‘We have nothing against anyone from Caribbean islands’- Premier Fahie
"The economy has been shut down for almost a month now. In this first phase of the reopening of our economy, only businesses that will directly contribute to national flow of income to the internal economy has been allowed to reopen first," Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) told Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) in an invited comment on April 29, 2020.
Criticisms
Some of the sentiments since expressed on social media in response to the decision are that Government is insensitive to the needs of persons from the Caribbean islands, knowing they are the majority of persons who use money transfer services to support their families back home, and that the move is to force those persons to spend their monies intended to be sent out of the country to help boost the local economy.
Premier Fahie; however, has since responded to the critics, letting them know that “it’s a democratic country” and everyone has a right to speak as they see fit; however, it was a decision made on sound economic standing.
“And the sound economic stance is that we are going to do a soft opening and allow certain businesses to open, continue to reassess every couple days or into the week and then make some more decisions to allow for more businesses to reopen, which we have done and we will continue to do,” Premier Fahie stated in an interview with JTV Channel 55 on May 1, 2020.
No hate for expats from Caribbean islands
Hon Fahie added that the Government has a responsibility to the people of the Virgin Islands (VI) and a responsibility to make sure the economy starts to flourish.
“We have nothing against anyone from the Caribbean countries…and that is ludicrous,” Premier Fahie said in response to critics who have been stating that the decision to keep money transfer services closed was out of hate for expatriates from the other Caribbean islands.
“Those who are using that now were on the other side of the argument when we were regularising persons from the Caribbean islands who were here for 20, 25, 30, 35 years. They were against it. Now they [are] on this side saying let's open it because you are trying to be negative to those persons from those areas and somehow they want to attach that once you sending money from Western Union you are poor.
“Those are things that have no statistical basis. They sound good.”
Western Union & Moneygram will reopen
According to Premier Fahie: “Western Union will open, Moneygram and the money services all of them will open but we have to make sure that we kick-start the economy again by making sure there is an internal flow, a rebooting of the economy because it is a new normal.”
Asked if there is any truth to the suggestions by persons that he is keeping the money transfer services closed so people who were looking to send out money will be forced to spend it in the VI, Premier Fahie it was just a decision based on an economic concept.
“We want businesses open first that will allow the circulation of money in the Territory. It has nothing to do with money services. It is an economic concept and nobody reopens their economy where the first thing they are doing is making sure that all the areas that export monies are the first thing that happens.”
Hon Fahie emphasised that he respects everyone’s views and that money transfer will reopen eventually, “but they also have to respect that we have a country to run in the best interest of the people of the BVI.”
He explained that there are a lot of social measures being put in place and it was not practical for those to be done if every place opens one time as it ran the risk of undoing all the hard work that was done to contain the virus that causes COVID-19.
“So there is not a hatred bone in my body for anyone but at the same time we leading a country where we have to do things that are in the best interest of the country. Some of them are not going to be popular. What is popular is not always right and what is right is not always popular,” Premier Fahie said.
56 Responses to “‘We have nothing against anyone from Caribbean islands’- Premier Fahie”
Honorable premier you don’t have to explain nothing to them, do what you have to do. Period other countries could make rules for their people so why not you. We with you!!
Strupes them need to have a seat fahie do your thing If they was in the US they couldn’t of said nothing.
So keep taxing dem until they gone and we have no more need for western union and the gram
Thumps up
Shut your trap people was glad to come eat up the US dollars no one beg a soul. Man come say Mason when all he was a labourer. When the border open all who not working should jump on the plane there is no place like home.
Free up the money agencies alot of ppl have received a check since lockdown and his running low on cash
We want the taxes to run the Country. That is good governornance.
Actions speaks louder than words,and the actions of the bvi people to welcome other Caribbean people with open arms,is testimony to that statement for over 60 years in bvi history.
And in recent times,the honourable Premier,introduced a bill to the HoA,as an amendment to the immigration and passport ordinance to fast track,belonger status for our former brothers and sisters,who departed british colonization, and british rule, because of their countries' of birth becoming independent,in sovereignty.
The British Nationality Act,of 1981,informed all the Caribbean people of the following.
["Any person born within the United Kingdom and any of the United Kingdom and Colonies,between 1st January,1949 and 31st December,1982 [under british colonial rule] were classified as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (CUKC) and could hold a passport at the time, until that end"]
Persons born in most of the Caribbean countries,before 1949,were called "British Subjects".
So many Caribbean people residing in the BVI were british subjects,long before some of us were born.
Andrew Fahie,being a teacher by profession,would know all about british colonization of the west indies.
We the people of the virgin islands,and the people of the Caribbean,must come together,as [former citizens] and unite on that basis with the people,including our UK citizens residing in the BVI.
We should not poison the minds of our young people with the mentality of ethnic racism,because there is no racism in the bvi. We love our UK-appointed Governor,and we show love to white tourists.
All this talk about bvi people don't like island people is a BIG LIE and a BIG FAKE.
Because actions speaks louder than words.
Four more years for Andrew fahie-Forward ever backwards NEVER.
The BVI is a british overseas terriory, of the UK, FORMERLY called, A BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORY, with a uk appointed governor,as the queen's representative in the islands.Her Majesty,the Queen,is the MONARCHY.
For many years expat come to the bvi, and they live and worked there,pay their rent and taxes etc like any other tolian.some expats save their money in bvi others send their money home,nothing wrong with that.
Expats pay social security,and like all other citizens,if qualified can get an age pension or job-injury pension from bvi SSB.and marternity money,and job-related injury money.
Expats can become permanent residents under section 18 of the Immigration and passport ordinance and be exempted from work permits,under the labour laws.
Expats can bring their underage children and spouses to reside in the bvi with them,and expat children can attend school in the bvi,as a fundamental right to free primary eduction under the bvi constitution.
Expats can become belongers by virtue of section 16 of the Immigration law,enacted under section 2 (2) of the bvi constitution order, 2007, and can register to vote etc, in bvi elections.
Expats who become citizens of the bvi before may 2001,auto matically became uk citizens in 2002,and there onwards, can now become UK citizens by virtue of an act of the UK parliament in 2002, called the british overseas territories,act,2002, which supersedes the British Nationality act,of 1981,
And expats who become belongers after 2002,can apply to the secretary of state uk, through the Governor, via passport office bvi, to become full UK citizens and to get a uk passport,with rights of abode in uk.
There is not enough space,to say what good the bvi has done for expats,during its bvi history.
The BVI does not do any harm to any expat in the BVI. The only harm done to expats is from expat themselves.
When an expast commit crimes in the bvi,the law section 40 of the immigration ordinance, say to DEEEPORT DEM AAassss from the bvi and send dem back as a criminal,according to bvi law.
But all expats who are in the bvi displaying good behaviour and respecting the laws of the bvi, are treated with love and appreciation for being among us in the bvi.
TEK-DAT and smoke in the faces of all expats in the bvi talking foolishness about the bvi people hate expats?
THAT'S A SMALL PIECE OF BVI HISTORY BEFORE 1990 AND AFTER 1990.
And only police should know your rights and abuse your rights, and only the DPP and Magistrates or Judges should administer justice? And only them should know how to abuse justice?
What about the classes of persons in society, we call the ["Ordinary man"] who live in society and are not in a financial position to pay lawyers to lie for them, and to bribe public officials to pull string for them, while others suffer and those with money beat the system?
Legal Team is not a lawyer but a ["freedom fighter for justice"] like Nelson Mandella.
Legal Team is not supporting expatriates and legal team is not supporting citizens/belongers:
Legal Team supports the facts "applied" to the law.
When legal team applied the facts surrounding EXPATS in the bvi, to the bvi Immigration laws and the bvi Constitution, legal team conclude, there is no Immigration statutory law in effect right now in the BVI,made by parliament under section 71 of the BVI Constitution, which is discriminatory to cause racial-hatred to EXPATS.
The amendment to the Immigration Ordinance [fast track law] was to favour expats.To give expats the same rights as other belongers.
That is evidence to show,that the government and the good people of the bvi LOVE human beings like expats in the bvi and appreciate the contribution of expats in the bvi.
People in the UK are reading these bloggs and forming their opinions and misjudgement of the bvi people.
Legal team will blogg and blogg based on the laws to dispute these LIES misinformation about ethnic hatred in BVI.
This is 2020,it's time to stop these lies and deception about my bvi people. I can take an oath,and make a sworn affidavit in a court of law,to say [" My BVI people, Do NOT hate expatriates in the BVI"]
This case is closed,let's go and blogg on the next topic; Legal Team is an unemplyed legal advisor,without borders
["LOL"].
The sentiments expressed by some individuals are done with an intention to divide the population and the perpetrators are doing so for political gains. I would not call any names but those are cheap political shots. I want to make it abundantly clear that despite all the detractors I will vote for the VIP in any future election.
I do have need to send money for my children and relatives abroad, however, I will wait patiently until the money transfer services are open to do so. I was very glad when the government of the BVI granted me the opportunity to come to the territory and work which enables me to earn a livelihood. For that I would like to express my profound gratitude to BVI. As long as I continue to live in the territory, I will dedicate my energies towards the development of this territory. For those who disagree with me I want to express my sympathy.
Expats: The man is sent by God, he's such a wonderful man, We love him to death
Premier: We will charge 7% for MoneyGram and Western Union payments
Expats: The Premier is the devil, he hates expats, uno $uck yu m0mm@
You will learn.
Nothing beats them when it comes to ingratude and milkingyour cow dry. Cursed . They dont care about the Vi you or its people. They care only about what tgey can take and as close to free as possible. You hire them and pay them goid money. They then could feed their own but they telling theycome here and working for free. Yet nstill they worry about moneygram. You have to start the tax implementation on more things,like their groceries and the pampers.
Don't send home monies , send yourselves home instead .
Cheers.
I have my kids here they dad sent money monthly to help us financial
I now have friends who want to send money to me !
Is something legal team always know in true life. someone might be doing something to you that hurt you but because of the person love for you and your love for the person, you stay in love:
Go to immigration office, daily, and see how expatriates walk in there and get good friendly service from Mr.Penn and his staff. all this nonsense about bvi people don't like island people and island people don't like bvi,is just a bunch of false blogging gimmick.
In every country in the world,there are mix nationality and mix religion,and people fight and kill over that.We will never reach that stage of hate-crime in the BVI,because the bvi people have a culture of love for expats.
We must face the reality,in the bvi,expatriates are always welcome to the bvi,everyday.
We all get along well,on a daily basis,there is no fight between expats and bvislanders.
Expats married to citizens and citizens marry to expats, what more intimate love can there be than the union of marriage, and intimate sexual relationships between people of different nationality?
AH YOU TOO DAM HYPOCRITE [ marrying each other,sexing,making children together, is hate for each other?
AH YOU TOO DAM HYPOCRIT!!
It is normal for mankind to say, ah barn here and ah from here etc, or every now and again call someone islandman etc, but its not like as though there is hatred. There is no hatred between citizens and expats.
May be a little discrimination,here and there from a fall out,but the love between expats and tolians is plain to see.
One love in BVI.
With that said, it would be good to address the discrimination that goes on within this country. If I did not know better I would think that BVIlanders defecate diamonds and non citizens are ants. Expats are always being stepped on and discriminated against. Are the people in authority not seeing or hearing? Why is this not being addressed?
It is good to know that some of us care for expats and are not filled with this hate but the ignorant ones that do are really hurting the countries name. We need those ants more than we know.