BVI News

Economic Advisory Committee just concerned businesspersons

Premier Andrew Fahie

Premier Andrew Fahie has explained to the Commission of Inquiry (COI) that the persons who made up the Economic Advisory Committee (EAC) that was formed roughly two years ago are just a group of concerned businesspersons.

Premier Fahie told the COI that the ad hoc committee was designed to look at “reviving the economy while balancing lives with livelihoods”.

At the time of the group’s inception, Premier Fahie said: “I want to make a call to the people of the BVI because I told the Ministry of Finance that we have to come up with an ad hoc committee to look at new revenues for the territory. So, anyone who is interested, please call the Premier’s Office.”

Fast-forwarding to his hearing with the COI recently, the Premier said he did not come up with the EAC but merely endorsed and adopted the group.

“I endorsed it because they were already fine without me … They are business people in the community with genuine concerns so I endorsed it and adopted it. But it was not something that I created overall on my own. It was something that they already had decided to put together,” Premier Fahie said.

CSC added independently of Premier

Questioned as to whether government consultant Claude Skelton Cline was also a part of the group, Premier Fahie told the COI that Skelton Cline was indeed a member of the EAC, but was only added to the Committee independently of him.

The Premier also confirmed that no elected ministers sit on the Committee.

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11 Comments

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  1. People says:

    In the UK they put off their COI on the Covid-19 response saying that now is not the time as it will hamper the running of government in helping the UK people during the worse pandemic in 100 years. Yet in the BVI the same UK launched a COI during Covid. This clearly shows that the UK thinks nothing of us. This is why I can never support this predetermined COI staffed with UK persons from the same office that supported the Governor in calling it. There will be no fairness.

    Like 59
    Dislike 46
  2. heckler says:

    Who are they, bewiss pattsea and who?

    Like 21
  3. hmmm says:

    Wow. This is so shameful. For those who do not remember here is the link to the government press release. https://bvi.gov.vg/media-centre/ad-hoc-virgin-islands-economic-advisory-council-established

    Like 31
  4. Rubber Duck says:

    Several prominent successful businessmen volunteered for this group. This were of course ignored while Fahie appointed the usual suspects.

    We have more than a few self made billionaires and millionaires in BVI who would be happy to help.

    But maybe the government couldn’t control them.

  5. lol says:

    Essentially just to keep the concerned businessmen quiet for a while

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