No regrets! I wanted to be Premier
Third District Representative and senior legislator Julian Fraser has confirmed rumours that he demanded the seat of Premier when he was asked to partner with the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) after the April 24 general election.
When the election concluded with no clear winner, different political parties began exploring the idea of forming an alliance in order to come up with a seven-member coalition needed to form a government in the BVI.
Since the VIP finished with six elected candidates, they only needed to snatch one more person to form the government. That’s when they approached Fraser and asked him to partner with them to form a coalition. Since then, rumours have been circulating that Fraser demanded the seat of Premier but was refused.
In addition to those rumours, Premier Wheatley recently admitted that the VIP’s negotiations with Fraser broke down because his demands were simply too much to accommodate. However, the premier refused to openly state what those demands were.
But at a recent press conference hosted by the newly-formed Opposition, Fraser confirmed that he did ask for the seat of Premier when he was asked to form an alliance with the VIP.
“I told the VIP in no uncertain terms — I have no regrets and I have no apologies — the only way I’ll work with you guys is if I am the chief. The Premier,” said Fraser who also hinted that the ultimatum was rooted in lack of trust. “There was no discussion other than I have to be the Premier, no question. I am not going into a battle with people I don’t — I don’t want to say ‘trust’ — but I’m not going into battle unless I’m in charge.”
During the press conference, Marlon Penn, Representative for the Eighth District, also hinted that lack of trust as well as past actions of the VIP were among the reasons he turned down several persons who asked him to form an alliance with them.
“I had over seven members of the party (VIP) calling me but I stood on principle. We ran an anti-corruption campaign and when we formed the Unity Government, it exposed significant mal-administration and challenges with the VIP administration. We saw the Auditor General reports and the concerns that were raised. Then, for me, it was very clear that my first point of negotiation would not be working with the VIP when we have a viable option of working with the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) and the Progressive United (PU) to form a government,” Penn explained.
Although Penn, Fraser, and other elected candidates turned down offers to form an alliance, At-Large Representative Lorna Smith broke ranks with the National Democratic Party (NDP) and formed an alliance with the VIP. She was given the post Deputy Premier because of it.
Although leaders of the NDP, PVIM and PU and several sections of the community have expressed disapproval and shock over Smith’s decision to form an alliance with the VIP, the Deputy Premier is resolute and maintains that her decision was made in the best interest of the BVI.
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You ain’t regret what you asked for even though it was after you had agreed to other terms and positions. You ain’t regret holding up Government thinking you’d have all the time to make your move cause you feel nobody else could have moved while you waited.
You only regret is that someone else played their hand before you and colt your game. Go sit down and learn to use grease and a comb. You aren’t deserving of such a position simply by being elected as a senior senator.
To hell with fraser only his people in district 3 will suffer
Asking for head coach. Now that Frazer is NOT Primer, who is responsible for immigration? Hope that the person take it by the horn entirely FAST!
Thank you Fraser for being an honest man and being straight up. We do not need to hear no sorry ass excuse, no show on every single media platform you can find and no idiotic lies like what Lorna resorted to. An insult to all those who have any level of intelligence in this country. Zero respect for Lorna. All she had to say was she did not want to see Ronnie as her premier but no, sticking to her anansi stories with booboo cindy as her handler. Lord help us. But you Fraser, you straight up and direct and I love and respect you for that. VIP government is a joke…I would not join them under any circumstance, unless I was in charge too! Enjoy your sun shining week and give them incompetent set of liars and snakes more heat for the benefit of this country. Thank you.
fraser is delusional at best
he wanted the same from NDP and PVIM that’s why they could not form the coalition.
It is a problem when a person cannot see their ego, pride, & greed is causing their downfall as well as others. He and the others are a disgrace. They are all power hungry. Now they will try to destroy but make it seem as otherwise. Not good.
Sorry, I am struggling with Marlon Penn speaking about integrity while running in a party with Myron Walwyn who is currently awaiting trial for breach of trust offences (i.e. corruption) during his tenure as a Minister in the same NDP administration that Marlon was a part of. Also, the COI report uncovered possible instances of maladministration that spanned administrations (i.e. both NDP and VIP). That finding led Commissioner Hickinbottom to recommend, temporary direct rule. Therefore, I am honestly STRUGGLING with the sentiments of both Marlon and Julian Fraser against whom an investigation into his handling of the Sea Cows Bay Harbor Project has also been called for.
This man has an outsized ego and sense of self. Everyone else, other than Fraser, realize that he will never be Premier. You didn’t get it when you were leader of the VIP, you left the VIP having lost the election, formed a party of 1, still no Premiership. How do you expect to be taken seriously when you can’t even get enough funding or find enough candidates to run a full slate?
JOE FRASER KNOCKED OUT OJ 3 TIMES AND AARON TWICE
That part not parting up!!
If Fraser was asking me to be Premier I would look him in the eye deeply and ask him. ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR DAM MIND?
If Fraser was asking me to be Premier I would look him in the eye deeply and ask him. ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR DAM MIND? WHO COULD TRUST YOU?
They have shown they cannot speak truth & cannot be trusted. They all spoke about VIP contacting them but never admitted they also called people in VIP to join them because they couldn’t get the government formed with their seven members due to egos, pride, greed, and lust for power. Everyone in the BVI knows they also called the VIP looking position even if they did it through their friends, family, and/or close supporters so they could have stayed in the back & make it look as if their hands were clean with their “so-called” integrity gimmick. They need to stop taking we the public for fools.
“I had over seven members of the party (VIP) calling me but I stood on principle.
Don’t understand why those seven people would call you, they are the government. Is that before or after. I am sure in the coming weeks we will hear more mel la from Hon Penn.
People with integrity look at the meaning of the word like a two edged sword. While you were trusted to keep confidential conversation to your self ,you here now babbling about what went one. So just a little suggestion stop talking, it is wise to let others think how wonderful you are, you are not responsible until you open your mouth and people have to think otherwise. Silly people
Fraser, you will perhaps be premier next time God’s willing. Keep hope alive.
I am happy that the ViP won