Fahie’s HOA seat may hinge on BVI’s proximity to next elections
The question has once again been raised about whether former Premier Andrew Fahie’s First District seat in the House of Assembly (HOA) will become vacant and a by-election triggered to select his replacement.
Interest has been re-ignited yet again as Fahie is set to miss a third consecutive sitting of the HOA this week following his arrest in April, and as the territory draws ever closer to the prospect of general elections in the new year.
Fahie currently remains on bond and confined to the home of his two daughters in Florida after being indicted on charges of money laundering and drug smuggling before a Miami court, and his trial is not expected to begin until mid-January of next year.
During the Fourth Sitting of the Fourth Session of the House of Assembly in late July, 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.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley previously stated that a by-election will be triggered within 60 days once Fahie’s seat in the HOA becomes vacated, but later said that he wanted to check the language in the Elections Act to determine what discretion exists on the part of the Governor in calling by-elections.
When asked at a recent press conference what will happen once Fahie misses his third consecutive House sitting without permission from the Speaker, Premier Wheatley appeared cautious in his response not to preempt any likely outcome.
Dr Wheatley reminded reporters that House members can vacate their seats by resigning and by missing three consecutive sittings in the HOA.
“So, if by the time that third sitting finishes — which could take a while based on the length of the order paper, I mean this last sitting took probably about 2 months — so, it could take a while, because we have some heavy-hitting subjects on this order paper, including the Liquor License Act and the Police Act,” the Premier said.
The Premier also noted that the likelihood of a by-election being called for Fahie’s vacated seat, may possibly be affected by the amount of time that remains before the general elections are constitutionally due early in 2023.
“When that sitting… is concluded, and if Honourable Fahie has not taken part or has not participated, the seat will vacate,” Dr Wheatley said. “And then according to the Elections Act and depending on the amount of time before the election, a by-election can be called.”
He added: “There are situations of course, where you wouldn’t have a by-election and that depends on how close the seat becomes vacant before the dissolution of the House of Assembly.”
A similar situation occurred after the Fifth District seat became vacant following the untimely demise of former legislator, Delores Christopher in 2018.
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LET’S CALL A SNAP ELECTION
Poor Fahie, I feel for him and I miss him dearlye
How many other countries in the world have people with a Ministerial representative that is in Jail pending a 8 Billion Dollar Drug smuggling charge?
There will not be a by election in the 1st district.
There will not be a by-election in the 1st district.
Notice well that they are deliberately packing up the order paper of the meetings to buy time on Fahie vacating the seat. Why would any sitting last 2 months? That’s completely ridiculous. It’s a tactic. All the while, Fahie sits down with his ankle bracelet and still receive his salary compliments of the BVI people. Get rid of these jokers people.
You miss the gravy, that is all. We abandoned him or he abandoned us when he decided to betray and sell out the people of the BVI and allowed greed take over?
Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
I rate the people of District 1 and 3 by majority to be among the dumbest set of electors in this territory. Ayo stupid. There is an alarming amount of idiots who say that they will still vote for Ankle Bracelet in District 1 and Mr. F**l You in district 3.
DUMB MFs
If Coach still getting paid by the public purse, who paying for the apartment in Miami? If it’s the public, I wonder if i can stay there too when I go to Miami?
https://stthomassource.com/content/2022/09/16/feds-have-8000-plus-minutes-of-fahie-case-audio/
Just wondering. This news is 2 weeks old and nothing has been published in the BVI ? Government controlling the press ?
Can I upvote this 100 times? You are so right. It seems so…
@ what more can I say – I fully agree. The news media in BVI is complete toss. Lacking journalistic capacity and ability. The nes media needs to improve, this article from STT, now that’s journalism
The correct action would be for Our ex Premiere to stand down. If he did so and could then clear his name he could come back with a clear conscience and try again! By not resigning his position he is dragging the entire country down the toilet. In my opinion this is the biggest disrespect for the people of the BVI.
I so agreed with you that they are not thinking about country. They are only thinking me, me, me. But don’t worry, enough of them will have their names in the Treasury enough times that somebody may ask them a questio that they cannot answer. I like what Picko Moff called them, ‘Bum Flies’. And don’t forget leaches. They drive around on the poor roads and their children suffering when they go to school, but it doesn’t matter because I can get a couple thousand dollars when I beg my Rep. Until we change this mindset, we are all doomed. But hopefully those deceitful Reps are all locked up before that. Especially when they are in church every weekend but believe in magic. Father God is faithful.
I don`t understand this whole thing. if I were employed in any Gov`t office and didn’t go to work for five months, Could I still receive my full salary? Or could anyone in the BVI get six months’ pay for free? I would like to see any body else try this.
You came to that conclusion after speaking to a few people? I think you should keep quiet instead of making it seem like you know D1. The majority of us in D1 will never again vote for the guy, but we don’t have to go around talking about who we voting or not voting for.
The ESHI is one government entity that is in DIRE NEED of head coach salary along with them greedy, selfish politicians with the greedy bill taxpayers money and many more areas of the BVI that need financial support. In the BVI, we are our own problem. I say bring the KING AND HIS CREW TO SORT US OUT!!
A say y’all district one people stupid. Fahie was suppose to be voted out long ago, but you morons still went to the polls and elected him over and over again. Even at this point, too much of you fools talk about still supporting him because they think he done so much for the country. Done what? If Fahie give $1 he take back $10 for himself. Every thing Fahie touch is corrupted with FR**D…..he is a Greedy ?.
@we abandon Fahie it seems. Life goes on. What should we do, sit all day with our hands under our chins worrying about someone that betrayed the people of the Territory and the Territory that he profess to love? Last time I checked, if you love someone or something you don’t betray or hurt it, you protect it.Andrew is in the hot water that he is in because of pure greed. He choose to walk into that maze on his own free will. Did anyone tie a rope around his neck and drag him on the private jet to touch the FEDS money in the designer bags?
This kind of crap only exists where negros are in charge. It’s in the negro genes. Can’t be helped.
Has not a word come through from the ‘honorable ‘ since his incarceration and later bail release from custody. Is he not allowed to communicate, or has nothing ‘positive ‘ to say?
the 31-year-old Maynard allegedly told an informant he had been trafficking drugs for 20 years. Maynard even allegedly told an informant that he had incriminating evidence against Fahie.
At the age he is trafficking.
Not one person elected in the past 30 years should be allowed to run again. They were all corrupt or ignorant or too weak to be effective. A total clean start is needed to save us
To God be the Glory!!! LOL
When weak people are in important positions. Like the media, most of them are on work permit, so their weakness and softness can be understood, but elected members like Sheep and Shareen from VG have no reason being weak and soft, they need to step up on behalf of the people who put them there,,. 2 questions, Who is going to answer. 1/ What the purpose of the BVI apt in Miami and has it been used by those in prison and their friends for illegal activities? 2/ Why after all the evidence produce by the COI of the illegal behaviour of immigration no shake up has taken place a yet.???
And the premier still calling him ‘Honourable Fahie’ Shouldn’t this be changed to ‘Dishonourable Fahie’