Premier laments “alarming” atmosphere developing in BVI
Contributing to the debate on the now-passed Whistleblower Act of 2021, Premier Andrew Fahie has expressed concern and alarm about the current state of affairs he says is developing in the BVI.
“What I noticed is that, as soon as you say ‘A’, you’re getting a letter saying bring this document, bring the other [document]. So, I’m concerned about the atmosphere that I’m seeing developing in my country. This concern is alarming,” Fahie told the House of Assembly.
In making the statement, the Premier was seemingly drawing reference to the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (COI) which has so far requested thousands of documents from the government.
The COI has also taken evidence from several current and former legislators on issues related to governance and the HOA’s largely unregulated Register of Interest.
Fahie felt that it was important as a leader to speak out and say that “we got some rights”.
He said while there should be more layers of transparency in the BVI, the rights of the BVI and its residents should not be trampled upon.
Fahie argued that the country has been making strides all along. He further decried the UK’s alleged efforts to silence the BVI government and dismiss their questions related to the UK’s attempts to have oversight.
No secrecy or fear mongering in government
The Premier also refuted claims of secrecy in his government and disputed the notion that his administration was involved in any kind of fear-mongering to prevent persons from speaking out.
“What is amazing is that this government has had more public consultation than any government in the history of when I have been in politics or have known in the political history of this territory,” Premier Fahie said. “And yet there are those who’re saying that we’re being secretive.”
Pointing to the things he’s been hearing on the radio and seeing on social media, Fahie said it appeared more likely that people were trying to instil fear in his government.
COI only highlighting BVI’s weaknesses
The Premier found an issue with what he termed as placing a microscope on all the areas in which the BVI still has yet to improve. He said this action has been to the detriment of the years of progress the territory has seen.
He also suggested that the COI bears some hallmarks of slavery in the fact that greed, hatred and envy – and not transparency, as is being claimed – are the real reasons behind the Inquiry.
“I’m not saying that we don’t have to be accountable; that would be wrong,” Fahie insisted.
Still, in another apparent reference to the COI, he accused the ‘other sitting in town’ of only having the intention of highlighting the BVI’s areas of weakness.
And while stating he is on his knees every night in prayer for the territory, Fahie said God will vindicate the BVI.
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The Premier is the first leader to be elected and within weeks start firing persons, dismantling boards and then filling them with cronies who are ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS. They have destroyed the very fabric of the BVI and here he is now trying to make us feel bad because the UK is up his a**. People are not stupid and we want you and your government gone NOW. School is closed an entire year, millions given to your family and friends but here you are concerned about atmosphere? You are concerned that people are no longer brainwashed by your bush politics and see right through the nonsense that’s what you are concerned about. Tell your spice man consultant that no spin will work on the people of the BVI, but nice try.
I am very surprised that the Esteemed Honourable Speaker was prepared to be addressed as the Honourable Speaker without any reference to him being esteemed. He is truly a gracious man.
Lmfao. He is an esteemed cr*****l. “there was no conflict providing security by my company to the government because we didn’t write a contract”. Did the government pay you? YES
The contract was given to E****, the company or DBA he formed with his pal. This was obviously to avoid any scrutiny.
The security guards who worked for them were frequently not paid for weeks and in some cases never.
Did they pay Social Security, NHI and tax on the guards.?
What do you think?
Did y all see how MS.P***erw*g became a d***a q***n within minutes of arriving LOL and **e even wrote a little statement LMFAO!
Even if it was 1 cent it’s a conflict. All of them lawless.
Like I’ve said before this government is operating like the mafia. I’m watching the speaker and this m%×$f@% is beyond arrogant WOW!!!!
The sad part is he actually thinks he did well. He was an utter disgrace. We the bvi people are very civilized we are not savages. He was a poor representation of who we are as a people. He was a downright embarrassment and the Premier owes our nation an apology because he put that overgrown child in our HOA.
Mr. Commissioner, what you experienced today is not BVI LOVE. You’ve experienced the hate and wrath of people who are being exposed and they are foaming at the mouth. We the good people of the BVI apologize to you for having to endure such levels of stupidity today. We felt your pain.
So the speaker of the house, this p****us but powerful fool feathering his own nest, is elected by nobody and seemingly responsible to nobody and blatantly ignores the law about filing his interests.
And you wonder why we have a COI about governance
Welcome to BVI
Why call for a COI to come and point out what you’re doing right? Does that make any sense? The whole point of the inquiry is to find cracks and gaps, so they can be addressed. Does the premier have any advisors? Because I don’t believe he hears himself when he is talking. He needs to be advised. So what if they’re asking for tons of documents? If the questions being asked (which I find to be reasonable so far) can’t be answered, maybe this is an opportunity to say we need better record keeping practices? Two years can’t come fast enough mehn. I’m so tired of this Premier and his victim mentality.
2 years too long
The b***y is upset because he no longer has control and even persons within his own team are asking for him to step aside for the good of the country. The hinges, tires and everything else are falling off and he is struggling to keep it together.
The Premier called the NDP government the most corrupt in BVI history and called for a Commission of Inquiry on that government.
What he could not have foreseen was that he was digging a hole for his own government. Now here he is bawling and on his knees. Get up Mr. Premier, you asked for it.
There is a saying that when you dig a hole for someone else, dig one for yourself. Let this be a lesson to those who dig holes for others.
Now, I am in full agreement with the Commission of Inquiry. I see the need; however, the optics of this Commission as I watch and listen bothers me.
The optics of two white men questioning some of our best and brightest people in our society who are all black over filling out a form and being in breach of declaring their interest as if they are high school pupils does not sit well with me at all.
It’s appears condescending and insulting to those people many with significant lifetime accomplishments education wise, and professionally. It’s pi$$ing me off.
Given the fact that there are accusations from the government of unfair, racist, and colonial treatment, one would think the U.K. would have listen to that complaint, be sensitive to it, and done all it could to reduce the appearance of some colonial oversight.
The composition of the COI has played into the Premiers narrative and lends credence to it.
I am sure there is a black or minority person within the U.K. that could have been part of this Commission of Inquiry. Why isn’t a minority person part of that team knowing that they are dealing with a majority black population? Is the U.K. this tone deaf, or do they not care of the optics?
The optics is bad and is rubbing me the wrong way.
Hon Smith was asked the same kinds of questions. Did he cry? No! He answered his questions TRUTHFULLY! He was BRILLIANT!!! The ONLY HONEST politician I see so far!!
LOL can’t be he you talking bout
You think Bilal Rawat is an English , Caucasian name?
Sorry I hit the wrong button…. it should have been a thumbs up!!
It makes no difference the color of the skin of anyone involved in this. I don’t know him and it makes no difference at all, but I suspect someone called Bilal Rawat probably has other than exclusively white British ancestry. He is clearly intelligent, prepared and doesn’t take any crap from our politicians or anyone else.
He has everything necessary except an admission to the BVI Bar
He is representing the QUEEN. Do you know what that means?
He is not attending court. It’s a commission of Inquiry. Just as lawyers come in to work for trust companies don’t need admission to the BVI Bar depending on the type of work they are here to carry out.
Or to appear in arbitrations. This is another pathetic non point, that happens to be wrong. It’s intended to distract from the fact that the BVI Government has an annual budget of $400m but no governance or systems.
I suspect the Commissioner will work this out.
Mr.Rawat needs to focus on the difference between a “dba” and a company. Notwithstanding Willock’s ignorant view they are very different legally.
If they’d sent someone black you would have been even more abusive and verbally vindictive. You know full well what would have been said about that person!
The lawyer.
I am the last person to buy into the governments racist rants, and I recognize that many of you hate this government so badly that you perhaps cannot see what I am seeing nor can appreciate it in this moment. I understand.
I agree race has nothing to do overall with the COI in my judgment but therein lies my point. Since it doesn’t, why make the face of COI look like white vs black?
The fact that composition of the COI is as it is feeds the narrative of the other side which is unfortunate.
Anyway, I do not carry water for this government or any before. This one made their bed; they are going to have to lay in it.
If it isn’t then why are you seeing white?
I agree the optics don’t look good. I however agree with the need for the COI and the premier is constantly throwing out slavery and other racist s*** trying to put the resident on his side when only he and his cronies and family are the ones who benefit from his government and the previous government under Smith was just as corrupt if not more so.
The UK should have indeed sent some black people instead of an all white team and that’s where they fell short but there is indeed a need for the COI.
Just like he was upset with how they want to monitor the money for the hurricanes.
I actually believe that any country that gives another monies for disaster should monitor how its spent and have a say in how and where and in who profits from it. A free hand to do with the monies given leave all countries on the receiving in the worst off for we all know the various governments take for themselves.
Keep Calm Hon. Fahie – if you have nothing to hide no need to feel guilty..
** IF **
The microscope is because other Caribbean countries have better schools, roads, infrastructure with less earnings than the BVI yet the BVI Govt likes to say those down island are nackward…
And I will agree with that. They have less earnings than we do but your comment is true. I don’t know what is going on here.
And yet there seems to be plenty of money for politicians, their families and senior members of the services to be building nice hillside homes.
Where can that come from I wonder.
The COI is highlighting areas where we (the public) believe there is legislation in place to protect our interests, YET, the sitting legislators are blatantly disregarding their duties under such legislation….. And PLEASE don’t think we are stupid Mr. Fahie, this is NOT the ONLY weakness, just the first to be exposed…..
They passed a law to make the public feel good, then deliberately wrote nothing down and made sure that the part of the act designed to control them was never implemented.
And why did they do that you might ask?
Goes to envy stylez
Fahie is the reason for all those requested documents due to his own selfish laws he put in place to protect his cronies, which insist, the proof of all against him must be handed in documents. In other words, if you don’t have documents then you do not have a case or proof and you can be fined $10.000. Therefore, why the noise Andrew Fahie you are getting a dose of your own medicine so open wide and swallow.
The Premier is right
There is an atmosphere of fear and alarm
And his government has been causing most of it.
How come the Black man when questioned about his wrong doings always makes it into a racist, slavery issue. Perhaps if you didn’t make crooked deals with your relatives, did the things required by law, then there would be no issues and the UK would go quietly away. However it is now clear that the Ministers both past and present feel they are above the law. For this attitude the people of the Territory suffer and are ridiculed on the world stage. This Territory is far from being able to self govern and Foy knew all this was coming.
“alarming atmosphere” Public is starting to understand how government has been screwing them over. Thank you COI
The only thing alarming going on is that all these nonsense done in darkness has come to light..We now can see the real people we elect.
The people that we elected is now under a 24/7 microscope and glowing light. WE ARE WATCHING EVERY MOVE THOSE GUYS are making.
WE ARE WATCHING EVERY MOVE AND STEPS THEY ARE TAKING. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO TIMES SQUARE IN NYC AT NIGHT AND THE LIGHTING LOOKS LIKE ITS THE MIDDLE OF A BRIGHT SUNNY DAY? THAT IS THE TYPE OF LIGHT THAT IS GLOWING ON THIS ADMINISTRATION.
Not the premier should pray: all the people should fast and pray…in the BVI
DO THESE GUYS THINK THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE RE ELECTED NEXT ELECTION? IF THEY ARE, THEY ARE ONLY FOOLING THEMSELVES. THIS STARTED WHEN THE PREMIER STARTED CALLING THE NDP GOVERNMENT CORRUPT AND STARTED RUNNING UP TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE SNITCHING OTHERS OUT TO BETTER ADVANCE HIMSELF. LITTLE DID HE KNOW, EVERYTHING WAS BEING NOTED. MR.PREMIER, WHEN YOU DIG A HOLE FOR SOMEONE, MAKE SURE YOU DIG ONE FOR YOURSELF. THE PEOPLE OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS IS NOT GOING TO ASSIST YOU WITH THIS. WE ARE NO LONGER FOOLS OR CAN BE FOOLED. THE BEST THING THAT YOU CAN DO FOR US IS STEP DOWN FROM OFFICE. YOUR POLITICAL CAREER IS IN SHAMBLES.
What about us regular people that have to fill out many forms and is asked to submit everything but the kitchen sink.
Lolololol…so funny and so true…the only thing different is we ‘regular people’ have to fill out a lot of unnecessary forms.
But, send in your work permit late and you’ll be treated differently
Look more unsolved murders.snitches end up in ditches!!! Y’all be safe out here and don’t be a victim to the whistle blower act!!!
It’s quite alarming when the Premier doesn’t submit any register of interest forms for years until the COI appears on the horizon.
Unreal.
And we would have never know if it wasn’t for the COI. UNREAL AIN’T THE WORD MAN.
Exactly! But, it still have people who can’t seem to open their eyes and see it was their OWN people who caused all of this….instead they want to rant and rave about England , especially the 2 on +●la r@d¡o.
you see his fr***** face, full of dis*******.
Who ever hired the man in the people’s house with the white mop on his head, need to fire him. He first cost us a lot of unnecessary money and now international embarrassment?
Mr Premier. It’s not the BVI that requires vindication, it’s the political class that requires a reckoning.
TRUMP DID ALL OF THAT SO WE CAN DO IT TOO / ARROGANCE AND IGNORANCE IS A BAD COMBINATION BUT IT DOESN’T APPLY TO US ?
@@Well, IF WE DID NOT GET TRUMP OUT OF OFFICE, HE WOULD HAVE KILLED US. COULD YOU IMAGINE IF HE WAS ALLOWED ANOTHER TERM?
And what harm did Trump cause you. Please explain and enlighten us all. Racist? Really? How do? The black man under Trump has never seen such prosperity. Now Biden is in and the Black man is being put back into poverty. You’re all so stupid you can’t see what’s before you. That’s exactly why you elected crooks into office. Just can’t fix stupid!!
So why did “out-of-poverty” blacks fail to re-elect Trump?
THE ONLY THING LEFT FOR ME TO DO IS GIVE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THE SIDE LOOK OF SHAME. I DONOT WANT TO SEE ANY OF THEM OR HEAR FROM ANY OF THEM INCLUDING THE SPEAKER. THEY ARE DISGUSTING.
Sorry I hit the wrong button…. it should have been a thumbs up!!
England , is going to fix it for you. This is why the C o I is hear .We the public is seeing all the lies you all coming up with. The Commissioner, is taking notice of you all trying to play dumb.
The COI is
The COI has uncovered the dirty linen being worn by the leaders we are supposed to look up to.
It is shameful what has been happening. Those people apparently think they are above the law. They make laws, then turn around and break them.
Are they taking us for fools? Now I see why this place is lawless, and if we don’t nip it right now, it is going to get much worse.
@@Well, IF WE DID NOT GET TRUMP OUT OF OFFICE, HE WOULD HAVE KILLED US. COULD YOU IMAGINE IF HE WAS ALLOWED ANOTHER TERM?
So we the dumb international people know who owns Vino! The same m****n who write then one sided stories, comments and distasteful, disrespected cartoons. Wonder how many people was watching that shite!!
A MUCH NEEDED CHANGE IS COMING FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE BVI. THE VICTIMIZATION AND FEAR IS COMING TO AND END. THE POWER HUNGRY PREMIER AND HIS GOONES WILL BE DEALT WITH.
What about the people of the BVI’s right to know that their government is honest? You have denied them that right repeatedly, so now the U.K. is going to make it happen. You have only yourselves to blame.
He dont need permission to work in a place that is owned by his queen remember ?
Such nonsense. This declarations thing is a complete waste of time and money. The COI has spent nearly two weeks on it but there is in fact no penalty under the law for late filing of a House of Assembly declaration. It has been happening for nearly 15 years. This needs an Inquiry? $5 million spent on zip so far.