BVI News

Premier blasts former governor for ‘irresponsible’ drug claims

Premier Fahie (foreground) and Governor Jaspert during an April 15 public broadcast.

Describing them as irresponsible and baseless, Premier Andrew Fahie has blasted recent comments linking local elected officials to the drug trade and criminality.

Former governor Augustus Jaspert expressed the allegations when he gave evidence before the Commission of Inquiry (COI) just a few weeks ago.

But while speaking on ZBVI radio recently, the Premier said: “We really think that the comments by the former governor are irresponsible to state what he has stated about high-level officials being linked to drug dealers.”

“Whether dealing with drugs or otherwise; it’s an irresponsible statement,” the Premier added.

He insisted the former governor’s comments were made without any facts and were not part of the COI’s terms of reference.

Furthermore, the Premier said the COI has not given any information that has substantiated any of the statements made by the former governor.

“Those statements are so irresponsible that they create reputational damage for the country and we told him that he does need to give the BVI an apology because those things are not right,” the Premier added.

Premier Fahie said the former governor was told that the demand for an apology has nothing to do with the government’s support of the Commission of Inquiry, but rather with the name of BVI.

“The name of the Virgin Islands means a lot because we trade on our name and we have built a name in financial services and tourism and for one person to just come forward with these irresponsible statements shows that they need to apologise,” Premier Fahie argued.

Share the news

Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

27 Comments

Disclaimer: BVI News and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the comments below or other interaction among the users.

  1. Pablo says:

    LOL LOL what Jas said was nothing new to many of us living in the BVI. Why f** Albert acting innocent

    Like 58
    Dislike 6
    • Anonymous says:

      Your comment shows hatred towards the Premier. Why should your comment be taken seriously.

      Like 8
      Dislike 57
    • Doh says:

      Uh duh…

      Smugglers continued to import drugs during lockdown. Police were caught.

      The government has allegedly been and is now involved in the drug trade. It it the third pillar of the economy. Always has been always will be. Fahie Dear Leader knows this. It’s called bvi love

      Like 14
    • Rubber Duck says:

      Who rents which properties to who?

      Look no further.

  2. Oh please... says:

    He who smelled it delt it…everyone knows this part of ‘nature’s little secret’.
    These drugs been coming through here for years. Gov always a part of it. (How else you going to track this unless you get your cut)
    Legalize and move on!

    Like 26
    Dislike 1
  3. Anonymous says:

    Any regular reader of these pages should know that the reputational damage to the BVis has come about from reckless actions various elected BVI government itself has taken, without outside assistance, over the years. Examples include $ 40 million + over run to build an uncommissioned hospital delivered 10 years late, Pier Park at $ 40+ million overuns, $ 7 + million on an airline that does not exist, $+ million for a wall around a school, Prospect Reef hotel debacle, millions spent on consulting services for whicjh reports have never been issued, and so on and so forth. Of course, it does not help to have routine busts of people carrying large sums of money that they are never asked to explain, to find square groupers (bales of cocaine) floating about in our waters, or to have 2.5 metric tonnes of cocaine on a BVI policeman’s properties, followed by some dead guys after. We also have increasing incidence of gun crime and unsolved murders. In a small place like the BVIs, hard to believe people in high places are oblivious to all this trafficking that has been going on for years. Blaming the UK or CoI for reputational damage is absurd. Like blaming the teacher for bawling you out after you’ve been caught with your hand in the cookie jar.

    Like 40
    Dislike 1
    • Mrs Tubman says:

      Don’t forget or overlook the very conspicuous rejection by the current elected Govt of UK no – cost to the VI assist with border patrol using modern and sophisticated equipment,in preference for using local barges at an astronomical daily cost to the VI’budget.
      Much gratitude to Gov Jaspert taking steps to publicly document snd reveal the true colors if our elected Gov members.

      Like 32
      Dislike 2
  4. VI Gyal says:

    The Governor is just doing what you did. You yourself was the one big on saying there is corruption and we need to have a coi.

    Like 29
    Dislike 1
  5. ah ha says:

    Maybe the governor felt that way after he saw the legislation for medical marijuana

    Like 12
  6. Foy says:

    Leh sleeping dog sleep

    Like 12
  7. YesSir÷ says:

    Andrew,this is one topic you need to drop, except for your quiet away from reality moments with whomever you actually worship.
    Insults continually and ad nauseum to our intelligence is unnecessary. Your dark reign in the history of the VI has been secured and done with. Happy Thanksgiving!

    Like 19
  8. BS! says:

    When you throw a stone at a pack of dogs, the one that yelps is the one you hit. Hey, hey, hey.

    Like 12
  9. Just saying……. says:

    Is it just a coincidence that two of the the islands biggest drug traffickers have developed their empires on land next to *** in West End which belongs to the *** family.
    One currently in Balo awaiting a hearing for deportation to the USA for drug trafficking and money laundering.
    Open your eyes people and don’t be fooled by the honorable’s BS !

    Like 29
  10. 1EYE says:

    And these folks praising someone who is busy trying to kill all the commerce of our little country with unfounded slander taken around to the world to all our would be customers. But he means us well (YEAH WHATEVER) I suppose some of you want us to believe that lie though.

    Like 2
    Dislike 3
  11. BuzzBvi says:

    Who is ***?

  12. Gus is in a hole says:

    Gus over stepped the mark and he knows it. Despite the Commissioner’s desperate attempts to save him during the evidence, he is sunk and must now be really worried about the impact on his career at in the UK in the Prime Minister’s Office. Will he have to resign? The response, presumably in order to distract attention, has been furious briefing from the UK civil service against Sir Geoffrey.

    Like 3
    Dislike 18
    • @ Gus in a hole says:

      People don’t like what you are saying, but they know it is true.
      Gus, the supposed expert in anti drugs, has no evidence and was forced into wild speculation as he watched his claim that there was corruption and serious dishonesty sink without trace in the COI.
      NO EVIDENCE OF CORRUPITION OR SERIOUS DISHONESTY WAS PRESENTED AT THE COI.

      Like 1
      Dislike 7
      • Lodger says:

        You surely dont expect that anyone involved in corruption would present it in evidence. Wait for the COI report and you will see. And who is ***?

  13. Bonito says:

    So the West End is whose District and neighbor all the time

  14. helpp says:

    @Anonymous, Well said.

  15. asking again says:

    Andrew, did you apologize for the injustice at Post Office workers?

    STRUPEZ!!

  16. Customs involved says:

    Pretty certain customs has to be involved as well and making Anegada open to night flights and international arrivals isn’t just for tourists. The only way for the trade to continue at such a high level is for big people high up to be allowing it and profiting from it.

  17. PV says:

    He said it under oath! Just saying

  18. Skip jacks says:

    What a ting ! He was the one he admitted during the COI went to the Governor’on corruption about the NDP now he is saying no corruption. Who is the baseless liar !!!

  19. More COI to come... says:

    Shen the report release britain will want clarity and further investigation into some of the evidence….More investigation to come…It wont stop until prosecution is brought….

Leave a Comment