BVI saved hundreds of millions per day with barges — Premier
Barge operators hired last year to host the government’s radar equipment and assist in detecting smuggling activity have saved the government untold millions, Premier Andrew Fahie has claimed.
When asked at a press conference last week to disclose the total cost of the barges’ services to date, Premier Fahie was unable to.
However, he offered to provide the complete and accurate figure at a later time.
“As a matter of fact, it would have cost us in the hundreds of millions per day, had we had COVID-19 and persons [were] allowed to enter into our border. Or if not hundreds of millions; close to that per day,” Fahie stated.
To get an idea of the spending, a previously released post-Cabinet statement indicated the government paid a daily total of $11,600 for two barges between December 2020 and January 2021.
Questioned at the press conference as to whether the BVI could have employed its own platforms instead, Premier Fahie said, “the territory didn’t have any [radar platforms] to that extent.”
Great dividends
The Premier insisted the decision to use the barges was not made by his government, but was instead brought to his government to approve the payment.
“It was not a decision made by government but – in terms of the payment – when they brought it we agreed because of the procedures and all they went through,” he stated.
According to Premier Fahie, the decision to employ the use of the barges as part of the Joint Task Force (JTF) law enforcement activities “paid extremely great dividends”.
He added: “The JTF is a team that I respect and if they made the decision and brought it to government as a solution, I’m more than happy to support my law enforcement team.”
“A lot of things now have been done since then – that was just a filling gap time,” the Premier continued.
The Premier further disclosed that the barges are not being used at this time and the government is working on other solutions.
He added that government is working on a number of permanent fixtures for border security measures but couldn’t comment at this time because of national security reasons.
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Look at our GDP… we can’t lose hundreds of millions per day… Minister of FINANCE!
Which begs the obvious question “How?”
Wait. What? HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS?
Get real. Dear Leader again proves that he cannot do math and does not understand numbers…
OMFG people.
The sheer lunacy of this guy to say that. It didn’t save the government money – IT COST YOU AND I MONEY.
So tired of this l***.
carry on
Hmmm great response but will the COI fall for this?anyway that’s a lot of money per day
??????!!!!!. HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS PER DAY?
Should make him Minister of Finance!
This man is going to l** his way straight to hell.
I’m convinced something is wrong with our Premier. Hundreds of millions? Those badge companies are making a fortune off the Government. We had the uk here to offer us free protection and the premier refused.
If the barges had resulted in the arrest of any drug traffickers or smugglers the Premier would have made sure it was all over the press. In truth it resulted in 6 people being arrested, on 29-Aug-20 2 fishermen strayed into BVI waters and were arrested; and on 19-Nov-20 4 American holidaymakers accidently entered BVI waters in their yacht and were arrested. With hundreds of thousands of dollars wasted on the barges, the BVI are also staring at a law suit from the American sailors. Well done Premier
The Spin Doctor is at it again with pulling figures out of thin air but never has actual costs of anything when asked. The only gaps he was filling were in the pockets of his friends, family and core supporters like every decision he makes.
It’s a sad, sad situation.
Andrew Fahie, I can’t believe you are talking about how much money you save by paying the Barges all that money when the UK Navy was offered to you at no cost to the BVI but you turned it down because you wanted to prove something to the UK I hope the Commission of Inquiry looks into that. You didn’t save the BVI any millions you wasted thousands to put in peoples pockets who didn’t need it.
But yet our Treasury remain open to the spending. A whooping $5M for COI which is only a inquiry. The people out here can’t possibly get the treasury without inside help. So Who the private legal minds protecting? If no wrong was done there is nothing to fear and therefore no need for private representation. All it is is that they know the AG will not cover any wrong doing that she finds. These folks are scrambling and some gone into hiding.
This guy really take the electorate for fools. Never answers a question without smoke and mirrors. We have had enough
Trillions it saved!!! and the Moon IS made of cheese!!
The actual question is why did we have to use barges 3 years after Irma AND when we have a lot of unused catamarans. Ian Penn’s view that it might make the law enforcement sea sick is not a good excuse in an emergency.
I am convinced that he has no interest in going to heaven. How can someone talk about God continuously yet spout untruths like they are going out of style? How? What manner of man is this?
You hit the nail on the head. He starts every meeting with a prayer just to try to impress people. Behind everyone’s back he is only looking out for himself.
With all this money ? In Brown paper bag the Government/MF paying out Any deductions being taking out for Taxes etc.? Can someone let Tax payers know please..
A. Fahie is delusional
BRILLIANT ~ BUT CAN YOUR HONORABLE PREMIER BREAK IT DOWN FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE NOT SO INTELLIGENT LIKE YOU CAN OVERSTAND HOW YOUR MAGIC WORKS / THANK YOU IN ADVANCE
You knew what you were getting when he became Premier.
The most drugs ever in the BVI history came in while those barges were being paid to keep an eye on things
Perhaps turning down the uk protection and the subsequent delivery of drugs are not unconnected.
On one hand he claims millions were saved, then on another brags that over 300 million was spent to keep the BVI safe from Covid-19.
I glad for all of you all, who drain the swamp.
Andrew really believe that all of us stupid and I take great offense to that. A leader expect to come talk this nonsense to grown, sensible folks? Andrew please get from in front of me. You sickening now man.
Can’t make this $hit up! Cat is off in the ‘deep end’ for sure. At least he makes sure his boys out East are happy. Wow!!
I think he meant to say. “ saved the drug dealers hundreds of millions “.
For heaven sake, tell us the truth for once.
No it didn’t. We were not going to be overrun with people and with the barges there boats were still landing and taking people back and forth from STT. The go fasts were still running for most of lockdown. This is a crock of poop.
IF you had invested in any of the systems that were put to you in May-August 2020, that money would have gone into infrastructure benefiting the BVI not just paying the loan on the boats for the Chalwells.
Stop bulls**tting to try and make yourself look less c***ked.
BS Trump talk
“The Premier insisted the decision to use the barges was not made by his government, but was instead brought to his government to approve the payment.”
So my question is who appointed the joint task force?
Does it fall under government or is it a private entity?
Who pays their salary?
I can not look at any of these reports any longer. All these lies just get my pressure up and me in an early grave. What Hundreds of Millions!!!!! How come the COI has not shut this government down yet and taken over. No respect for tax-payers hard earned money just using it like it is their own.
Amen!!
SO U HIDING D TRUTH NOW
The BVI Budget for the last 5yrs has been around 300 mil – 400 mil per YEAR but somehow during covid we saved hundreds of millions by using 2 barges from East End to park off Norman Island? Lmao!!
YOU ALL WERE TOLD THAT GUY IS SLICK ALL THE SMOKE SCREEN ABOUT NOT WANTING THE BRITISH WAR SHIP TO CONTROL THE BORDER SHOULD OF BEE AN EYE OPENER ( USING RACISM BIS ONE OF THEIR TACTICS OR SHENANIGANS / DOES CSC RING A BELL ?
I COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND THAT EITHER, WHY WOULD A COUNTRY TURN DOWN A STATE OF THE ART TECH SHIP TO PROTECT ITS BORDERS. I WOULD HAVE FELT A SENSE OF SECURITY WITH THE MILITARY SHIP PATROLLING THE BORDER. WHO PUT A BARGE TO PATROL ITS BORDERS? SORRY FOLKS, THIS PREMIER IS SO NOT FIT TO RUN A COUNTRY. NOW I UNDERSTAND WHAT BUSHMAN POLITICS MEANS. ANOTHER FOUR YEARS OF THIS? I DONOT THINK SO. THIS PREMIER IS GOING TO LEAVE OFFICE IN SHAME JUST LIKE THE EX US PRESIDENT AS WELL AS HIS CABINET.
and this guy if the minister for finance, God help us all
A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.
Fahie and all who approved this agreement need to pay the treasury back…Especially turning free and more capable service down…This smells, this is curruption ABC….These people cant do what they want with tax payers money and get away like they did nothing wrong…They need to pay and pay the treasury back..
Did he really say HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS PER DAY? Does he think we’re all fools? Is he a fool? How is this man our MINISTER OF FINANCE? Our GDP is only about 300 mill per year. Every day I wake up and read the news thinking things can’t get any worse and somehow they do. It’s really sad people aren’t demonstrating yet. Years of colonialism have really turned us into obedient little subjects for local and expat politicians to abuse.
1/ Was there a bidding process and if so what were the other bids?……2/ Why were there so many illegal activities going on during the execution of Survellance….3/ Is there any references or history of work to prove that this Barge is capable of this task, with capable and reliable staff and equipment…
Fahie and all who approved this agreement need to pay the treasury back…Especially turning free and more capable service down…This smells, this is curruption ABC….These people cant do what they want with tax payers money and get away like they did nothing wrong…They need to pay and pay the treasury back..
Who this man think he’s talking Froth g
To?
IF ONE TURN DOWN A PATROL SHIP THAT IS HIGHLY EQUIPT TO PATROL A BORDER FOR A FLOATING ELEPHANT ON THE WATER, SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG AND QUESTIONABLE. JUST DON’T MAKE ANY TYPE OF SENSE. WHY USE TAX PAYERS FUNDS TO LINE THE POCKETS OF A G****y BARGE OWNER. HOPE THE COI SEND A STRONG MESSAGE AND PUNISH EVERYONE THAT IS INVOLVED.THE WORLD IS EVOLVING AND THE BVI IS STILL STUCK IN THE DONKEY CART DAYS.
Nothing but PLANET OF THE APES BEHAVIOR IN THE COUNTRY/ BUSHMAN RULES.
The Commission of Inquiry should be looking into this. For the government to turn down the Navy that is trained to protect borders and pay two barges $11,600.00 per day for a month when the Navy was offered at no cost to the BVI. THIS IS CORRUPTION in the first degree. This must be looked into.
So now Andrew is saying JTF is not Govt, because as he said they brought the proposal to Govt. This man really take us for asses.
This is why public servants should do their jobs within policies, procedures and the law to the best of their abilities in support of good governance and the people of the land. Not to worry the general public knows what happened