Gloves off! Fraser pummelled for distorting OJ’s record
Virgin Islands Party (VIP) candidate, Kevin ‘OJ’ Smith, has accused incumbent Third District Representative, Julian Fraser, of attempting to mislead the public when he referenced Smith’s work with now-disgraced former premier, Andrew Fahie.
Fahie is currently awaiting trial in the United States on charges of drug smuggling and money laundering along with his co-accused — former BVI Ports Authority Director Oleanvine Maynard and her son, Kadeem Maynard.
While speaking at his Third District campaign launch days ago, Fraser berated Smith about his association with Fahie, urging him to come clean about the work he did as a political adviser for the former leader before Fahie’s arrest and detention.
“Everyone who was around those developments (Fahie’s arrest) must be made to answer,” Fraser argued at his campaign launch. “And they must answer before elections… My opponent (Smith) was under contract to the premier as his adviser, which made him assistant premier.”
“[Fahie] was arrested in Miami on April 28 while [Smith] was still his assistant, and to this day, I haven’t heard from my opponent, the role his advice played in any of this,” Fraser added. Fraser signalled that it was an opportune time for Smith to speak up, particularly since Fahie’s colleagues distanced themselves from him “like fleas on a wet rat” after his arrest.
Smith, in refuting Fraser’s accusations of impropriety against him, noted that Fraser mentioned both his salary ($100,000) and the terms of his contract with the former premier. He clarified that his salary was approved by Cabinet, and said his engagement with the government pertained only to policy matters and projects which were of importance to any premier.
“Whatever occurred with the former premier is yet to be proven in court,” Smith argued. “My job did not include advice or dealings with respect to the former premier’s personal activities.”
Smith, in turn, suggested that Fraser, a six-term district representative, had much to answer for himself. Among other things, Smith asserted that Fraser voted ‘most favourably’ for the contentious so-called ‘greedy bill’ that could see him netting as much as $1,000,000 in lump sum retirement funds, even as normal residents struggle to pay their bills.
The greedy bill is a law passed by the incumbent VIP that generously rewards lawmakers in a dubious pension scheme that Smith said Fraser, unlike the current premier and other lawmakers on the campaign trail, is yet to criticise or ask to have it repealed.
Fraser, who was recently endorsed by the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) in his re-election bid, is also facing National Democratic Party (NDP) candidate, Aaron Parillon, for the Third District seat.
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I want to know who is officially standing and who is just shooting hot air.
I happy that loud mouths CSC, Esteemed, and Sindee realise that nobody going to vote for them and not saying they standing any more.
Smith bashing one-man Fraser for voting favorably for the greedy bill that HIS PARTY (VIP) is ultimately responsible for given they wanted it and they had the majority vote in the House at the time? If voting for the greedy bill was such a bad thing, then what do you call it when your VIP party was the one who had the majority vote, implemented it then got mad when the contents of it were brought to the public? And by the way, what did this man actually do for the post office that made him so great to be an assistant to the premier? Come up with zip codes? Das it? Cheups. Too many scandals, lies and money hungry people in the place. Neither of you are good for the country at this time.
It is interesting how Myron appears to have determined the narrative for the political campaign. His calling attention to the “greedy bill” has turned out to be a service to all of us. Since he mooted the matter, some many people have been taking cover. Seems it was also a self-inflicted wound for Myron. Will the messenger be killed along with the others?
The esteemed should have stand he certainly would have won!
Frazer right. Same consultancy-no-work situation. OJ need to shut up.
He seems to be a career political opportunist
OJ is the man for the 3rd. It’s a 2 man race and OJ has the edge as we have had enough of Fraser. This will be my first time voting against Fraser as I think he has done his time and needs to move on. The young chap for NDP needs to go take a sea soak and relax himself. Too pompous for someone with a very light resume of actual accomplishments. Posting on social media cannot solve the complex problems that we face, we need proven individuals in the House who can hit the ground running with substance and not a show.
PVIM endorsed a man who is under active investigation for a Government project. That team has zero integrity and we will make them pay on the 24th. We will send the blue wave crashing down apple bay and that will be the end of that.
WTH is wrong with these candidates. Where is the manifesto? How are you guys going to fix the darn issues facing this country. I’m tired with the blooming back and forth. I get it. You guys have no clue how to run a country. A heap of you just need to go sit down. SMDH!!
Fraser is feeling the pressure now that is why he ran for help from PVIM. The people of the third district will not be left behind voting for a one-man party. Fraser’s time is up and we will give OJ the mantle to take us forward. He did excellent work at Post Office, Trade Dept, Small Business Bureau, TRC, Digicel, all in top positions. The other 2 candidates do not have a resume nowhere near Mr. Smith who has shown that if given the chance he can manage things well. Say what you want but the facts are clear and action speaks louder than words. Fraser had his time, the clock is ticking, the NDP candidate seems to think that facebook posts will win an election but the people want serious representation not empty promises and besides the NDP team is the weakest in its history, they should be ashamed.
You are entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts and you can tell you are a hater of OJ. The man has done well in every position that he has held and the facts are clear.
Fraser can’t even maintain his hair muchless an entire district.
The old people always say who laugh last laugh best. Fraser may be under investigation, but that is just melee as far as we’re concerned until we see evidence.
What we do have evidence of, however is the VIP was lead by someone who is in Florida in leg irons with a looming trial on the horizon that can net him over 25 years in jail. And I won’t take the time to list the charges, only that his cronies who, so many seem to feel happy and justified voting for, because they give them lots of free money, were all complicit in his mess. Why? Among other things, because for three years, they were quiet as church mouses. Not a word other than “aye, aye, aye”. That’s the only word we heard out of them to a myriad of things that were destructive and detrimental to the populace of this country. They spent millions and millions and we are not blind, but the majority can’t see where and on what. Hon. Rymer was bold enough to tell us it is in our pockets. So you wheel and come again talking about PVIM does not have integrity for aligning with Fraser. The blue wave has integrity and honesty on their side and we are askign God to thrown down the strongholds of the evil one in this country and let honesty reign again in this country. Four more years of VIP would be the biggest mistake we could make.
PVIM is the best hope for us and we’re voting blue.
Before this opportunist bash Fraser, the man need to resign from being a government consultant – VIP gravy train too sweet for this ex NDP-
OJ serious? Wow. These young people, all they have going for them is a “You too” comeback?
Fraser was on the Opposition. The VIP brought the Greedy Bill, passed it so that they can benefit in just four do-nothing years and Fraser who has been there since 1999 and didn’t need it he is blaming for assisting in bringing it? Stop, please.
My brother always say “Common sense beat education.” He is so right.
Young, Educated, Polished, some experience and still chupid as hell. The whole force of these VIPers acting chupid.
OJ, when you needed a job you were hired. That’s your right as a BVIslander. People come from far and wide to work in our shores. This is your country. You are going to destroy yourself and lose your respectability because you know where some of the bones are buried? Stop sitting on your brain. We need real soldiers to claw back this BVI from the pits of hell where it has been taken. We all still have to live here.
@The Irony: Obviously you do not pay attention to anything happening in this Territory. That young man did more for the Post Office than you are saying. Who introduce Ezone in this Territory? It was him. Who increased the revenue of the Post Office without getting any additional funding from Government? It was him. And there was much more that he has done at the Post Office. While everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, I would encourage persons to get the facts before putting false information out.
The problem is they are all in it. I don’t trust any of them.
Fraser is under active investigation and he cannot change that fact. I wonder if PVIM did their background checks before endorsing, or are they that desperate?
So OJ is supposed to sit back and let Julian Fraser call him names and make nasty accusations? Fraser is an elder statesman and should set an example. He went as far as basically questioning whether Mr. Smith’s Advisor role played a part in the former Premier being locked up in the USA on cocaine charges. These are not light accusations and should be responded to as he has done. The tone of your comment alone and the fact that you haven’t addressed Fraser’s nasty comments towards Smith nor the other NDP guy says it all, you have energy for one man but not the others.
Manifestos are obsolete and they are just flashy booklets distributed to appease people with pipe dreams. This is 2023 and voters tune in on social media as well as other means of expressing and getting their (candidates) messages across. Past manifestos were just glossy ideas that never really amounted to anything tangible for the populace and benefited only the political parties in garnering support to get elected then after that – nada!
Nice resume of career opportunities that evidently were short lived without any apparent benefits to those organizations. If Mr. Smith was such a great innovator/manager why didn’t those companies secure him for much longer? Seems there is more than meets the eyes. Is this how D3 representation will be? Present when it suits agendas self-beneficial; or, present for all of D3? Too much uncertainty and doubt that he can stand up to those out-of-control egos in the VIP. Can OJ be bipartisan? Hmmmmm
Hon Frazer does have a Resume after all. Don’t know about the other one. Frazer most recent accomplishment is Four, (4) Years in Her Majesty Loyal Opposition; most of of that time as a One man Party Opposition, Traffic Lights at the Round-about, Bi-Water).
Proud, Clear thinking people of the 3rd district. This is your Opportune time to elect the right man for the job; young, brilliant,tried, accomplished Representative to take your district forward.Among the things that Never come back is the missed Opportunity. As a you man still climbing towards higher heights, would OJ after his many successes at the Post Office, Manager of Digicel, military service in the US+++ wait until he is home, in his own district to let down his people, wreck his own Winning record?
People of the third, this is the time and this is your opportunity. This thing isn’t Rocket Science. You have given hon Frazer your love and confidence all this time, (near 30 years). In return, and if he claims that he loves you he should do the right thiñg and hang it up. Country above self.
Sad, that’s what he has turned into.
Suspension was the right and proper, the ideal corrective measure to all these issues we hearing now..
GOOD POINTS. LOL
THIS ELECTION IS INTERESTING. NOTHING BUT FIGHTING WORDS BEING EXCHANGED.
Ok OJ. Thanks for the zip codes. That’s it!
Fraser OUT. Too much shady dealing with taxpayer’s money. Allegedly funneling the people’s money into his relative’s business. An unnecessary wall. Him and Wi**ock – What a team!! OUT OUT OUT
Now would you like to address why you are bashing Fraser for agreeing to a bill that YOUR PARTY created in the first place DURING COVID then talking about they need four more years? Please and thank you.
Of the items you have listed, which one qualifies you to be an assistant to the Premier?
It is really SAD when voting you have to choose between the most corruption and the worst corrupt that is a sad reality!!
Fahie is currently awaiting trial in the United States on charges of drug smuggling and money laundering along with his co-accused — former BVI Ports Authority Director Oleanvine Maynard and her son, Kadeem Maynard
He buy you out by giving you a big post in his government. You cannot be trusted to run our country . You have no sense of loyalty.
You will sell us out to the highest bidder
In First World Countries, for all those Contribution he has made to Nvi society, he would be highly recognized with a Medal of Honor; unlike mere UK basic MBE or OBE), but the real deal. Give Jack his jacket.
Here’s a worthwhile exercise. Sit still, close your eyes and Imagine as a minister of government. He has equal access to PWD, access to the the ministry of Communications and Works, to the Premier, the .inistry of Finance +++. Now contrast that scenario to the One Man party sitting in the Opposition.
I rest my case.
I’m looking forward to my next visit to the third district, soon to be raised to ‘Fastest growing District””.
My Consultancy fee for this Advice? Absolutely FREE
Is saying ,)> Mutumbo actin like he owns the 3rd , well am from the 3rd too, so this ain’t no one
man show anymore ,
This is why Aaron has my vote. It’s hard to trust either OJ or Frazer. OJ as a sketchy consultant job from the Kingping fahie. Frazer and his sea cows bay harbour project. Mean time Aaroon stayed throughout the distract making sure my aunty had food during the covid shutdowns.
I think Aaron is clear cut the one you can trust; he genuinely wants to help people.
Frazer has been in 6 terms that’s about enough now. He sounds like a dead dog in house of assembly. Give a fresh young GENUINE brain a chance & by genuine I’m specifically talking about Mr. Parillon. He has a genuine passion for the third district and doesn’t have a heart to take on the position to pocket anything he can get like Mr.OG who loved being up under Fahie like a leach. Let’s not forget he was the HIGHEST PAID consultant. All these “top positions” he had but was indulging in sneaky activities.. PASS THE BATON
When are people in the third going to stop being so gullible and slow. After OJ ran for the third district in 2019 no one ever heard from him again. Mr. Parillon ran in 2019 and for the 4 years after that he has been dedicated to looking after the third district. Consistent community clean ups, visiting the elderly and cleaning their homes for them, actually sitting around at the different businesses in the third whether it’s the restaurants or the bars and SOCIALIZING with the people of the district. ACTUALLY BEING PRESENT. Stop letting any and everyone who comes on a mic fool you to make you believe their for you. Being a resident of the third I’ve never seen Kevin NEITHER Julian’s face around.
* OJ Ran in 2011 & 2015****