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'We got in fight with last governor because he wanted to ignore constitution'- Premier

- said ‘if you don’t fight for what is yours it will be taken from you’
Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), right, has said his government got into a fight with ex-governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert, left, because he wanted to ignore the Virgin Islands constitution. Photo: VINO/File
Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) speaking during the debate on the motion to extend the appointment of Jeanette Scatliffe-Boynes as Acting Director of Social Security Board (SSB) for another six months at the Eleventh Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly held at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff’s Bottom on August 26, 2021. Photo: YouTube
Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) speaking during the debate on the motion to extend the appointment of Jeanette Scatliffe-Boynes as Acting Director of Social Security Board (SSB) for another six months at the Eleventh Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly held at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff’s Bottom on August 26, 2021. Photo: YouTube
Dawn J. Smith, left, is the first local attorney general of the Virgin Islands in some 2 decades. Photo: VINO/File
Dawn J. Smith, left, is the first local attorney general of the Virgin Islands in some 2 decades. Photo: VINO/File
DUFF’S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI- Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has said there are many things in the Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007 that are crystal clear but because it is for the benefit of the VI people it has to be fought for.

He said this was one of the reasons his government go into a fight with the controversial ex-governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert.

Premier Fahie was at the time wrapping up the debate on the motion to extend the appointment of Jeanette Scatliffe-Boynes as Acting Director of Social Security Board (SSB) for another six months at the Eleventh Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly held at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff’s Bottom on August 26, 2021.

VIP Gov’t has fought for locals- Premier

The Premier was highlighting how his Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government has been fighting to get locals to be confirmed to positions and to take up top positions in their own country.

Under the Fahie-Government, the posts of Attorney General, Superintendent of Prisons and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), have been occupied by locals after being held by expatriates, including from the United Kingdom (UK), for many years.

“I know, Mr Speaker, when we started to fight forward in the constitution, and the constitution says clearly that that Attorney General must be selected once there is anyone with at least 10 years’ experience and we know we had gotten in a fight with the last Governor because they wanted to ignore what the Constitution was saying.

“But we fought forward for our people, we didn’t know who was going to get the post, we didn’t have control of that but we stuck to the constitution.”

‘VI shouldn’t have to fight for what is in constitution’

Premier Fahie said credit must be given to former Premier Dr D. Orlando Smith for putting that section about the AG’s post in the constitution when it was being negotiated with the UK.

“But if you don’t fight for what is yours it will be taken from you, because we were given all kind of legal jargon why it can’t happen and why it can’t this, and this is no offence to the last Attorney General [Baba F. Aziz], it’s no offence to anybody, but when you have put things in there [the constitution] for people to progress you have to fight for those things. And you shouldn’t because it is there in the constitution.”

The Premier reiterated that even with certain things in the constitution being crystal clear, they still have to be fought for.

“But I am understanding more and more that once it is dealing with our people, whatever is in the constitution, in the laws, it’s clear if they are in violation of it, but if it is something to benefit them all of a sudden whatever is in the constitution and the laws is fuzzy and hazy, and you have to be battling ahead for something that is so crystal clear that even a little child could read it and understand it,” Premier Fahie said.

‘Last lick?’

Meanwhile, ex-governor Jaspert appeared to have the ‘last lick’ as he called a Commission of Inquiry into governance in the VI in the height of the global coronavirus pandemic and mere days before he exited the territory permanently.

Jaspert had schemed with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to launch the CoI and even collaborated with the UK press to give the announcement legs on the international scene.

The VI government and the local press found out after.

15 Responses to “'We got in fight with last governor because he wanted to ignore constitution'- Premier”

  • just (02/09/2021, 08:18) Like (27) Dislike (2) Reply
    I think Andrew love that picture of himself and Jaspert together.
  • @ BRO (02/09/2021, 08:58) Like (28) Dislike (6) Reply
    YOU GOT INTO A FIGHT WITH YOURSELF , THE GOVERNOR WAS ONLY DOING THE RIGHT THING / HE LISTENED TO ALL YOUR SNITCH ING BUT STAYED AWAY FROM THE COOL AID /SO HOW IS THAT A CHARADE OR PROVOCATION , ON THE OTHER HAND THE 3rd DRANK IT AND ASKED FOR MORE
  • peter t (02/09/2021, 09:02) Like (3) Dislike (8) Reply
    They only building prisons and sharing out vaccine.
  • lol (02/09/2021, 09:31) Like (20) Dislike (2) Reply
    VIP has fought for locals? When was this fight?
  • 1st District (02/09/2021, 10:14) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    And that's the pay for her degree just to be in position to give away our money. Rowatt and Hickombott will do for ALL of you!
  • The TRUTH (02/09/2021, 10:28) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    We got your back.
  • I swear (02/09/2021, 10:52) Like (35) Dislike (6) Reply
    "We got in fight with last Governor....."
    Mr Premier ,your choice of words leaves a lot to be desired.
    For starters, the previous Governor was never in a fight. He is a classy and educated guy with scruples.
    • @i swear (02/09/2021, 11:52) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
      There was almost a fight if I recall the rumor when the gov got heated so idk what you mean he was not classy.

      Everyone’s classy when it’s cool you have to judge them when their under pressure.
    • @i swear (02/09/2021, 15:48) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      Clearly, if you read the article, you would notice, that was how the media house wanted to head the article.
      Classy and educated ... I beg to differ. He was underhanded and manipulative .. just speaking from action that I have seen ...

      Does anyone else care to tell me the actions you have seen by the last Governor?
  • @ PETER T (02/09/2021, 13:42) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    IF YOU CALL ( BALO ) A JAIL WITH WHAT WAS SEEN ON FACEBOOK RECENTLY WITH THOSE YOUNG ENTITLED KILLERS / CRACK HEADS / DRUG DEALERS / THIEVES ETC WITH THEIR FANCY CLOTHES AND JEWELRY WHICH SOME HAVE KILLED FOR , YOU BETTER WAKE UP / OH AM PRETTY SURE REAL PRISONERS WOULD BE HAPPY FOR SUCH A LUXURY
  • stop (02/09/2021, 15:56) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    @ccc , I think you are the biggest rac**t


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