Fahie sounds warning amid talks of disunity in VIP

Chairman of the Opposition Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Andrew Fahie has declared that the organization will not allow any of its members to pull it into their storms, adding that there is no truth to suggestions that the VIP is sitting idly by in disunity.

He reiterated that he is still willing to meet with any member who feels aggrieved.

There have been claims that, since Fahie unseated Julian Fraser for chairmanship of the organization just over five months ago, the two are yet to put their differences aside.

In a commentary published by BVI News Online yesterday, columnist Dickson Igwe indicated that the VIP will lose the next general election if it remains disunited, adding that an increasing number of party supporters are becoming disenchanted.

“The climb to the mountain top called power has gotten a lot steeper for the VIP,” Igwe declared. “Men and women who want to inhabit the corridors of power must learn to forgive and forget. Politics is back room deals and unholy alliances… Politics is not a picnic in the park. It is a knife fight in a slippery, grimy, back alley.”

Hours after Igwe’s blistering commentary was published, Fahie issued a statement in which he declared that the VIP will not be party to anyone who wants to hold on to the bitter past.

“I want to assure the public especially all of our VIP supporters that, as chairman of the Virgin Islands Party, I have done and continue to do all that I can to try to meet with any member of the party who is grieved about anything with the VIP. The executive arm of the party has and continues to do the same.”

“But if those persons who feel grieved do not want to meet and solve the issues at hand, then no one cannot force them to do so. I can assure each of you that the Virgin Islands Party will not sit idly by and let anyone pull us into their storm, but rather we will pull them into our calm. The VIP will not be party to anyone who wants to hold on to the past,” Fahie further said.

He stated that he remains confident that the VIP will be ready for the next general election.

“The VIP will be ready for the next general elections despite the naysayers. I have been chairman of the Virgin Islands Party for only five months, and I am proud to say that we have made tremendous strides. We have not been sitting idly by in disunity like some are now trying to edge in people’s minds through forums and medias.”

“Of course, like every organization, we have challenges, but they are being worked out together by our unified nucleus in the best interest of the people of the Virgin Islands, and not just to the tune of a few individuals. We are in the process of rebuilding and re-branding, because doing the same thing over and over and expecting new results can only be viewed as craziness. Please note that those who are willing to put the petty, personal and selfish motives down and put country before self is who the VIP is willing to work with. We have no time with the game playing. The VIP is on the move in one direction: Forward!” Fahie further declared.