Kevin S. Fahie made history as the first Virgin Islander to be featured at the Progressism Summit, which took place on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at the Intercontinental Hotel Resort and Spa in Dominica. Photo: VINO

The Interim Chairman of the BVI Airport Authority Board (BVIPA), Kevin S. Fahie, is optimistic that networking events like Progressism, held annually in Dominica, can be successfully organised in the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO

Progressism is Dominica's premier New Year’s event which is a networking event which brings together professionals. Photo: VINO

Fahie made history as the first Virgin Islander to be featured at the Progressism Summit, which took place on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at the Intercontinental Hotel Resort and Spa in Dominica. 

In an interview with our international correspondent in Dominica, Fahie expressed his desire to gain inspiration from others while also inspiring them at the event. 

"I wanted to come here and learn from others and their experiences, and I feel I absolutely achieved that," he stated.

Progressism event in VI

In his conversation with the organiser, Liza Fabien, he said, "To be honest, I would love to see this event happen in the Virgin Islands. I told her that maybe one day we will be able to bring it here."

Fahie emphasised the message of encouragement for everyone, saying, "No matter the path you may be on in life, you can be successful. Not everyone has to be an educated scholar to achieve their dreams."

Talented professionals 

He highlighted the talent present in the Virgin Islands, noting, "There are many professionals in various fields, especially trade. Some may not excel academically, but that shouldn’t hinder them from pursuing their passions and achieving success through networking."

He underscored the importance of collaboration among young professionals in the Virgin Islands, stating, "Sometimes we tend to keep to ourselves. If we look at those who came before us and succeeded, we see that they thrived because they networked and formed organisations to support one another's growth."

No perfect path

Fahie’s message is straightforward: "There is no perfect path, and everyone will experience failures. What I strive to do in the Virgin Islands is mentor and encourage anyone who reaches out to me."

"I appreciate when people connect with me and ask, 'Hey Kevin, can you give me some advice on this?' I enjoy hearing about their journeys and helping them navigate through their challenges. As I mentioned in my speech, as Black people, we often are afraid to fail. It seems like there’s something instilled in us that makes us afraid to fail."

Fahie’s call to action was clear- to embrace networking, seek mentorship, and understand that there is no single route to success.