‘I wasn’t trying to hide anything’, says Premier on BVIHSA matter
Amid having his honesty come into question at a press conference today, Premier Andrew Fahie said it was not his place to disclose to the media that he had written a letter to Health Minister Carvin Malone about the audit saga at the BVI Health Service Authority (BVIHSA).
At a previous press conference a few weeks ago, Premier Fahie told the press he did not know the details of the controversy that was brewing inside the BVIHSA. But days after saying so, a letter was leaked showing that Premier was significantly involved.
When questioned today about why he was not more forthcoming and transparent about his involvement, the Premier said: “It is an ongoing investigation, and it was something that I wasn’t the one doing the investigation. So, I wasn’t trying to hide anything at all. I was letting it take its position. I realise how it came out. The media is like that. They have it as an ‘I got you moment’ but it’s not something I’d have put in the public domain at all,” Fahie said.
Media misinterpreted me
The Premier said the media misinterpreted his comments as he did not deny knowing about the issue that led to the dismissal of two senior workers at the BVIHSA.
“Well, first of all, it was reported that I said I denied [knowing] but what I stated clearly was that I was not involved in the weeds of what was happening. What came to my attention was one where I dealt with it as Minister of Finance. It was not for the Minister of Finance to get into the everyday running of any board or ministry,” Fahie said.
“The central government is the main shareholder of the BVIHSA and over $40 million that we must put into the establishment so if there is a concern, the Minister of Finance has the right to ask about the institution and how those funds are being spent. The Minister of Finance and Premier in terms of roles must always make sure there is due process,” he added.
The Premier mentioned the situation is not a matter of him denying whether he had full knowledge, some knowledge or no knowledge. What he did was deal with what came to his attention as Finance Minister since the ministry has stakes in healthcare.
Just last week, Fahie told our news team he wrote the letter “solely from an outside eye stating that it has come to my attention that an audit was done and there were concerns with the audit and the auditor, which is the internal auditor at the BVIHSA”.
Meanwhile, the Premier said he did not think he overstepped in writing the letter to the Health Minister expressing his concern over BVIHSA which is a statutory body.
“If there are concerns along the lines of being the main shareholder and being that people’s health is of paramount interest to the country and being that you want to maintain a good governance, then the Finance Minister and Premier would make sure they do two things” Fahie noted.
“If it is a heavy finance matter, you would align through the minister and the finance secretary and if it is not a matter on the financial aspect mainly or at all you direct it to the minister to give some kind of information,” the Finance Minister added.
BVIHSA skirts around scandals
And despite promises from both the Health Minister and the BVIHSA Board Chairman Moleto Smith to properly address the matters plaguing the organisation in recent times, yesterday they issued a public release that largely skirted around the issues.
The release said although certain information might pique the interest of the general public, the board reminds the public that some matters are considered privileged and confidential.
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This is more roundabout than the one we have in town. (roll eyes)
COI
Certifying Official Incompetence
Of course he wasn’t hiding anything. We found out about it.
The sheer contempt shown to the BVI taxpayers is breathtaking. Trumpian even. Double-speak and mendacity to cover up the legitimate matter of public expenditure, and they have the nerve to say it’s none of our business! This lot really have to go.
Trumpian!…you wish you had Trump sounds like you’ve been drinking the liberal media kool aide about Trump… Maybe Biden can help the BVI out.
Biden could help this corrupt lot out. Then destroy the economy better than Fahie
If he says go RIGHT then please go LEFT
Might as well I stay where I am rather than coming back home to be pushed around
This dude really has a problem with the truth.
Ah, privileged and confidential. Clearly not transparent, good governance then.
I really don’t understand why these politicians cannot be honest; BVIAA staff are yet to be paid when it was promised last year that they would be paid by Mr Word Doctor. I wonder if he is question about that what would be his response.
This is much about nothing. As the Premier and the minister of Finance he instructed the Minister in the subject matter about what is happening and instructed how it should be dealt with, which is the normal way such situations is dealt with.
If he had done nothing and then there is cove-up which later come to light these are the same people who would crucify him saying he knew and did nothing about it. Get a life and get a forensic audit going.
Oh Premier, how we laugh again!
Why are these politicians so afraid of Zan. They are actually asking his boss not to send him send someone else…K R is soft like spunch she almost seems like she working for govt. Once I realize Zan wasn’t there I tuned out. Zan is fearless and put the tuff questions and doesn’t back down…Weak leaders always hate strong people..
Spunch and tuff, you’re very creative.
The Premier is right, Marlon was wrong. This whole thing with the audit should not have been exposed to the public. Until somebody is charged with a crime there was no need for this to be brought to the public. This did more harm to everybody involved.
The characters of both persons who allegedly committed the shenanigans will be forever stained even if it turns out to be nothing. We’re not going to get a breaking news that investigation found that persons acted in good faith because this is not something that is handled publicly but now that we already know so much we will want to know the outcome.
In government many people are suspended behind the scenes for being charged with crimes, breaches on the job etc. and we never hear about them in the news because these things aren’t handled publicly. This wasn’t something we needed to know unless someone was charged with a crime.
Mammon Gadhafi, Hugo Chavez, Juan Duvalier they were all liars and dictators.
Premier you are a young man let your Light shine.
Also there is a payback for what your Government are doing to Expat Black workers from the Caribbean. While Asians, White SF, and European can just step in purchase our land, our property and don’t even have to go to the Labor Department to collect their work permit.
The Caribbean Leaders are watching Bro. Li-r, Li-r house on fire.
Andrew Fahie when are you not trying to hide something? You l** every time you open your mouth, so in our orbit you are not just hiding something but many things. Andrew do the people of these beautiful Virgin Islands a favour. DON’T RUN IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION, OR ANYOTHER ELECTION.
and we are so sorry , it caused you so much pain and suffering ? YOU sound so pitiful
Anansi is the name that comes to mind…hmm. too many lies, more spider web and entanglement than Will and Jada
Since when you know your place? You have said terrible things that no decent human being would say about others both publicly and to the governors to seek to get a political advantage. Since when you have any kind of decorum? Since when? Ole national disgrace!
If the government is the biggest stakeholder in the BVIHS , who are the other stakeholders . Or is that also confidential and nothing to do with the taxpayers
A stakeholder is anyone who is, or perceives themselves to be, affected by the activities of an organisation. So, stakeholders of BVIHSA include:
BVI Government; all BVIHSA employees; all BVIHSA suppliers; all BVIHSA service users, including BVI citizens, BVI taxpayers, visitors to the BVI; NHI; SSB; all private medical facilities in BVI, and arguably some of those in USVI.
Must gotten some bad co**!