Mystery ‘sage’ blames public for Fahie’s downfall
A weekly editorial published anonymously on social media has suggested that the public should be blamed for former Premier Andrew Fahie’s spectacular fall from grace.
Fahie was convicted earlier this month on charges of conspiracy to import more than five kilograms of cocaine, conspiracy to engage in money laundering, attempted money laundering, and foreign travel in aid of racketeering. He could face life imprisonment when his sentence comes up on April 29, 2024.
The editorial, authored by the pseudonymous ‘Friday Sage’, described Fahie as eloquent, charismatic and decisive, among other things; arguing that he was a man of conviction who was wrapped up in an enigma.
Fahie was hailed for being well-positioned and fearless enough to make the tough decisions that would have allowed the BVI to flourish. However, it claimed that he unfortunately ‘fell off the high wire’, likely because functional checks and balances were brushed aside during his administration.
The writer hinted that red flags of Fahie’s excesses were evident when he unprecedentedly chose his own ‘considerable’ security detail early on in his administration.
While pointing to controversial episodes such as the farmers and fishermen stimulus and the role played by the Social Security Board, the writer accused Fahie of showing signs of autocracy.
But the harshest criticisms were saved for the public, with residents being accused of tempting Fahie into using the treasury like a personal bank account and of making ‘avaricious demands’ on ‘politicians’ slush fund’ — a measure since removed after the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report.
According to the Sage, although the verdict in the Miami courtroom that convicted Fahie was spoken in the judge’s voice, it was the people of the BVI who delivered it.
“BVI loaded the gun. The judge only pulled the trigger on the advice of the jury,” the Sage wrote.
Other lawmakers were accused of being complicit in Fahie’s slide to the abyss, with the Sage arguing that they were perhaps compromised by the proverbial, ‘Greedy Bill’, even as state power was increasingly exercised by a single office.
The Sage also pointed to a widely publicised feud between Fahie and former Governor Augustus Jaspert where the two jostled constantly over power in the territory.
It also highlighted the complicit silence of lawmakers and others in the face of Fahie’s steadfast refusal to accept technical support from the UK when the BVI’s borders were closed during COVID-19 lockdowns
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The writer of this piece is really pushing it. No one can be blamed for Fahie’s conduct except himself. This same writer has written other pieces that were biased to promote one of his friends who in my opinion was the most unproductive ministers of government and district representatives. The problem with the BVI is that people have too many motives and so they don’t call things as they are. Their views often depends on who the person is. The writer lost all credibility with me when he tried to bend the public’s mind to help revive the dead political career of his running buddy who was helpful to him and his boss when he was in government and unhelpful, unproductive and down right rude to locals.
Who give Fahie access to a computer to write this garbage!
“Premier Fahie was well positioned and un-afraid to make the tough decisions that would have allowed BVI to flourish”….this did it for me.. making deals to traffic drugs would make the BVI Flourish? this is exactly why the BVI is where it’s at because we continue to condone bad behavior of “good people”.
I myself begged Andrew Fahie to sell the country out to the Cartel. I was watching too much Narcos on Netflix (great show) and I called up Andrew and said “Andrew, we need to sell the country out, we need to bring in more drugs. And you, you personally should go up there to see the money personally. Just think about it, in twenty years they can make a really good movie about it, or a limited TV series. The man they get to play you might win an Oscar.” and Andrew took it seriously. So sorry guys, it turns out Andrew’s downfall was my fault.
Jokes aside we really need to stop taking every delusional person who makes Facebook posts or understands how to do a livestream seriously.
Fahie is a crook , end of.
Many persons are commenting about the BVI but cannot do without the BVI.
Without the BVI it will be a little Harder to find jobs in the Caribbean.
Ridiculous assertions in the article. AF is an oaf who bought his D1 votes. Sage either unaware or an apologist. Most people know he’s a crook from long
I agree with the sage.and if the people of the bvi cannot see that it’s their greedy mines that cause fahie to be where he is today it would only repeat itself. the greed of the bvi people cause it.its the greed why they voted back the same government into office believing that they would be getting more. so much benefited from the government coffers ,the people money that it swayed voters.what a shame. the people of the bvi accepted bribe money so obviously they would vote for the money again. but people this time it’s different. all monies must be accounted for.
..but still you are here working in the BVI
as if your Country is 100% good
I agree with Sage, Fahie is certainly a man of conviction, by all accounts!
so this is an attempt to downplay the greed and corruption as simply misguided patriotism?
While I understand what the Writer is trying to say, If the people of the Virgin Islands are who made Fahie do what he did, Then He was never suited to be Premier of this Territory. According to an ever-crying Senior, Everyone in the Then Fahie’s Administration who had dealings with the People’s Social Security Funds, All 40 Mil. Should be locked up all now or be made to pay back every red cent. This Territory will NEVER be the same until Someone step forward and say it was wrong and We need to give back that Money. Watch it. This Territory will NEVER be the same until Justice is served. I hope the UK reads these Blogs. Those who are left are going around thinking that All is Well But they are not aware of what is coming for them. People of the BVI just follow the process, Fahie will NOT go down alone.
ALLWAYS SOMEONE ELSES FAULT. should be the license plates instead of Natures Little Secret
What kind of nick knack paddy whack is this? This place have some characters I’lol say that.
Agree with Mystery Sage
Many suspected and many knew as they currently do about others.
But voted him in repeatedly.
The US strongly suspected as was reported in the internal media several years ago. They followed up resulting in the proof.
Ny make bail and come meet your maker money can’t save you hope you reading
He wants to blame people for what he done blacker and his mother tell the Fed what he did he did it
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, some will be for the bs that was done and some will be against. Persons seems to always point fingers and play the blame game, but in this case I won’t rejoice but it’s his own GREEDY WAYS GOT HIM WHERE HE’S AT…also MOCKING THE LORD. The Almighty sit high and looks down below, many can do the crime, but not the time. Everyone is turning away from the mere fact that even if they took Him to the well he was willing to drink. When did he have the people of the territory at first hand? We were a little dot on the map now more known not for the good things but what our former leader did. He helped some maybe to say but many are those in his camp especially when work it’s the same set…now the new premiere just want to party, travel, check out the ….
Well written. Truthful & honest.
My understanding of this Friday message was that in many ways we BVI people have become uncontrollably greedy. There is no check on us getting whatever we can get when ever we can. Over decades it has gone from a fun way to poke BVI noses at the Brits and wyts, by taking some from here and there, and sharing it around a little. Those people who do the sharing are heroes among us because they got one over on the system and because they gave us something sweet. Robin Hoods. By now it is way down the line and everyone expects something and many will make bold moves to get a lot. Look how fast boats became the primary employer of our young men over those years. Look at the gold necklaces and big houses, cars and ‘entrepreneurs’ doing big things with start-up cash from … where? Same in government with contracts. Same in elections. Same in stimulus time.
Andrew Fahie is the old BVI gone mad, wrapped up in one character who had many good traits and many bad. But boy were they out of control. Just like the rest of us.
BVI News – you should be ashamed. Since when is an anonymous post on social media newsworthy? Have some journalistic integrity and don’t give any credence to things like this that Are Not News.
Fahie’s greed caused him his own downfall. Period
I BELIEVE ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED THE STIMULUS PACKAGE FARMERS AND FISHERMEN
SHOULD GIVE AN ACCOUNT FOR THAT MONEY.
LETS SEE HOW THAT GOES,WHERE CAN START THERE,GIVE THE PUBLIC BACK THERE HAD EARN MONEY. WHY NO ONE LOOKING INTO TO THAT.
PEOPLE WHO DIDN’T NEED IT GOT IT AND OTHERS WHO DID NEVER SEEN A PENNY, WHILE OTHERS BUY CARS AND SPEND IT ON THERE WH**ES AND MISSUSE THE PUBLIC FUNDS. ANDREW DID TOO MUCH OF S**T, WHERE IT LOOK LIKE HE WAS DOING GOOD, ONLY FOR HIS OWN RICHNESS AND SEE WHERE IT GOT US TODAY.
Who to blame.