LETTER TO EDITOR: The animosity between Governor and Premier
Dear Editor,
As anyone really noticed the heightening animosity between Governor Augustus Jaspert and Premier Andrew Fahie?
The more I live, the more I believe the BVI — particularly its politics — is wildly tempestuous and increasingly unsettling.
Indeed, there is never a dull moment in our beautiful, exotic territory. In fact, instead of calling us a territory, I prefer to call us something resembling a television drama. From our leaders to our citizens — there is something to smile about, be outraged about, and something to comment on every single day that God blesses us with life.
Do you know the BVI’s most popular daytime drama? I’m sure you’ve heard of it. It’s called ‘BVI politics’ and it airs every day in Nature’s Little Secret. It’s a favourite and you’ll often see residents reviewing the latest episodes on blogs and social media.
In the latest episode which unfolded yesterday December 3, the tension heightens between Governor Jaspert and Premier Fahie after Jaspert goes to the media and reveals that his office is overrun by a litany of complaints about the Fahie-administration.
From claims about a ‘lack of transparency’ to ‘intimidation tactics’, Jaspert said he’s received complaints from many public officers and residents alike. As was expected, the Premier didn’t take this very well and took to social media to say his piece on the matter. Calling the Governor’s statements “ambiguous, damaging, and reckless”, Premier Fahie dared the Governor to substantiate these claims.
I know many were pulled into the war of words that were being thrown, but I was pulled into something much bigger than the argument. For the first time since I started truly observing, I noticed that these two officials have had a strained relationship for the past several months, at least.
It seems I wasn’t paying attention to previous episodes, or I would have noticed that it’s been this way for some time.
I know the Premier often uses proverbial language in the House of Assembly and the public domain which suggests that he and Governor Jaspert often ‘butt heads’ especially when it comes to the direction the territory should take. But I always thought this was nothing to worry about as this is normal in every working relationship.
Moreover, I’ve never seen clear evidence of Governor Jaspert directly responding to the Premier’s words. Therefore as viewers, we were always speculating that they aren’t “the best of friends”.
But it seems as though there’s a lot beneath the surface of the relationship between these two. Do you remember in September where the Governor went against Premier Fahie’s wishes and invited the UK navy ship, HMS Medway to secure the Virgin islands borders? At the time, the governor said he had tried to convince the government to invite the UK security earlier, but this was refused.
He didn’t say much about it. But as a member of the public witnessing the skirmish between these two officials, I believe there was a bit of back and forth between the two characters on the matter of the UK navy ship before the Governor showed who was ‘boss’ and invited the ship without Premier’s approval. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but I’m sure I’m not the only one who sees that these two are fighting a battle that is both public and private at the same time. I can’t help but think that their public comments are extensions of the meetings they have in private where, I imagine, they ‘butt heads’ a lot.
Different sides of the same coin
You can see they are two very distinct characters. Premier Fahie may be the more vocal and seemingly more aggressive one but viewers should not underestimate the silent, passive aggressive moves of the governor.
Notice he doesn’t respond quickly to the jabs and punches being thrown right away. Rather, he’s careful and strategic, choosing the perfect moments to launch his deadly attacks. And oh yes, he always goes for the jugular. I won’t lie, I quite like the way he does his thing. One can never say he’s attacking out of spite or just to score political points because he always speaks at the right moment — never out of turn or out of context. For example, he probably knew that corruption was here in the BVI all along. But he waited until the largest cocaine bust in the history of the BVI to call it out.
And people must have been complaining to him about this government and the one before that. But he waits a few months before his official departure from the BVI to have a regular catch-up with the media and call out whatever he says he’s aware of. Strategic?
My analysis of the characters is not to make light of the matter at hand. Allegations are being thrown around that a growing number of people are not pleased with the leadership style of the Fahie-led government. Additionally, people are concerned that the BVI isn’t making progress in the areas of transparency and accountability — things we aspire to every day.
However, I couldn’t help but notice that there seems to be much more beneath the surface of the relationship (or the lack thereof) between the Governor and Premier. I also believe it runs deeper than the ‘UK vs BVI’ narrative. If nothing else, this latest episode has shown me that the Governor is not a pushover, is strategic and that he doesn’t plan to leave this territory without giving the beautiful Virgin islanders something they’ll always remember.
As for the Premier, we can never be sure what Governor Jaspert’s truest intentions are. Be that as it may, I don’t believe His Excellency is fabricating these claims. There is obviously real concerns about your leadership. Don’t get me wrong, my personal belief is that you and you’re team have handled this unprecedented pandemic exceptionally, in the grand scheme of things. But words such as ‘corruption’, ‘victimisation’, and ‘dictatorship’ are being used far too often to just dismiss as ‘the government stepping on a few toes in the interest of something greater’.
My advice is, though unsolicited, is for you do a little introspection and investigation of your own before outrightly rubbishing and firing back at the governor’s reports. The people being forced to watch you two constantly going at each other’s throats deserve that much.
Yours truly,
Waiting To See What Happens Next
(The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the BVI News or its members.)
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WOW !!! Now that was inspiring. THANKS “Waiting to see what happens next”
So love this. The Premier needs to sort his house out and stop trying to make the Governor look bad when he is only reporting facts. A humble response to this would have been better. If there are problems, accept them and fix them.
Rubbish the governor talking person that are the governor friend who cant handle the premier how they want because he dont jump when they say talking s**t report to jasper, we dont want a yes man and a how high premier Andrew stand your ground for to shall pass let jasper throw his stone our houses not built out of glass. Let jasper cart his a… back to the UK.
We need England to show Premier Andrew Fahie who is the boss.
IT IS TIME FOR ENGLAND TO SHOW THIS PREMIER WHO THE TRUE BOSS IS. KEEP DISTURBING THE HORNETS NEST BECAUSE ALL THE HORNETS IS GOING TO ATTACK AT THE SAME TIME. ALL YOU ARE DOING MR. PREMIER IS SETTING THE PEOPLE UP TO SUFFER AND PAY FOR THE PROBLEMS YOU ARE STARTING WITH YOUR BOSS THE UK. HONESTLY THE PEOPLE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO REMOVE THIS PREMIER FROM OFFICE BEFORE HIS TERM IS UP OR THE PEOPLE WILL PAY A HEAVY PRICE. THE PREMIER AND HIS FAMILY CAN RUN TO THEIR BUNKER WITH THEIR ARMED SECURITY AND HIDE WHILE THE PEOPLE SHALL PERISH.
The Governor is speaking the truth. The PREMIER IS A UNDERCOVER T****T. HE WANT TO ENSLAVE THE PEOPLE. RIOT WILL BREAK OUT IN THIS PLACE. YES, LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE FORWARD THEIR CONCERNS TO THE GOVERNOR INCLUDING MYSELF. THIS PREMIER IS A VERY DANGEROUS MAN. DON’T LET THAT MAN THAT IS ALWAYS INSERTING GOD IN EVERY CONVERSATION OR SPEECH FOOL YOU. HE WANT TO ENSLAVE THE PEOPLE OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS MENTALITY AND PHYSICALLY.
To the Editor. Too much nice wording and reading . Call a spade a spade. We all know what the problem is here. Call it out
I am in agreement with you.
I thought the Hon. Premier and the Hon. Mr. Malone handled the whole lock down well… The Hon. Mr. Wheatley has made doing business here a bureaucratic nightmare that only gets worse. Then we got to reopening – This has been nothing less than administrative chaos with departments all running without coordination… It rivals the previous government’s disastrous post-Irma comedy-or-errors.
My confidence in the Hon. Premier’s administration has gone from positive to negative. Collectively, if an election was coming, right now the ruling party wouldn’t collect any of my five votes, but not sure to whom to turn as an alternative.
I have my popcorn waiting. Back between 2015 and 2019, Fahie got up in the House of Assembly at every opportunity and declared that the then NDP government was the most corrupt ever. He is now there to bring that evidence to light, and we are still waiting.
The same Governor NEVER once made such remarks during 2015 to 2019 under NDP watch. Now the same Governor, who was Fahie best friend then, is saying that laws are needed to battle corruption. And Fahie is saying “No Corruption”
Popcorn taste good. Could do with a little more salt though.
The d**n worst leader this Country have produced this far. He seem to think that only he knows it all and is the only one that knows everything and his word is LAW. So sorry to say it but, his ADMINISTRATION SEEMS TO BE AFRAID TO SAY ANYTHING IN PUBLIC UNLESS HE APPROVES AND HAVE THE FINAL SAY OR “OFF WITH YOUR HEADS IT SHALL BE”. HIS WHOLE CABINET IS SUFFERING FROM COMPLACENCY-ITIS
Way too much drama & complaining is going on because everyone including business people want to lead the territory despite who were elected.
Instead of complaining realize this is a democracy your chance comes every four years where the lowest person can rise to the top.
I commend the resignation of the Baroness who probably would have been privy to the private plans for over seas territories under her ministry.
When we look at what is unsaid that speaks volumes…
This is a well written article that’s worth reading.
Everyone who lives in BVI knows there is corruption. Periodically it is exposed at the lower levels where unimportant low level and mostly non BVIslanders are caught and prosecuted.
But the Chiefs remain untouched. And corruption is not just about drugs, it is about paying your friends to say good things about you in and on the media and attack the people asking questions.
Sound familiar?
All of yall falling for the governors divide and conquer plan and its sad
Nobody ain’t falling for anything. It’s the same usual people commenting negatively on every article with the Premier. Some people will forever be salty after the voters made their decision.
Superb letter. Obviously keeping track of whats going on. Meanwhile our comments are not anonymous. The VIP mandate for election was nothing more than a joke as the NDP just collapsed. I know they wont get my votes except for district 5. The government wants indipendence thats obvious. The Chinese will be taking over. The govt is so far left it will be communism soon.
VIP be gone. 2022 can’t come fast enough.
This primer is a w****d b***h
This is the work of few disgruntled people playing politics. Not buying any of this. The current administration is doing a great job under very difficult circumstances.
Wise men comes from the east, so the opposite kind comes from the west! LMAO!!
The premiere is a man-child. As petty and as childish as they come.