtesy extended to us. Do not presume that because you are elected officials, suddenly you know the minds of 30,000. Clearly the Governor is simply taking a page out of the Government's book and 'consulting' with the Premier et al as they have long been 'consulting' with us, i.e., hearing points made and using personal discretion.
What exactly is the problem with the Governor following the very example Government has set? Do so don't like so?
Let the borders be fully secure at last. Borders can never be to secure. What is really the problem?
“We the people” have more sense to know we need advanced border patrol not wasting money on barges.
What kind of dictatorship is this!
The governor is responsible for the national security but the premier want to tell him that he cant do his job?
Well the ship is here, deal with it
Mr Fahie do not cry every thing is going to work out these actions are to make you surrender but you have to be careful the defeated other side can be doing some of this damage just to see you fall. Talk to your c*****d Pen and Turnbull keep your eyes open and your ears lifted ENGLAND HAVE A START Did you not sent or give the goernor a copy of the letter so how it get back to hin and here Andrew be carefull we love you and will stand with you once the suitation is right.The office in england is not going to tell you who lealed it the leaks will go on if you donot tale the bull by the horn.Keep your distance Political wise from CSC he is sheer troumle and england will use him as a tail gate, so be carefull Andrew.
Premier do to please rigth not people for in the end there there will sell u to the highest bidder
All I am going to say there is always a snake within and between god people....the g******* is a wicked soul
Moreover, Slavery, colonialism, imperialism and the plantation system were extractive institutions that exploited slaves and made slave owners wealthy. The extractive institutions were supported by law. However, despite Slaves being the straw that stirred the drink, they had no say or input on anything. They were at the mercy of the masters. Life for slaves and descendants was always about control. Emancipation officially eliminated force labour but some attitudes and behaviours continues. Colonialism was replaced by neocolonialism.
Several weeks ago, Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert advocating the position of the UK made an in-artful comment on reparation for Slaves descendants in the VI. The comment was despicable, insensitive and tone deaf. Though some may say that the Guv was just advocating the position of the UK, the Guv is a diplomat and the representative of the UK in the VI and should have communicated the message in a less insulting manner. Tens of VI residents have requested that the Guv apologize for his comment. To date, no apology.
Instead, against the desire of the people’s duly elected government he has requested a Navy ship to ply local waters. The ship is not the core issue; the issue is deliberately going against the desire of local government. The UK is representative democracy and has been so since the Representation of the People Acts of 1918 and 1928. In the UK, the will of the duly elected government is respected and if it is so in the UK, it should be so in the VI. For example, UK people voted by a slim majority (approx 52%) to exit the EU but the process rolls on. Further, to me, the decision to weaponize the border protection issue is probably tied to the reparation comment. The Guv was disappointed with the ship’s offer being held in abeyance by the VI government. Well, VI residents were disappointed that the request for unemployment assistance after Covid-19 struck fell on deaf ears.
I'll spank my people privately but publicly I stand with my people against any tyrannical outside / colonial force. It is crazy to hear my people praising the white man who is a symbol of colonial slave master to slave relationship. We celebrate Emancipation every August but we are still enslaved both mentally and constitutionally.
Did the Governor invalidly exercise his powers when he ordered the UK Ship in the BVI shores? This letter has no weight and legal effect. The Governor validly exercise his powers pursuant to section 57 subsection 3 of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007.
1. You going to tell me it’s only this year after 3 years of serving he’s trying to give this long time BVI issue attention. It’s only now our borders need attention? He failed in his role and gave this area no priority while serving.
2. A couple weeks patrolling by the ship is what he throwing in our face? What’s the true effect of this. What happen after the ship gone next month? He going patrol himself in a boat? This is why I can’t take this move seriously. It has no real and long term effect.
You can’t try to kind of do your job now after 3 years and try to make it look like this is some big assistance when you have dropped the ball.
What do they think we the people are? Stupid?