Premier Fahie: Gov’t not obligated to disclose business meetings
Premier Andrew Fahie has expressed that his government is under no obligation to disclose to the wider public any information about businesses that it meets with.
The Premier’s statement comes in the wake of repeated criticisms that he has been avoiding meetings with the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association (BVICCHA) for nearly two years; despite the Association’s repeated requests.
“When the time is right, we’re gonna meet with them (the BVICCHA). We meet with many businesses,” Premier Fahie said at a press briefing late last week.
Premier Fahie had previously noted that he continues to hold talks on an ongoing basis with various businesses that may be experiencing challenges in the territory.
“The truth doesn’t need anyone’s belief. The truth will always be the truth. As Premier of this country, I don’t see that I have to be detailing to anyone what all businesses that I met with and I don’t see that I have to ask the Chamber of Commerce to tell me who all they have met with,” he expressed.
Premier Fahie further stated that at the time the BVICCHA wanted to meet with him initially, it was during the “heart of COVID“ and there was a lot happening.
“To be truthful, some of the members did not agree with anything that we were doing to try to safeguard the people because it seemed like we were trying to destroy businesses and that was not the intention,“ the Premier said.
The Premier also argued that he has since met with businesses of all sizes, both big and small, in the interim.
“That is not to say that we’re not going to meet with the Chamber of Commerce, but that’s not for us to say who is meeting with us. People meet with their government in confidence that it stays there, if they want to come when we meet with the Chamber of Commerce, then fine,“ the Premier added.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Is he serious? You are a servant of the people. You are obligated to tell us of any business meetings or dealings you conduct. We the people are your boss not the next way around. This is exactly why the COI was needed. You think you are above being questioned or challenged. Premier is a position of servitude. You are there to serve us. Good governance says that yes you are obligated to provide details to us.
We will remind you of your obligations at the elections in October. If the COI doesn’t strip you first. You will regret these words.
The governments meetings with the Colombian Parcel Service must remain especially confidential.
What happen to “Government under the sun” by that comment you sound like you want to operate like government in the shadows…..
Im afraid that was the NPD slogan first time around.
Even if that is so, remember….
No matter how long night run, daylight will catch it.
So, a government funded by the public wants to go private? Wow….so much for transparency in government. Exactly the kind of thing that precipitated the CoI…
We the people are your boss, but you are disrespectful that is why we want you GONE. You don’t think you owe us anything? Dispecable nothing for a Leader.
Only a few more months of this
WE THE VOTERS ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO VOTE FOR YOUR PARTY EITHER
It doesn’t matter if you’re OBLIGATED to do it. If you care about transparency as you claim, you won’t act like you have something to hide. End of story.
It goes way beyond the CCHA.
When meeting are taken with businesses, or “stakeholders” and the gov’t wags like to call them, it’s purely window dressing, so they can say, “We met with you on…”
It’s all Smoke and Mirrors.
“Transparency”
Has it occurred to everyone that we are all calling for transparency from the Premier and his government, while we are all posting under names that aren’t ours. Why is that? Are we all afraid of being in the spot light of someone who does not believe in transparency? Are we all afraid of blow back? Are we all just plain AFRAID?
When you find the answers to your questions, let us know, since you too aren’t using your real name to post.
Hold on a minute here!!! When NDP administration was negotiating with cruise ship industry some years back and explained that they could not provide the public with certain details of the negotiations because they were yet in the middle of the negotiations who were the folk that were insisting that information be disclosed forthwith? How soon we forget.
The CCHA are a complete waste of time.
What happened to “you can’t be private in the public”?
as to show once again .
Mr. Fahie has to go… he been finding information from us and will forever will.
VOTE HIM OUT…..
SO YOU THE ARE THE BRAVE ? / SO WHATS YOUR POINT ?/ YOU GOT THE MESSAGE , OR ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE TRUTH ? A D WHEN YOU GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT , ITS NOT ABOUT THE MESSENGER