Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Premier wary about being grilled on incomplete & unpublished AG report

- Hon Fahie said AG report on 2008 Neighbourhood Partnership Project was never made public until CoI & could still be incomplete
Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has raised serious concerns about the UK-Sponsored Commission of Inquiry and its use of allegedly unpublished Auditor General report that may not have followed due process and was never made public 'to the best of his knowledge'. Photo: CoI/Youtube
During the hearing of Day 56 of the CoI streamed live on October 11, 2021, Premier’s Fahie stage a verbal rebuttal against CoI pressure to get him to answer questions on a Sonia M. Webster report on the Virgin Islands Neighbourhood Partnership Project, that was never officially released according to the Premier. Photo: VINO/File
During the hearing of Day 56 of the CoI streamed live on October 11, 2021, Premier’s Fahie stage a verbal rebuttal against CoI pressure to get him to answer questions on a Sonia M. Webster report on the Virgin Islands Neighbourhood Partnership Project, that was never officially released according to the Premier. Photo: VINO/File
WICKHAM'S CAY II, Tortola, VI– Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has raised serious concerns about the United Kingdom-sponsored Commission of Inquiry (CoI) and its use of an alleged unpublished Auditor General's report that may not have followed due process and was never made public, at least 'to the best of his knowledge'.

During the hearing of Day 46 of the CoI streamed live on October 11, 2021, Premier Fahie staged a verbal rebuttal against the CoI pressuring him to answer questions on a report by Auditor General (AG) Sonia M. Webster on the Virgin Islands Neighbourhood Partnership Project, a report that was never officially released, according to the Premier.

Premier raised concerns about the report 

The Premier expressed the concern that the report may be incomplete, given it had no supporting evidence and may not have followed due process since it was never made public and, ahead of the CoI, was only made preview to him through several media leaks.

“I am going to be asked as your base, your foundation for this today, of an Auditor General’s report that was never made public since 2008,” Premier Fahie said.

CoI Commissioner Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom; however, stated that the CoI has made the report public; however, Premier Fahie did not bite the bait.

The Premier indicated that as is customary with an AG report, the subject document was lacking draft notes, names of persons interviewed, and a response from the Ministry.

Draft or final report? Commissioner could not say 

Hon Fahie highlighted that there was uncertainty on whether the report was finalised or whether it was still in its draft stage.

“Was a final report done? Or was the draft report still left as a draft and never came forward as a final report? So I need to know If I’m answering to a draft report."

The Premier said if it was a final report, then it should be accompanied by a response from the Ministry in the final report to know that due process would have been allowed.

“This report, as far as all records in government that I can have access to, I cannot recall it ever being public,” he said.

Hon Fahie revealed that he has never seen the report before the arrival of the CoI and said that persons accused in the report may not have received an opportunity to defend themselves. 

Uncertainty looms over the AG's report - Hon Fahie 

Premier Fahie said the uncertainty of the report being used as a foundation for the CoI questioning at that particular hearing also puts witnesses in a very peculiar position when giving evidence.

Despite his concerns, the commission said he still considered the AG's report as evidence and asked the premier to do his best to answer the questions regarding the report.

Premier Fahie said he found it difficult to understand why he is being asked to comment on a report that he cannot be told whether it is complete or still in the draft stage.

17 Responses to “Premier wary about being grilled on incomplete & unpublished AG report ”

  • Man pleaseeeee (12/10/2021, 15:56) Like (49) Dislike (2) Reply
    Take the blows like a true man would. What are you wary about if you have nothing to hide or worry about. COI, let’s get it on. It’s about time the people of this Country know the real deal.
  • Struppes (12/10/2021, 17:46) Like (28) Dislike (2) Reply
    and we tired ah he
  • kurruption (12/10/2021, 17:49) Like (23) Dislike (1) Reply
    if dem had co-orperate we wont be in this
    • Normal Thinking Person (12/10/2021, 19:02) Like (4) Dislike (18) Reply
      So you saying if the current Govt had take the 300million loan that the uk was backing and put us in debt. we would have been better off Today..?????
      In the land of the Blind the one eye man is King
  • @man please (12/10/2021, 18:04) Like (8) Dislike (19) Reply
    Man please I can tell that you are not an indigenous Bvilander as you are taking this COI for a joke so when the UK want to impose direct rule here you will packed your bags and go back to where you came from. Just shut your stupid mouth up.
    • Man Pleaseeeee again (12/10/2021, 18:43) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
      They always say, when you assume you always end up eating cat S**t. Born July 5th, 1976 at Peebles Hospital 7:44 A.M, 7lbs 16ounces. You are a true simple, narrow minded, one way thinking ignorant JA and there is a whole lot of you here. Yasssss, welcome COI. So glad you are here.
      • @man please (12/10/2021, 21:57) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
        Wait you actually went and took out your birth certificate to write that?? Man please.... stop lying. That’s sad either way. Get a life bro
      • lol (13/10/2021, 15:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Lol at 7lbs 16 ounces. Last time I check that was 8lbs flat. You guys funny. You’re still correct tho.
    • BuzzBvi (12/10/2021, 22:05) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      No. What it is, is this. As an indiginous (ha ha) VIslander you are in a territory of the UK. You were before; you are now. Once you were proud of that. Now you are not, or maybe you are. No matter what you think. You are and you remain a citizen in a territory of the UK. Ways to change this are.. Go somewhere else and behave and in about 5 years you will be a citizen there. (Apparently it is 20 years plus in the VI.) OR go for independence if you have enough like minded folk to think that an independent VI run by a few rich and influential families with no morals is going to go well for you. It will not go well for the majority. Good luck
  • @ @ man PLEASE (12/10/2021, 19:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    you have a problem with the
  • Commission (12/10/2021, 19:22) Like (23) Dislike (1) Reply
    we are here to inquiry.
    tell us what you hiding,Andrew.
  • Observer (12/10/2021, 21:13) Like (24) Dislike (1) Reply
    But who was it that was calling for the Commission of Inquiry all the time NDP was in power? Now we got the COI we bawling. Deal with it! In life we must be careful what we ask for.
  • @ @ BOY PLEASE (13/10/2021, 08:18) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    ITS OBVIOUS YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRUTH ,YOUR BUDDY FED SH*T TO JASPERT AND WHEN HE BACKFIRED IT TO HIM , HE SUDDENLY DISCOVERED (RACISM - COLONIALISM ETC / HELLO YOUR DISGUISE WAS EXPOSED TO OUR PEOPLE
  • Typical (13/10/2021, 12:25) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Report in the DRAFT stage since 2008 !!
  • stop (13/10/2021, 15:03) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Fahie, If can remember you were the one that called for the Audit on the wall, the plane, and the Tortola Pier Park by the same Auditor General.
  • careful (13/10/2021, 15:54) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Be careful what you ask for


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.