BVI News

Jaspert’s approach to COI irresponsible and damaging

Premier Fahie

While the narrative of a fair and transparent Commission of Inquiry (COI) remains at the forefront of Premier Andrew Fahie’s recent statements, he also said he believes the approach by the immediate past governor Augustus Jaspert was irresponsible and damaging to the territory.

Premier Fahie made the comment recently as a guest on the social media talk show programme, ‘ZoeJ Says’ with host Zoe Walcott. He expressed his dissatisfaction with Jaspert’s methodology.

“We are concerned with the process taken that it is a conclusion already written, just going through the formality looking for a story. I have seen the public relations stunt that has come out, it is irresponsible of the governor what he has done in terms of how he has done it, not the Inquiry, but how it has been done,” Fahie stated.

“It is irresponsible statements even to make it seem as if the entities in the BVI being the police, being the auditor general, being all the other arms that are constitutionally set up to ensure good governance has failed,” he added.

Why blame the government?

The Premier also raised questions into why some of the entities under the portfolio of the past governor that have been under the microscope over the past years are not also being investigated by the COI.

“That is irresponsible because the police is under the governor and the Commissioner of Police, so if it is failing, you can’t blame the local government. How come he didn’t call the Commission of Inquiry on those entities under him that is failing,” he asked.

“If the governor wanted information to be able to substantiate whether the allegations or the information reaching him is so, there’s no way he can tell the public that he could not receive it because he is the head of the public service and I have seen him written and direct public officers already to bring information to him,” Fahie further said.

A direct attack on the BVI

The leader of government business said he believes the Commission will be used in an attempt to prevent the BVI from advancing along the lines of self-determination.

“That cannot be an indictment on the sitting local government to subliminally tie the local government into the drug busts and make it seem as if the government is corrupt through these drug busts is another subliminal message that needs to be dealt with in the public domain because they’re doing it internationally,” Fahie argued.

“What has been done by the governor is a direct attack on the British Virgin Islands and to have the UK representative read it in the House exactly when he (the governor) stated his statements, shows that they have already tried us in the court of public opinion and have already brought us in guilty,” the Premier stated.

Fahie said he believes the UK will use the COI as a medium to gain support from the international world in their narrative that the BVI is corrupt.

This, he said, which will assist in getting support to suspend the territory’s effort in advancing towards a constitutional review.

Follow BVI New’s coverage of the 2021 Commission of Inquiry on Instagram @BVINewsOnline #TrackingTransparency at www.bvinews.com.

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48 Comments

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  1. Just Wrong says:

    Nice to see the Premier dressed appropriately showing he respects his office. Too bad he didn’t show that for the departure of Governor Jaspert.

    Like 56
    Dislike 2
    • So Wrong says:

      He dressed in a jacket and tie to go to the market though.

      Like 22
      • Hold says:

        When the QC asked the Governor whether there were any good reasons for media blitz, and whether it was intended to cause maximum drama and damage to the BVI, the Governor did not deny it.

        Like 3
        Dislike 3
    • That was simply disgusting says:

      @just wrong, I AGREE, THAT WAS SO EMBARRASSING AND RUDE FOR THE PREMIER. BUT, GUS TOOK OFF LIKE A TRUE GENTLEMAN AND ROCK STAR. WHO IS THE TRUE GENTLEMAN NOW. THE PICTURE WENT VIRAL AND SORRY GUYS, THE PREMIER’S UNKEPT LOOK ? IS THE RUNNING JOKE.

      Like 23
      Dislike 2
    • @Just Wrong says:

      He dressed appropriately enough of the company he was keeping, in fact he was overdressed!

  2. Consensus say..... says:

    Who told the Premier we want self-determination?
    We the people already determined that our elected officials cannot be trusted. Let us as a people decide that whether we want self-determination… Not you.

    Like 60
    Dislike 1
    • There you go says:

      THE PEOPLE OF THESE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS IS THE ONES IS THE ONES THAT IS AND WILL DECIDE ON SELF-DETERMINATION. NOT YOU MR. PREMIER. RIGHT NOW, THE PEOPLE DON’T TRUST YOU. NO MATTER HOW MANY PSA’S, NEWS STORY OR MEMBERS OF YOUR CABINET SPEAKING OUT IN YOUR DEFENSE, THE TRUST IS GONE. THE PEOPLE IS SIMPLY OVER IT. ONCE TRUST IS GONE, IT IS VERY HARD TO REBUILD THE TRUST. ONCE A GLASS IS SHATTERED, THE GLASS CAN NEVER BE PUT BACK TOGETHER.

      Like 33
    • The man says:

      Where is the whistleblower law that we was promised?

  3. Wolf wolf says:

    But Andrew they are not doing anything to us that you haven’t done already. You were the main person calling others corrupt. You did that. You said these things without any proof and you continue to do so even now. Is it that you didn’t mean it now? All of those rumors about the previous administration was corrupt with projects like the airline, pier park, Elmore stoutt wall, the Peebles hospital is all your doing. You were on the front calling your colleagues thieves. You should be the last person to call anybody corrupt. The very last!

    Like 47
    Dislike 1
  4. Rubber Duck says:

    Is this same Fahie who claimed during the election two years ago that the BVI was totally corrupt?

    Are we expected to believe that tons of cocaine can pass through the BVI without some official involvement.

    And why exactly did Fahie not want the Royal Navy ship helping to patrol our waters?

    Like 55
    • @Rubber Duck says:

      YESSSSSS, THERE IS PLENTY OF RECEIPTS TO PROVE THAT. HE IS GOING TO GO DOWN IN BVI HISTORY AS THE WORSE PREMIER THIS ISLAND HAS HAD. THE PEOPLE DON’T TRUST THIS PREMIER, FROM HERO TO A BIG F** ZERO. LEAVE THE PEOPLE ALONE, THE MORE YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH, THE MORE THE DISTRUST BUTTON IS GOING OFF IN PEOPLES HEAD. THE PEOPLE IS NO LONGER GOING TO CONDONE THE BEHAVIOR.

      Like 13
  5. Who Say???? says:

    We are ready for self-determination????? Even if we are ready, not under this administration. Nope… Nope and Nope

    Like 43
  6. Dress Code says:

    He knew exactly what he was doing.

    Like 31
    • @Dress Code says:

      AND IT BACKFIRED. THAT WAS LIKE GOING TO A INTERVIEW AT A LAW FIRM WEARING SNEAKERS AND JEANS. VERY POOR TASTE FOR A LEADER OF THE COUNTRY.

      Like 13
  7. EU Citizen says:

    We all want to see the criminals punished. Well not all of us apparently. Probably not the criminals themselves.

    Like 21
  8. Wow again says:

    So Andrew is saying that the police is failing and it is the Governor fault. Lets take a closer look at that statement.

    Doesnt local government fund those emergency entities? The answer to that question is YES. I remember another governor had to use his powers from the constitution to force the local government to pump money into the police.

    So with that said if it is failing isnt it also a failure of local government for not funding the police adequately in the first place.

    These guys really trying hard to take us for fools

    Like 29
  9. Watching on says:

    Let Andrew and Jaspert continue to fight. Andrew was busy carrying news to Duncan and Jaspert on the last administration. They didn’t know how l** he was until he start telling some big l**s on them. Let them all swirl around in the wind of confusion they created. No sympathies here.

    Like 23
    • @WATCHING ON says:

      SO TRUE, THAT IS ANDREW FOR YOU. HE WAS THE ONE WHO WAS POURING THE FUEL ON THE FIRE LITTLE BY LITTLE WITH HIS MOUTH. THE KING OF CARRY GO BRING COMES. GUS PEEPED ANDREW CARDS A LONG TIME AGO. HE SIMPLY BEAT ANDREW AT HIS OWN GAME.

      Like 15
  10. ... says:

    Sir, hush.. Thanks!

    Like 16
  11. SCARLET PIMPERNEL says:

    YOU SNIFFING WHAT IT IS LIKE WHEN THE BULLY PULPIT IS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE- YOU ARE SUCH A COWARD SIR- YOU ARE ALL ALL HOT AIR AND NOW YOU CAN SEE WHEN YOU VICTIMIZE THE WRONG PEOPLE IT WILL ALWAYS BACKFIRE

    Like 18
  12. T says:

    @ just wrong , this is a old Photo.

  13. SMI says:

    Premier Fahie, you are the most irre*********e person I know, no matter how the governor handled it you would have something to say about it.
    You and your ministers keep saying that the Commission of Inquiry is damaging to the territory, No it’s not it’s damaging to you and your government. You said you are concerned with the process taken that it is a conclusion already written I hope you a right and that conclusion will be the UK will take over until next election., and put some of you form the past and present government in jail.

    Like 14
  14. DEAR MR. Premier says:

    PLEASE TAKE MY PRO BONO ADVISE, THE MORE YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH,YOU ARE DIGGING THE TRENCH WIDER. YOU ARE NOW BEGINNING TO LOOK A LITTLE, HOW SHOULD I SAY IT? A LITTLE ON THE GUILTY SIDE? WHAT’S DONE IS DONE AND THE CONSTANT COMPLAINTS AND EXPLANATION IS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT GO AWAY OR CHANGE THINGS. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR ACTIONS, WE ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN, WE TURN A BLIND EYE. DON’T BLAME THE EX GOVERNOR FOR FIGHTING FOR THE LITTLE MAN BY EXPOSING THE CORRUPTION, INJUSTICE AND THE VICTIMIZATION. THANK THE EX GOVERNOR FOR HELPING THE LITTLE MAN TO EXHALE.

    Like 23
  15. Grant In Aid says:

    Because of our different perspectives the Commission of Enquiry will be thought of from different points of view; (black and white, Colonial/repressive.
    Something historic and monumental happened in 1978 and aught to be taken account in order to arrive at a clearer picture of where we came from, where we are and the possibilities ahead.
    The late Chief Minister, Hon Willard Wheatley was so amazingly thrifty and thoughtful in his management of our tiny archipelago of islands he managed to get us off “Grant in Aid”, or UK support. Not only that but with a “Budget Surplus of 1.3million$$). Like the current leader, Hon Wheatley was also a school teacher. http://bit.ly/GrantInAid
    “We should, however, never forget to be grateful to the UK for all its assistance over those lean and challenging years,” said Mr. Forbes…(during the celebratory Grant in Aid Dinner, Jan 1 2019)
    NOTE: BVI Financial Services Commission was enacted rather recent in 2001. Tourism, (hotels) had its beginning a mere twelve (12 years, 1966) prior to 1978 and Yacht charters began only a few years before, 72 – 73.
    Clearly the mindset of the leaders of the era was rather different; purposeful and frugal.
    Given our country’s advancement, (Community college and the high schools, available and educated citizens, a much more advance tourism and Finance service commission, communication, upgraded airports and seaports, Health system, connection to the outside world etc), clearly our progress should be much more advance. Recovery from disasters should not be dependent on the mercy of our mother country or more prudent and frugal neighbering islands. The COI is eons overdue and I’m certainly among those who see the opportunity and possibility of getting our country back on a sound foundation. We owe it to our offsprings and future generation #BviStrong

    Like 21
    Dislike 1
    • Just my 2 cents says:

      Well said. To add, a prerequisite for self determination and economic advancement is a radical redesign to the current defunct social order/systems especially the attitudes to our fellow Caribbean people and opportunities for investments beyond the ‘investment club’ approval.

  16. Irresponsible and Damaging says:

    Premier, if you love the BVI just resign, you are the one being irresponsible and damaging

    Like 16
    Dislike 2
    • Honestly? says:

      MR. PREMIER, IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS TO PLEASE STEP DOWN. THE PEOPLE THINK THAT YOU ARE UNFIT TO RUN THE COUNTRY. THE PEOPLE OF THE BVI, NO LONGER WANT YOU AS THEIR LEADER AND THAT IS BEING TRANSPARENT. YOUR SERVICES IS NO LONGER REQUIRED.

    • Truth be told says:

      Your refusal and weakness to shut CSC up is why your government and the people are in this nonsense,,, CSC and his public a*****sion towards the governor,,,,

  17. Window says:

    The Governor came here in 2017 with an agenda. If it was not for Irma and Maria this COI would have happened years ago. However, the hurricanes provides the VIP with the opportunity to put the record straight and show that only one side of the House was corrupt. Unfortunately, VIP did the opposite and took corruption to a new level. Politicians from both sides need to be punished.

    Like 19
    Dislike 1
  18. Sniffn says:

    Can’t believe he hasn’t gone bush!

  19. WHAT HAPPENS says:

    THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TAKE ADVICE FROM CONMEN AND RICH HAIRDRESSERS

  20. F**lish fahie says:

    This big f** s**t need to stop l***g
    The governor is and was a better person than you Andrew
    You ain’t fit to govern a country

  21. Take over says:

    I AM HOPING THE UK TAKE OVER FOR A WHILE. IF THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO TURN THE COUNTRY AROUND FOR THE BEST, THEN SO BE IT.

    Like 10
  22. WEW says:

    Love watching them all squirm. They all look a bit nervous lately

  23. T says:

    C S C , also was a NEWS CARRIER ALSO. “Ting 2 Talk”

  24. Charnele says:

    Why is it that our people (black people) always believe the white man over our own. When the whites are the most corrupt people on the planet. They come to us with a smile on they faces and evil in their hearts. Wake up black people and see them for who they really are. The Governor wants to embarrass Daniel and his government. Remember the saying “the devil is a white man”.

    Dislike 14
  25. Charnele says:

    Meant Fahie and his government

    • @Charnele says:

      Think you’ve been drinking the F***e Coolaid, that’s exactly what his racist black heart thinks about whites. You tarnish all whites with the same brush, but cry oppression if they do the same to blacks.

  26. VOter says:

    Hon. Premier, what is irresponsible and damaging is you telling the WHOLE world that the last government was the most corrupt EVER. Now the chickens come home to……

  27. HMMMM says:

    Fahie sounds more like Trump every day – throwing accusations everywhere to divert scrutiny of painful facts. The truth will come out and the People will be only the first to Judge the theft that has occurred from all in politics

  28. This place messed up says:

    Where that forty millions gone,,,,Why refused quality border security from britain and spent so many millions on unqualified, unequipped boat scurity,,, Those are genuine questions,,If you had been upfront with us tell us the truth there would not have been this inquiry,

  29. Uncle ruckus says:

    GOD BLESS THE WHITE MAN!

    Like 1
    Dislike 1

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