I wasn’t against BVI’s largest drug bust — Premier Fahie
Premier Andrew Fahie has denied ever being against a multi-million dollar drug bust that happened late last year, and suggested his views were misrepresented in the UK Guardian newspaper.
The drug bust, which was the largest in BVI history at $250 million, made international headlines and involved a number of serving police officers. The bust also helped to precipitate a Commission of Inquiry (COI) in the territory.
Speaking in the House of Assembly (HOA) recently, Premier Fahie said on the day former governor, Augustus Jaspert and former Commissioner of Police, Michael Matthews called a press conference to announce the drug bust, his government was never informed about the event.
This is despite a national security meeting preceding the press conference that very morning, the Premier claimed.
He said the duo also stated things at the press conference that his government was never informed of at the national security level.
“The largest drug bust and they went down town in terms of the place being a drug-running thing and they painted the BVI totally black,“ the Premier said about comments made during the press conference.
“And when the COI started, I remember in the same Guardian [newspaper] and those newspapers — that the one last governor seemed to have a partner in — released that I was against the drug bust,” the Premier stated.
Why paint us as corrupt?
The Premier said all he was saying at the time, was that the governor is in charge of the police force and should not have painted a negative picture of the BVI in giving the press conference.
“Why paint a picture that we had the largest drug bust and the whole thing is corrupt when you could paint a picture that we have a law enforcement agency that was able to have the largest drug bust ever in the world and promote the strength of your law enforcement agency?” Fahie questioned.
The Premier said it is a point that he has consistently made since that time, including during his evidence before the COI.
The former governor’s position, the Premier felt, meant that he should not have been going into the public domain to paint the BVI in a negative light.
“And if you don’t have proof, stop going out there with this insinuation and accusations and allegations. I’ve continued to tell the last governor that,” Premier Fahie added.
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But DO you support drug operations? They are the third pillar of the economy and kept the territory afloat during your shutdown.
I challenge Fahie to commit to announcing an election the moment the result from the COI is released. Let the people decide what they think.
May not be a need for election but an administrative takeover of the BVI by the Brits.
Election may come after two years of British rule and a restructuring of the governance system to ensure their people are key stakeholders in all arms of Government and key public sector portfolio.
I was told if I don’t have anything good to say shut up…so please shut up..
Then you are sheep.
If something is wrong you are challenged as a human, contributing to the community and your fellow citizens to act, do, and say something. Even if it is considered not “good.”
Stand up for what you believe, not sit on your lack of morality.
But carry on
Remember wat weh discuss my boi if not you about to become a state funeral..
Threaten much?
Not sure what he is talking about. Let me break it down.
Was it the largest drug bust in VI history? Yes it was.
Was at least one police officer who swore to uphold the constitution and enforce the laws of VI arrested during the operation? Yes there was.
If the answer to the preceding question is yes, is that a sign of corruption in the police ranks? Yes!
The announcement was factual. You wanted them to spin it how you want. You can’t dictate everything, sir.
The premiere is saying the picture of a corrupt bvi is what the governor and police commissioner was trying to paint. And that is not the case.
Let me correct you. No officer was ever arrested during the operation. Please get your fact straight.
So the answer to your preceding question is NO. So that narrative of a corruption in the police force is false based on your statements.
Do instead of spinning that the BVI as a whole is corrupt to premiere only wanted them to present the fact that the BVI has enforcement in place handle the trade.
Oh! Stand with the liar in chief and bury your head in the sand. A serving cop and ex-cop were arrested and others were later. If that amount of drugs got in here during a lock down where borders were closed, something is not right. You live under a rock!
is the first showing of a new movie. Nothing new about this derelict lot.
Fahie didn’t say it was the biggest drug bust in VI history. He said it was the biggest in history. That is a lie. Another one.
The very England have major drug bust way more than tola
Wait a minute…if you don’t have proof, stop? So a $250 million drug bust is not? After all is said, the COI revealed the systematic corruption in the BVI.
Have always wondered how much was his cut and what really went down with B**.
… cut was 1/8 ..
So u wanted the governor to pretty up this very serious crime. You wanted him to call a spade a spoon.
Just bear in mind that the governor is not a politician.
Why didn’t you want the British Military out at sea securing the border then? Why pay millions of dollars for three static badges to just sit on the water with binoculars but couldn’t do anything more than call customs when the British Military Ship was going to do a much better job for free? All of this tells a story Mr. Fahie.
something strange
Barges with a history
I am so dismayed with the leadership or non leadership of the Premier. I was born bred and grew up on Tortola, and I never thought that in my 68 years my beautiful island would be in this state. I can’t stomach to hear the negative press that my homeland is getting locally and internationally. Mr. Premier you need to stop passing blame on the past governor and commissioner of police. We are in this mess because of greed and lawlessness. We need to look amongst ourselves and call a spade a spade. We have laws that are not enforced, rampant partisan, nepotism, nontransparent, unethical and nillywilly governance by our elected officials. We need to clean up our act. Government need to be open, transparent, fair and balanced in their dealings with every member of the Virgin Islands public. Mr. Fahie you allowed a lot of things that has caused the fallout and disgraceful attacks and speculations that we are enduring now. I would love to see our beautiful Virgin Islands back to its peaceful state and respected locally and internationally. There’s work to be done, change in attitudes to bring back Trust in the Government.
NDP – Government in the Sunshine
VIP – UNCONVENTIIONAL Leadership
PPP – ???
@Hmmm. And we the PEOPLE? The silence is deafening.
Are you blind or what? How can we be respected locally and internationally if we continue to let entities like the former governor and commissioner to paint the BVI as a Corrupt territory.
A territory that has no integrity and is and I quote from and international news paper ” A paradise Lost”
So are you saying we are not a corrupt territory?
Giant drugs transhipment point, smugglers known about by everyone, profits keeping our economy afloat?
The rest is floating thanks to 3 decades offering the rich and dirty a way to hide money they shouldn’t have?
Local politics and governance acted out by friends and relatives and cronies and givers of backhanders?
We all love our BVI, but you got to be on another planet to deny that when it comes to corruption, we got plenty enough for a bad reputation.
by what you are saying them many countries are corrupt then even the UK.. No?
No!
If you know someone committed a murder or a robbery would you accept their excuse that other people in the world also murder and rob?
This common BVI response to our own misconduct is the purest of sewage, used to make us feel better about our own failings and avoid having to face the consequences of our actions.
Fool its not the premier in charge of security, its the Governor. Put the blame where it suppose to go. Always quick to kill your own. A total stranger, who come to live among you for five years is in control of our security. When he leaves and go another stranger repeat the same thing. Think about that fool.
We cops down island 40 yrs bc you don’t have cousins Sao enforcement. This where we ar. Finally a gov ain’t tanning but find the scum root of th backward patronage system. Descend from Coke.
Then why did the Governor need permission to bring the Brits to help with border protection, free of charge? that need to be addressed
The most drugs in BVI history passed thru while we were paying barges to do the work of coastguards
Yet we playing stupid like we ain’t know what going on. WE ALL KNOW. our premier must be trying to fool the outer world who he think dont know better. He sure ain’t fooling us who live here
am very sorry, but that fellow is having one of his sudden spell of AMNESIA once again
I am not just a client…I am the president.
Karma awaits all who do bad deeds. Its interesting how Ms Karma works sometimes. She never forgets.
Here you have the premier (lower caps with emphasis) asking “Why paint us as corrupt?” when he himself labelled the previous NDP government as the most corrupt government in BVI history. He shouted it to anyone who would listen to score political points and to win the election.
What he never counted on when he was yelling corruption corruption corruption and carrying news to Government house was that while he was pointing a corruption finger at the previous government, 3 were pointing back at him. Yes, 3. Count them: one, two, three.
The hole he was digging for others turned out to be for himself. Now he is in there tying hard to dig himself out. Unfortunately he is unfairly burying the entire territory along with him.
Sorry, he talks too much as far as I am concern and is too boastful and accusatory. He has no credibility here to defend against corruption charges.
I have come to the conclusion that when he says things directed at others, he is most likely speaking of himself. Some people tell on themselves and they are not even aware they are doing it. He is a case in point.
The hole he was digging for the previous government turned out to be for himself. That is what you call Karma. Ms. Karma is having her say because she is not pleased with the premier.
Deal with it. He should stop being callous with words as there are consequences to doing so. He started the corruption charge, now it has boomerang on him. That’s what happens when you talk too much and dig holes for others.
BVI, you have got to do better at the ballot box. It seems as if we are going from bad to worse. We have go to do better.
According to the Pr****r’s logic:
If NDP – almost everything is corrupt
If VIP – absolutely no corruption, don’t even try to paint us with that word
I see what you did there. Well done! 🙂
This seems incorrect – the Premier must have forgotten he was briefed before any Press Conference. Easy to check, just look at the minutes of the NSC on the dates concerned!
the port of east end..world of its own
You’re funny, dont do east end like that
plain english if you were not against it ,then you were for it
I am not from the BVI, but I try to stay informed and keep up with the world news. After reading the article, it was my understanding, that such there are protocols to be followed and there was a breach of national security when your executive branch of the government was not informed before a press conference was held. Can someone please clarify?
Its the best kept secret that the BVI is funded by drug money – perhaps an Unexplained Wealth Order law is required?
Since when is it a secret. Everyone knows it. What good is an Unexplained Wealth Order when the majority of those profiting from drug money are in the position to have things disappear.