No COI recommendation should be implemented without public input
Premier Andrew Fahie says he believes no recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry (COI) Report should be implemented until a discussion is had with the people of the territory to get their input and have their voices heard.
Speaking at a press conference earlier today, Fahie said he sees the situation unfolding where the people of the territory will get a copy of the report, and everyone will have their say on its content.
“Neither side of stakeholders should attempt to implement any recommendations without speaking to the people of the Virgin Islands, getting their input and making sure that it is the best for the people of the Virgin Islands – the present and future generation of Virgin Islanders,” Fahie added.
The Premier also acknowledged that he understands residents are concerned about certain aspects of the impending issuance of the report to the public, but said he cannot lead based on emotion.
“Emotions will get you in trouble if you are to lead with true emotions. There is a constitution, and it clearly states what the role of the Governor is and what authority the Governor has in terms of the post with the Commission of Inquiry. And, granted, it must be one of the Acts amended because it was some forty years removed from the abolition of slavery so that is how long that act was in place. That must be updated to reflect modern practices because persons do have certain democratic rights that should be allowed under the law in the 21st century,” he added.
Respect confidentiality requirement by Governor
Fahie reiterated that in terms of recommendations, he cannot make specific comments until he has gained access to the report. However, he said whatever discussions must be had with the people will be done at an appropriate time. The Premier added that the respective stakeholders must acknowledge the confidentiality requirement issued by Governor John Rankin until the report is released to the public.
“I intend for myself and the government members who will have access to the report to respect the confidentiality and even I would ask members of the Opposition to respect the confidentiality and I would expect anybody who would have access to the report during that period to respect the confidentiality. You would not be able to comment on the recommendations until you see them. Also, be mindful they are just recommendations, and it would call for some quick readings,” Fahie added.
Providing a response
The Premier said once he has reviewed the report, his administration will provide a response. He added that as the elected leader of the territory, he will also prepare to engage the United Kingdom Overseas Territory Minister Amanda Milling and others in London on the findings of the COI report.
“As your government, we recognise the concerns many have raised about the COI and its report which has not been released to the public yet. Although I have not received a copy of the report yet, I want to report to the people of the Virgin Islands that discussions with the governor have been ongoing,” Fahie said.
“As Premier, I wish to reiterate that I am willing to put all perceived political differences aside to ensure that we work as one Virgin Islands people so we can further strengthen our systems, our legislations, constitution and any other areas solely in the best interest of the people of the Virgin Islands without compromise and without experience any retrograde steps to the historical aspirations of the people of the Virgin Islands as outlined in the constitution and without experiencing any retrograde step in regards to our political, financial and constitutional advancement,” he added.
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Interesting how they don’t call for public input before waiving tenders and wasting tax payers money.
“Emotions will get you in trouble if you are to lead with true emotions“
That, ladies and gentlemen, is 100% meaningless
verbal diarrhoea. He does a lot of that.
Agreed
Rouse the mob to defend your precarious position of ignorance, neglect, and criminal activity within the government. Brave words of a socialist dictatorship….
Cannot wait to hear the findings of the COI..
I HAVE MY UK FLAG ALREADY FLYING. Welcome back UK!
Be careful what you wish for. The last thing we want is for this place to turn into the sunshine branch the over governed, over taxed , overrated mess that is the UK.
We just want rid of the cr**ks and cronies and connivers who currently run the place and a system of government that prevents them from coming back.
Did the problem that gave rise to the recommendation involve public input? Sorry to say, this was caused by big head idiots, who know nothing about economics and finance, that we put in office, year after year.
Nonsense!
It would be the governor who would decide your fate.
Stop trying to put the people between yourself and your destiny.
yo shudda think about dah when yo wuz carrying news to the governor
Andrew Fahie, When you are going to get it through your head that you don’t have a say in what happens with the COI.
You want our input now! Please, whatever the UK decides we understand. You brought us here.
However, we the people want:
1. You to get back all the monies given to the fishermen and farmers.
2. We want all the Statutory Board members to be removed and replaced with competent, trained and qualified individuals.
3. CSC to reimburse ALL the monies that was given to him.
4. MV to return his salary for all missed House of Assembly meetings.
5. No monies be given to Politicians.
6. Monies given to politicians over the past 3 years to be Audited and
7. You, Andrew Alturo Fahie, could never run for any political office again.
You have failed the people of these beautiful Virgin Islands.
BVI Love!
Don’t forget the Body Guards saga that got lost somewhere over there.
Account for all unexplained wealth!!!!! The little guy has to why not the wealthy.
We are important to you now? No public input for a referendum, but you want our input to save you all.
“…no recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry (COI) Report should be implemented until a discussion is had with the people of the territory to get their input and have their voices heard.”
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Hmmm. What he wants the people to say after reading the report?
The Premier should be careful of what he wishes. If I am reading the tea leaves correctly, I believe the people of the territory wants some kind of changes with the status quo. I doubt a plurality would will have significant issues with the adoption of any recommendations.
Be that as it may, I’m not sure where the Premier is going with this as I don’t believe its in the peoples power to accept or resist whatever recommendations there may be.
I think from the Premier’s stand point, he would like the “people to resist” any recommendations, but I don’t think the larger public is on his side. Many of them want him gone.
I see this as a matter first and foremost between the U.K., and it’s overseas territory. Who has the power to implement any recommendations or deny them?
Look, there are consequences to everything we do in life good and bad. When we blank up, we have to be held accountable. If the COI recommendations are about accountability and doing things differently and transparently, I am all for it.
My only hope here is that there are persons within the media who are prepared to read that COI report, and report it to the public accurately and without bias.
We didn’t have any input when the farmer and fisherman checks were distributed. I could name several other where we didn’t have an input.
Something the Governor is failing to appreciate is that the period between him sending the Report to Fahie etc, and it becoming generally released, will allow all manner of disinformation and unfounded speculation to circulate. This could be really disruptive, and could be dangerous, especially for the tourism and financial services sectors. The sooner the report is generally released the better. Sunshine is the best disinfectant! Get it out there!
How’s this for speculation, Resident? That report is too hot for the Governor to handle alone. He was told to read and understand it, then drop it off to all concerned. He will then take the next flight to the UK. There they will all wait and carefully observe what happens next. But eventually the hammer will fall.
We too can learn a lot by observing the named recipients of that report. I don’t think we would have long to wait to get some interesting interpretations of what is in that report. So much for confidentiality. There will be sunshine and it will be a spectacle to behold.
When you took office did you get the public input in your decisions as to
A)Whether or not to take the money offered from the UK to helpSalvage the affects of Irma on the territory
B) Whether or not it was better to take the free help from the UK to guard our shores instead of wasting thousands of dollars ill equipped barges
C) Whether or not it was a good thing to tax already taxed Money going out of Money Gram
D) Whether or not it was practical to give politicians money for one term in office , when so many people are suffering.
E) Whether or not the government money should be used to pay such exorbitant lawyers fee to defend the government during the COI when it was you who asked for it in the first place
Don’t start up the public when you call this on us . We are not going to defend you .
We would stand up for our rights as a people and not you . The worst Premiet in the history of this country
F) Whether or not
When they were giving themselves raises the public wasn’t included
Didn’t paid over 6 million dollars to defend us?
Didn’t we paid over 6 million dollars to defend us?
But that is not what the reporters asked you! Simple yes or no, Do you plan to go to UK before the people has seen the report (not before recommendations are implemented but before we see the report as a people) YES or NO? Telling the reporters p**s about the Governor and constitution when those things have nothing to do with the question.
Trying to make it about the UK time line for implementing, when we want to know about your corrupt government’s time line for rushing to go beg the UK for mercy!
Before you go to UK to try to cover up sections of the report, we want to see the WHOLE report for ourselves!
Your time is up! And I hope all those Board members get lashed too! And all those political appointees get lashed too. All of them with zero qualifications or experience except them is VIP members. Lash for all!
The bloodline.Fahie y’all are not a part of it.They played y’all and y’all fool the people of the BVI for many years.Now the BVI is soon gone.
Government will banking on the illiterate to save them!
All the idiots that were talking about jail time will soon wrap their tail between their legs in shame and cry themselves to sleep. People are so emotional they don’t stop to think for a second. They are too emotionally immature or uneducated to know the difference between stupidity and crimes. You need evidence of a crime not just speculation based on political mischief. The BVI Airways debacle could be a crime just as any thing else but where is the evidence. Losing money doesn’t add up to a crime unless there is evidence that shows foul play. Until evidence is found it’s just stupidity by the government to make such a bad deal. Unfortunately stupidity by itself Is not a crime so the only punishment is by voting out these government members that are stupid.
To many of you all only looking at the COI for the ‘aha, ah got yuh now’ moment.
The plane debacle may not have been a ‘crime’, but it was poor financial management and governance. Using high priced barges may not have been a ‘crime’ but it was poor financial management and governance. Both financial management and good governance were being looked at by the COI.
So stop looking only for a committal of a crime, which the COI never claimed to be investigating.
Well duh, everybody knows that we have been plagued by mismanagement of funds. My point is no crimes were highlighted. We didn’t need a COI to tell us about mismanagement of funds. One can look at the paving and repaving of roads almost monthly to show that funds are not being spent well. The purpose of the COI is to review the Territory’s governance and make recommendations for improvement. By their words the purpose is to establish whether there is evidence of corruption, abuse of office or other serious dishonesty that has taken place in public office in recent years, and if so what conditions allowed this to happen. We all had a chance to watch the COI and some people continually talk about somebody going jail despite no crime being uncovered. There wasn’t anything groundbreaking from the COI for anybody that pays attention to the HOA debates.
Really? … Everyone knew that HOA members failed to declare their interests and lied about them when they did…
I could go on.
@Haha
Talking $#it before you have the facts, hmmm?
How do you know that formal criminal investigations and formal criminal trials, if warranted, are not recommended?
Misick in Turks didn’t commit a crime per say when he took bribes. That was unethical but yet still him and 4 or 5 others faced criminal prosecution and investigation.
What? Government officials taking bribes is a crime in the British territories and most civilized countries. I mean a simple google could have prevented such a foolish comment. How could you even think it wasn’t illegal to take a bribe.
The UK should make you and the qu**n of the House pay back all those lawyers fees.
I guess he’s assuming the public WILL see it ? As far as I’m concerned it should be made public the same time HOA gets it. That way we’ll understand why they start jumping from a roofs of a tall buildings.
Time coming for all living BVI politicians to book one way flight tickets to primitive countries that don’t speak English. Perhaps Russia could use your talents of ************ accounting, inaccurate audits, pure BS, etc. in their shrinking economy.
Not about the public. It’s about the govt. corruption, cronyism, ineptness, inefficiency… The truth will come out – but will there be accountability…
@What?The people don’t have a say in this our own people cause this and whatever happens if you don’t like it leave even if you are from the BVI. This is what you said no recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry (COI) Report should be implemented until a discussion is had with the people of the territory to get their input and have their voices heard.”: My question to you is who you going to have this discussion with and what are you going to discuss? The case is closed and we will soon have the verdict. Whatever happens all who is against the COI and how it’s handled don’t think about starting any trouble because the ship will be in these waters. I do hope the UK takes us over and help us to get out of this $h1t hole we are in.
I think we are for the most part on the same page. I agree with the COI, and I do not believe that the public at this stage has a role to play in the outcome of this COI report short of voting every last one of these people out of office who they think are not good for the country.
The damage has already been done. The time for any consultation with public is over. It’s time to hear what the report says, what it recommends, and act accordingly.
As for your question to me: “…who you going to have this discussion with and what are you going to discuss?”
I think you that question is best posed to the Premier. He is the one who seeks the public input prior to the implementation of any recommendations. Not I.
These man ask the public anything when them was going after our social security money? Ok!