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No ‘clear-cut corruption’ coming from COI evidence — Premier

Premier Andrew Fahie

Premier Andrew Fahie has argued that there is no clear-cut corruption emanating from evidence the Commission of Inquiry (COI) has examined.

Speaking on a ZBVI radio interview recently, the Premier said: “We have done a lot of things right in the territory, more than the areas where we are under fire for.”

He added: “But as you listen to the Inquiry, you have found, [and] I have heard no area and other persons have heard no area to say ‘well, alright, this is clear-cut corruption’.”

While Premier Fahie conceded that there might be need for administrative improvements in certain areas, he insisted there is no one in his government or any other past government as far as he has heard from the COI that has demonstrated serious dishonesty or impropriety.

“Wherever money was given for a grant, whether persons agreed with the structure used or who should’ve gotten and who shouldn’t have gotten, because everyone becomes an analyst during this time, the point is that all of it has hit the target — the people of the Virgin Islands,” the Premier said.

“I know nothing else that no one else knows except for what has been furnished to the Commission of Inquiry by the government of the Virgin Islands,” Premier Fahie said.

Nothing hidden

And according to the Premier, there is nothing hidden in the inquiry as the government’s lawyers would have seen whatever was in the possession of the COI.

He further stated that based on everything that has been stated in the inquiry, the government has done their best over the years.

Premier Fahie drew attention to the territory’s financial services sector as well as its tourism product, and said the two sectors are both areas the BVI can be proud of.

The Premier also heaped praise on the territory’s public officers but said the structure that they are in is not modernised for the challenges that the government will face.

He said this is an area in the constitution directly under the ambit of the governor, and said this should not go unnoticed while fingers are being pointed at the local government alone.

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25 Comments

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  1. Citizen of BVI says:

    Premier I have fully supported and voted for you. However, according to the timeline given by the COI, the report isn’t due to be sent to the Governor for another week or so. Does this mean that you have been given information prior to the Governor? If so, let’s see cold hard evidence. I’m sick of the may, maybe, I think information that you and your ministers detail.
    Give us evidence of no corruption found by the COI, or keep quiet until the report is made public.

    Like 62
  2. heckler says:

    The premier jumped the gun

    Like 20
  3. a picture saves a thousand words says:

    I know corruption when i see it.

    Like 24
  4. 1EYE says:

    The burden of proof is on the accuser not the defendant.

    If there was no evidence provided then that means there was none found. They can’t publish that they have this conclusion without evidence and therefore will take whatever action. The report is based on what evidence they found vs the accusations that were made by Gus.

    Like 1
    Dislike 6
  5. It coming down the track… says:

    Premier go sit down and let the COI do its work and keep far from our social security fund. We all know why you put the vix*n at the head……..so you can steal our money like your colleagues did in Antigua.

    Like 31
  6. PT09 says:

    If the Premier thinks that the COI hasn’t found any form of corruption then he believes that all the crap he has been doing is alright by his standers. Here is just one for you to think about; paying barges over $300,000.00 for one month’s work when the navy was offered to you for free, I can go on but this is just to give you something to think about.

    Like 42
  7. Belonger says:

    Leaked report?

  8. confused says:

    “no serious dishonesty”? That’s ok then….just regular dishonesty is fine….

    Like 36
  9. :) says:

    This is what some people fail to realize there is a difference with stupidity, bad governance and corruption. BVI Airways etc wasn’t corruption at least there is no proof of it but it clearly shows stupidity and bad governance.

    Like 15
    Dislike 1
  10. YOUTH says:

    Premier do not study the same negative people blogging negative daily out of personal hatred.

    Like 2
    Dislike 12
  11. Is that how it works? says:

    Isn’t that for the judge to decide? Are you usurping the judiciary’s authority again? Tell us then, if not clear-cut evidence, what evidence of corruption is there? Sit down and wait for someone to arrive with the cuffs. On the bright side, you’re likely to have friends next to you in cuffs too.

    Like 9
    Dislike 1
  12. Hmmmmm says:

    The Government continues to perform well despite the many challenges such as covid and other areas. Nice job.

    Like 2
    Dislike 19
    • @Hmmm says:

      Give us some examples.

    • descent into moral bankuptcy says:

      The “Government” emerges from the hearings shorn of credibility, mired in sleaze, and invoking political expediency and sheer mendacity. The sheer inanition and vacuity in the face of the life-threatening challenges of Irma, Covid, drugs and climate change, is truly awful to witness. Surrounded by a cult of self-serving toadies, they continue to preen and strut. However it is manifestly clear that this emperor has no clothes.

  13. clear as day says:

    Fahie that is the problem with a l**r, you have been doing it so long that you start believing your own fables to the point where you become a danger to everyone around you.

    Like 17
    Dislike 1
  14. Anonymous says:

    Last month it was “No evidence of corruption”
    Now it’s just not “clear cut”?

    Like 12
    Dislike 1
  15. lol says:

    Smoke comes from fire. Fishermen never say they sell rotten fish

  16. Young Concerned Citizen says:

    So you are saying there is no person without blemish and that all people are perfect. We ALL know this is a lie. One of the best places to find wrongdoing is in Land Registry and those there seem not to answer to anyone, because they will just TRY to use the AG’s Office as their cover because the Government cannot afford lawsuits.

    Even if you have the evidence regarding corruption each hand is washing the other and the one man left standing to speak the truth is labelled dishonest/liar/damaging someone’s reputation through defamation.

    LAWYERS here (not all) love to say their clients are righteous even though s/he knows they may not be. Every person is entitled to legal representation. LAWYERS here (not all) love to work on both sides of the table and the honest client fails to realise a deal was cut before and s/he is left hanging to dry without justice. It is hard to find a LAWYER here that is willing to go against another colleague if s/he is a highly respected attorney because of fear of their business ceasing to exist afterwards.

    The sad thing is these type of persons (just one of many professionals) are looked up to in society as gods. BUT you are not gods. They are humans just like everyone else.

    I have been told by a highly esteemed lawyer in the Virgin Islands, what wins a case is not who is right or wrong, but who argues the best case. But I say this, if the one who argues a case is without honesty, integrity and fairness, no justice will ever prevail and the legal system will eventually fail, until all trust by the people is corroded. Every case should be about TRUTH AND FAIRNESS.

    I am just one young person who has to say out loud, I have lost trust in the system we have in place today. Things need to change for the better soon.

  17. Sad says:

    You are your own worst enemy! Shut your mouth!! Do you have an advisor or counselor..you need sone serious counseling!

  18. Things done right says:

    “ We have done a lot of things right in the territory, more than the areas where we are under fire for. such as…..?

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