Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) says the territory will be moving forward aggressively with constitutional review, seeking more empowerment to be able to handle its own affairs. Photo: HoA/File

The Premier’s concerns come as the Cannabis Licensing Act 2020, passed since June 2020, in the Virgin Islands will only be assented pending further collaborations with the United Kingdom outside of the consideration of Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert. Photo: VINO/File

The Premier made the statements during the Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) held at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom, Tortola, on Monday, December 14, 2020. 

VI fighting with destiny – Premier Fahie

“Mr Speaker, we are not in a fight in this territory with each other, contrary to what some think… we are not in a fight with the Opposition, we are not in a fight with our selves. We are in a fight with destiny, with those who want to hold up our destiny, especially economically.”

He said in the current relationship with the UK, there are always hidden details that have opportunities yet structured in a way to cripple economies under the auspices of helping.

“Because we have found new revenue sources in many areas but I noticed that once you’re not talking about revenue in economics, those bills can always pass through very quickly,” he said. 

He said; however, whenever opportunities are pursued that empower people economically, there are always challenges, even when those bills have assented to.

Aggressive pursuit of constitutional review

The Premier’s concerns come as the Cannabis Licensing Act 2020, passed since June 2020, in the Virgin Islands House of Assembly (HoA) will only be assented pending further collaborations with the United Kingdom, outside of the consideration of Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert.

“This is why, Mr Speaker, we will be moving forward with this budget to proceed very very quickly and aggressively with the constitutional review, not because we want more power,” he said. 

Hon Fahie continued, “We want to make sure that we secure the authority that we do have and make sure that they are perimeters put in place so that any government that decides to go rogue will have to answer to them,” he said.