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We must ‘look beyond recent events & towards healing & unity’- Hon Penn

Opposition Leader and Premier hopeful Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8) has said the Virgin Islands must look beyond the embarrassment of the arrest of Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) and focus in unity on good governance. Photo: VINO/File
EAST END, Tortola, VI- Opposition Leader and Premier hopeful Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8) has said the Virgin Islands must look beyond the embarrassment of the arrest of Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) and focus in unity on good governance.

Shockingly, Premier Fahie, was arrested by Drug Enforcement Administration in Miami on April 28, 2022, on charges related to conspiracy to import a controlled substance and money laundering.

According to Hon Penn, in a brief statement this morning, April 29, 2022, “We are all shocked, saddened, and even embarrassed, however it is important that we look beyond recent events and towards healing and unity.

According to Hon Penn, he accepts and acknowledge the gravity of this issue, as well as the other challenges and new headwinds that the Virgin Islands now faces.

I ‘strongly condemn’ breach of trust by public officials- Hon Penn

He also said he “strongly condemn” any violation of the confidence and responsibilities entrusted to public officials.

“So, I ask of you, citizens, residents, and friends let us pray earnestly, and work with great resolve and steadfast focus on improving our good governance structures and the proper functioning of our public institutions.

“As we prepare for whatever lies ahead, let us summon all our strength and join in unity to address our daunting challenges and realise the aspirations of our Territory for future generations. God Bless our Beloved Virgin Islands.”

Shocking arrest & CoI Report

The arrest of Premier Fahie comes as a CoI Report was dangling over the heads of the Virgin Islands and persons already fearing a possible suspension of the VI Constitution and institution of direct rule by the UK, based on possible recommendations by the CoI Commissioner.

The CoI was sponsored by the United Kingdom.

There were already concern and suspicion that Governor Rankin wanted Premier Fahie to travel to the UK to discuss the recommendations of the CoI Report without the public and press first having sight of it.

Now Governor Rankin has said the latest developments will speed up the publication of the CoI Report.

“To avoid unnecessary speculation, I intend to move ahead urgently on publication of the Inquiry Report so the people of the BVI can see its contents and its recommendations in the areas it addresses. I will have a call with Minister Milling and the Acting Premier Honourable Natalio Wheatley tomorrow [today] to discuss further engagement between the UK and BVI on this urgent issue.”

‘VI remains committed to good governance’ - Acting Premier Dr Wheatley

Meanwhile, Deputy Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), who is the Acting Premier, in a statement last night, April 28, 2022, called for “due process” for Premier Fahie.

Dr the Hon Wheatley also urged the public to read the report when it is released with an objective eye and not in the context of the recent arrest, with the aim of strengthening systems of Government under a democratic framework as opposed to draconian measures that would set the VI back.

Dr Wheatley maintained that the VI remains committed to good governance and promised to bring further updates in his capacity as acting Premier.

16 Responses to “We must ‘look beyond recent events & towards healing & unity’- Hon Penn”

  • Very sad for my Country (29/04/2022, 09:53) Like (28) Dislike (0) Reply
    When the FEDS got you, they know everything. The Premier is in some deep S..t. His whole life is turned upside down. All his assets, bank accounts, everything is frozen because the Feds is going to dig into to everything .
  • FEO GOMEZ (29/04/2022, 10:38) Like (12) Dislike (20) Reply
    Well Marlon you will be our next Premier congrats from now. keep your hands clean the Colonizers watching.
  • when (29/04/2022, 10:49) Like (21) Dislike (2) Reply
    The last Governor put the piece of the puzzle in place. They hated him because he scoped it out and they knew that.
  • hmmm (29/04/2022, 10:57) Like (2) Dislike (10) Reply
    Hypocrite... United we stand devided we fall ..... independence. All we got now
  • See (29/04/2022, 10:58) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Human garbage
  • I’m still in shock (29/04/2022, 11:05) Like (25) Dislike (1) Reply
    I just can’t understand how the Premier, the leader of the Country got mixed up in something like this. His whole political career is done. He committed political suicide, if he is allowed back on the Island how is he going to face the people and what is he going to say to the people that give him a chance to run the Country. Which ever way it goes, the Premier put us in some serious problems. WHY MISTER PREMIER, WHYYYY? WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR THIS? I WILL BE GOING TO THE BEACH THIS WEEKEND IN A SPOT OFF TO MYSELF, SIT AND WATCH THE OCEAN AND TRY TO PROCESS THIS. I AM STILL IN SHOCK. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER. THE FEDS HAVE YOU, IT IS BAD.
    • @I'm still in shock (29/04/2022, 13:13) Like (12) Dislike (3) Reply
      Mr Fahie is likely going to spend the rest of his life in a US Federal prison. He is never coming back. Read the affidavit, he was caught red-handed in a sting operation, they had set this up since October 2021. There is no defense, they have it all on video and tape.
    • Great Idea (29/04/2022, 21:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      That is what I will be doing as well. When I need to clear my mind I go to the beach.
    • REAZON (30/04/2022, 11:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I strongly doubt the ability of the BVI to govern itself at this time. There is a very large government building with a million dollar view (why was was a space like this needed in the first place?) still in disrepair post Irma. Offices have been “temporarily scattered” around Road Town, many in high rent locations. It would be interesting to see who the rent from these “temporary” spaces goes to! Number one, there’s too much government for the overall population. Next, the nepotism and cronyism leaves many qualified islanders with the wrong family name and sans the right connections, little chance of a job within the, so to speak, golden gates of these not so sacred offices. Money seems to flow freely and is converted to big homes and expensive boats. The problem is that the pipeline is narrow and feeds only the select. This is not saying that there aren’t a great many hardworking and honest BV islanders. There are just many more who may work hard, but at the wrong thing. The dilemma is sorting out clean hands from dirty ones. The process has just begun, so it may be wise to welcome the objectivity of the UK for a little while.
  • What? (29/04/2022, 12:51) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Healing and Unity? this is why this country will always trip over itself. The highest ranking government official got caught red handed in the drug trade. We need to CLEAN UP FIRST before we try to heal. You cannot heal a wound while the knife is still there.
  • Tigger (29/04/2022, 13:28) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Greed is a true & very real bitch...
    Can you now hear the previous governor saying, yep, I told you so. Or correction: see,
    what the locals were telling me was all true. They were just fraid to say anything.
    But the real truth is that there're others now shaking in them booths wondering how to explain them big house and nice rides on a regular salary. Turn yourselves in - the MAN (USA) coming to get yuh....
  • tola (29/04/2022, 20:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Your turn coming to seat
  • Rubber Duck (29/04/2022, 21:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Understand this, the fall of Fahie is a very good thing for the BVI. He was, has always been and is a crook who robbed his own people. Most of his cronies are crooks too and they too are going down and that too will be a good thing.

    Let his fate be a warning to the next BVI government. We, the people , will not stand for corrupt dictatorships and no such will survive.
  • observant (30/04/2022, 07:46) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    I'm sorry. Honorable minister of the opposition. I know that the premier breached our trust but I wonder how clean is your whistle. I agree we need unity but this from you doesn't come off that genuine.


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