BVI News

By-election will be triggered once Fahie vacates his seat — Premier

Disgraced former Premier Andrew Fahie (left) and incumbent Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley.

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has said a by-election would be triggered once First District Representative and former Premier, Andrew Fahie vacates his seat in the House of Assembly (HOA).

During the Fourth Sitting of the Fourth Session of the House of Assembly on Tuesday, Speaker of the House Corine George-Massicote said she would not be granting Fahie leave/permission to be absent from any future sittings of the House until his circumstances in the United States change.

Consequently, the former Premier will be forced to vacate his seat as the constitution indicates any member who misses three consecutive sittings of the HOA without leave from the Speaker will have to be removed as a member.

In a press conference earlier today, Dr Wheatley said he will look at the rules that govern the HOA and the constitution to decide on how best to proceed with the matter.

“There are a number of ways where a member’s seat can be vacated, and it is well publicised that if you miss three sittings without having the permission of the Speaker then the seat would vacate. If the seat vacates, it would trigger a by-election and that’s what the constitution says I believe it is within 60 days of the seat being vacated and a by-election, under our constitution, must happen if the seat is vacated,” Dr Wheatley said.

The Premier noted that the Fourth Sitting of the House on Tuesday was the first sitting the Former Premier missed as he was given leave by the Speaker on the prior sitting. Dr Wheatley stated the sitting on Tuesday – the Fifth Sitting – was the second missed sitting by Fahie and the next sitting – the Sixth Sitting – will be the third consecutive sitting missed by the First District Representative.

In relation to the Speaker’s decision, Dr Wheatley said he did not consult with the Speaker before her announcement, and he made it clear that George-Massicote is completely independent.

“She is independent of myself and any political party and that is a part of the reason we wanted to select her because she does not have any known political affiliations and we wanted to ensure that we had a Speaker that would be straight down the middle. Not even perception of bias,” the Premier said.

“She used her own judgement with no influence from anyone else. She is a lawyer; she has a legal background. She looked at the Standing Orders (the rules that govern the House) and even where the Standing Orders were silent, she looked at the constitution and of course, she came to her judgement,” he added.

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26 Comments

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  1. vi says:

    What an figging dog of Premier you will never be half the man Andrew Fahie was

    Like 8
    Dislike 66
  2. Stop says:

    Stop speaking about Andrew and fix the potholes in East End. Y’all sickening now.

    Like 44
    Dislike 4
  3. Lol says:

    End of the road

    Like 13
  4. Wow says:

    Andrew saga needs to be dealt with too.
    All this is part of the political structure
    Potholes is part of the infrastructure
    Ignorance is ….. Some one has to do the job

  5. Jokes says:

    The people from district 1 will eat Slowande for supper.

    Like 5
    Dislike 8
  6. BVI Public says:

    Dear A Fahie,

    Please resign.

    Sincerely
    BVI Public

    Like 40
    Dislike 5
  7. resident says:

    Not many people could be half the man the head coach is because he is really fat

    Like 22
    Dislike 3
  8. LOL says:

    OK head coach, try to run out the clock on them

    Like 4
    Dislike 9
  9. heckler says:

    Like homeboy cant wait to get rid of Fahie.

    Like 13
    Dislike 4
  10. @VI says:

    The betterment of this Territory will NEVER move forward with the personal negativity of individuals gravitation towards another. AF should have tendered his resignation upon being arrested and detained upon the decision of the Courts especially being on foreign soil. I am not a fan of NW, but We need to focus on developing and moving forward. It’s sad what happened to AF but that is his personal Choice( not the Government, not VIP and surely not the People.

    Like 39
    Dislike 1
  11. @ VI says:

    DO YOU MEAN SAINT ANDREW ? THE GREAT MESSIAH ❓ ? / SO WE IN LESS TROUBLE , WELL HALLELUIAH ?

    Like 1
    Dislike 2
  12. good says:

    when is the by-election?
    this leader has to go he is a sell-out of the BVI.

    Like 7
    Dislike 8
  13. Omg says:

    Fahie need to let go. Stop holding us hostage..This is the personality of the man, Greedy, selfish, controlling, Power hungry…

    Like 32
    Dislike 4
  14. Given up says:

    I wonder if the former has given up. If the evidence against is strong, then I agree. Focus on spending the remaining time with the family, the last christmas and new years. Nothing else should matter now.

    Like 11
    Dislike 1
  15. BuzzBvi says:

    Hahaha. “Resident”. Funny. Laugh out loud funny. Probably not politically correct but… Haha. Thanks.

  16. Jones says:

    Why wont this frigging man just resign and allow the country he claims to love move forwards? Who does he really think he is?

    Like 13
    Dislike 3
  17. Guest says:

    You certainly have that right especially when you subtract the money laundering, the drug trafficking and all the other skullduggery.

  18. @good says:

    you do realise a by-election is only for the 1st district but probably not as its beyond you

  19. Tola says:

    Election hurry up come

  20. Not so fast says:

    Only the Governor may permit a by-election IF there is still a BVI constitution.

    When Delores Christopher died in office in Oct. 2018 Guv Gus did not allow a by election because the general election would be held in several months in early 2019. Similar situation with absent Fahie now with early 2023 general election soon.

  21. head coach says:

    My people like the terminator said I’ll be back to fight for our freedom from the u.k

    Like 2
    Dislike 3
  22. VG says:

    You are so right, there will be no by-election due to the timing.

    Look how they going set up district one to have no representation for the remainder of the term!
    Idiots

    Like 1
    Dislike 2
  23. @HEAD COACH says:

    Boss man, concentrate on fighting for your own freedom before you become somebody prison wife

  24. LOL says:

    How will the ‘UNITY’ govt function during a bi-election campaign? Should be interesting!

  25. Fubar says:

    When the unhonourable Coach first got elected as District 1 Representative, he was a piece of $#!+.

    Nothing has changed, other than the piece of $#!+, is hobbled in the USA.

    Does anyone really believe he has enough HONOUR to resign?

    Not to be repetitive, but he is a piece of $#!+.

    Keep holding on to him, and guess what rubs off on you!

    $#!+

    SMDH

  26. @@HEAD COACH says:

    you just mad because your wife love me more than you

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