Fahie’s arrest impacted tourism, financial services — Premier
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has determined that the territory’s two main financial pillars of tourism and financial services were affected by the arrest of former Premier, Andrew Fahie.
Dr Wheatley was at the time speaking at a joint press briefing with Governor John Rankin where he was asked to respond to concerns about how the arrest and the threat of UK direct rule affected those sectors.
He said: “Well, certainly, the uncertainty which has happened, especially since the events in the United States (Fahie’s arrest), I think would have had some impact.”
He did not specify how the sectors were impacted but noted that, with the finalised proposal on the way forward between the United Kingdom and the BVI now in place, industry partners can be able to see a greater sense of certainty.
Dr Wheatley said he was grateful to the UK for allowing the BVI to implement the Commission of Inquiry’s (COI) recommended reforms on its own instead of imposing direct rule.
“Reform is good for everybody involved, including the business community. They want to know that you have a government that has integrity, a government where we root out any corrupt practices, just like the people of the Virgin Islands want to see that,“ Premier Wheatley stated.
In the meantime, Governor Rankin said stability and certainty were conditions that any business sector would want to have around.
He further stated that it was important to recognise that the COI was an inquiry into government and governance in the territory and wasn’t an inquiry into the financial services sector.
“The important thing is, the financial services sector continues to comply with the best international standards. As long as they do so then they will, I hope, be a successful financial services sector helping to serve prosperity within the territory,“ Governor Rankin added.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
This confirms that Robin helped overthrew Batman
Tourists have no clue who Fahie is and could care less.
The more this Slow One speaks the more I fear for our future.
Not true!
I’m sure not the only tourist who heads down every year.
And follows the news.
We are watching all this unfold. And will wait to see
how things shake out. Before we decide if we need to find a new yearly getaway.
Dear Canadian Girl
We understand your concern, but the mishaps will not change your wonderful times in the BVI. The people are still warm and welcoming. In fact everything remains the same except that the BVI got rid of two big crooks.
Do come again. See you soon.
Yours sincerely
Jan B
Pure nonsense. Not a single tourist stops traveling to a place because a politician is found to be corrupt. You sound stupid. Tourists numbers actual increase after headline news like this.
@ LMAO I I agree with you since this has happened the tourists coming into there territory has increased the new Premeir doesn’t know what he is saying Andrews arrest didn’t impact a darn thing since Andrew got arrested NONe of his colleagues spoke on his behalf instead they all kicked him under the bus and hurridly ran to form a NEW government for what? What new party it’s the same old cr**ked government officials under a new name listen when election time come around none of y’all come to me wid no bullshit I NOT voting for NO ONE y’all will win or loose without my vote
If it wasn’t for this “slow one” the UK would be ruling right now. But you just can’t please the people of the Virgin Islands.
No – he helped get rid of The Joker. Fahie is definitely not Batman- plus he is too f*t to fit in the suit – although if gets 20 years in jail that weight will fall off. Cheap f*t farm. Same for the woman
Not as much as the UK’s abdication over following the recommendations of the CoI it convened will. That removes all hope of significant improvement in the BVI.
Sowande was so glad to get rid of Andrew so he could get the big job. Now he reversing everything that him and Andrew did and putting all the blame on Andrew. Now Sowande was the loudest government voice against the UK. Going to the UN complaining about them and how they trying to block us from gaining independence etc. Now he is saying how wonderful the UK is. These people are fake! Fake it until you make it I guess.
Airline ticket prices have increased over 25% during the past 8 weeks, roughly coinciding with the former Premier’s detainment & arrest.
I’ve no love for Fahie, but the fall in tourism is probably more a pocketbook issue than any moral stance.
Airline prices have increased due to the oil crises, which were caused by the Russian/Ukraine war. That has nothing to do with the arrest of Fahie.
Cant believe this is the same man who seconded everything Fahie brought to the house, wow!
is blind, slow or both
.
BVI Tourism is controlled by foreign cruise ship and charter yacht companies. Rising air fares don’t help either. The Fahie scandal is innocuous to BVI tourism.
BVI financial services suffered a tiny bit due to business uncertainty in May but back to business as usual now protecting wealthy ‘persons’ confidential business interests and money laundering.
BVI tourism is also supported by foreign citizens who own their own sailboats and are capable of staying for a month or more. We have been treated so poorly by the different government sectors in your country that I know many of us will never return. Believe me – we are following the situation with your ports person and your Premier and it validates everything that we already thought, your corrupt government needs to be cleaned up.
Again talking what he doesn’t know. Tourism could never be impacted by such news. There is absolutely no evidence to support this. Just talking off he head. Tourism might go up because now people would know about bvi where they didn’t know about us before. Financial services helps people hide money y to delay paying taxes. Crooks love Crooks. So financial services won’t be affected neither.
Boy foy your own throwing under the bus because yo aint here to defend yourself
Tourism is a cyclical business. We all now that it ebbs in the summer and fall before picking up in December. Fahie (may his name live in infamy) may be blamed for pursuing his personal greed over the opportunity to govern us properly but his arrest isn’t the reason for a seasonal decline in tourism.
Tourism shall flourish like never before once the narco state has been reformed and reborn.
it cost much more $$ to fly to and from Beef Island to St Maarten or San Juan than it is to fly from any of these islands to international destinations. Do your own search. Give or take a little $$$ you can probably fly from NY to Dubai for what it cost to get on Cape Air from Beef Island to Puerto Rico. Ridiculous. People will go where their money can take them and with less hassle
Major drug war waging for time and Tourism is just fine. SlowAndy just talking to hear himself speak.
You all must pray and stop throwing stones. The only one who put himself in the mess is Arturo.
Pray that he come home to face the fire that he lit and ask God to put it out.
Mr Sowande has nothing to do with the errors of others.
Clementine may soon join Arturo.
Only the fact that Showande was right there holding Fahie’s hands when decisions were being made and now he is acting like everything was done in his absence.
This point is it right here!!!!!!! He sat and allowed Andrew to make and brake the law and never one day spoke up about the injustice to his people now all of a sudden he has a voice Scooby Doo go siddung a beg
There were some people in VIP congress and supporting the party who were h**l-bent on putting this man as Premier even though his track record was horrible.
Many of these people allegedly from the early 2000’s attended a certain church where their pastor manipulated their simple minds to cast havoc to place this man as head at all cost destroying the party and now the country allegedly. For he goes where ever the cookie is shared.
These people know who they are in principal. Look at what you have done not following the almighty’s moral code but following the gravy train and the benefits, it will bring at all costs to this country and its people.
Politics is not a popularity contest but is serious business and I hope as a people we’ve learned our lesson and are bracing for what is to come when the real s**t hits the fan.
As for those supporters who help undermined other candidates who meant well for the country we will see what Gods judgment brings upon you.
The more this guy talk the more I scratch my head!!!!!
You know what else gonna hurt the financial services? that public register of beneficial ownership the UK shoving down our throat that our competition don’t have to do because it is not a global standard.
its an AML standard and EU directive. If you want to stay in business you need to be compliant
And that’s a lie his arrest has not impacted us tell him talk that with facts
Tourist are tired of how they are treated upon arrival. Witnessing the behavior of a female Immigration Officer yesterday was brutal! Yelling and rolling her eyes over n over yelling Lord Jesus continuously at them and berate them for doing what they were told by another ferry dock employee was extremely unprofessional. Why not just correct them and advise them and move on? This was something most people would be fired on the spot for. The person even asked to speak w/ the supervisor and she continued to berate and BULLY them while she laughed and said for what?? It is a fact that word of mouth is the best form of advertisement. What a major fail yesterday was. Incompetence, unprofessionalism, confusion and fear are not what people should remember for this place. The tourist words as they left was that they will NEVER come back here. Can’t blame them who would after being treated like that.
There are hundreds that won’t come back across the line to visit Ivan, go up to VG or Anegada because of the authoritarian nastiness. I ain’t been over in years and could not care less. More than once the immigration woman in VG closed the curtain with people waiting in line “at lunchtime” and walked away. Other times trumped up charges. When the U.S. doesn’t do squat to BVI illegal entries. Or fishing over the line. “Nature’s Dirty Little Secret.”
Chuppid Eastman.Y’all know Sowande goes off right. How is this Man fit for the job.He does chat froth.
Natalio operating like a puppet…guess he say that to a** kiss the Governor and UK. But he cant back his statement up with facts …he “think” it would have had an impact
I had to chuckle. “Two main pillars.” I think you missed that big, white, rock pillar that has supported a broad portion of the BVI economy for many years.
This incident may have an impact on the financial services but it will not impact the tourist industry in the BVI. All over the world havw problems and people are still travelling to those places especially the USA which have all kind of problem including mass shootings.
Thank You
Usvi day charters?
So what about murders or the shootings in the last year or two especially the ones in broad daylight and at a supermarket- they would put me off of coming here. I do not go to the cinema anymore or go shopping on Sundays late afternoons or go out at night- its just not safe.
I have not travelled by ferry to or from BVI nearly four years. The small old Immigration Guy in Road Town was so rude to me- there was no-one in front of me ( no body at all) when I went to stepped forward to put my purse down on the counter to be searched- he yelled at me and pointed to a sign saying I had to stand behind the yellow line – there were 2 of them and no-one else around. So I asked him why I could not go through and he because he said so. On another he did it again and I asked the lady officer if he was always that rude to other people. So twice enough for me. I always fly to St Thomas. The guys and girls at the airport are so much more polite except for one older woman who insisted I unpack my shopping bag- when I tried to explain it only had my coat in it she raised her voice as described above.