BVI News

Premier mystified at claims that Ports being privatised with merger

Premier Andrew Fahie

Premier Andrew Fahie has disputed claims that his government’s intention is to privatise the BVI’s air and seaport authorities when it merges the two entities. 

The merger of the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) and the BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA) is being done through the Virgin Islands Air and Seaports Act, 2021 that passed in the House of Assembly late last week.

In debating the bill at the time, Opposition Leader Marlon Penn questioned provisions in the legislation that he said spoke about shares and stocks as part of the ports merger. 

According to Penn, Sections 10 and 12 of the bill speak to the power to issue debentures and debenture stocks. 

“That is something I’ve never seen in any of the other statutory organisations. And [with] the ability to do so, it suggests some level of privatisation of the authority because you are talking about issuing stocks and issuing shares and allowing persons to invest in these stocks and shares,” the Opposition Leader said. 

Penn said the mention of stocks and shares within the text of the Act and the structure that he saw being proposed in the bill, suggested that there was an intention to privatise the new entity. 

A well placed shot

But Premier Fahie wasted little time in debunking Penn’s claims, arguing that he was at a loss in locating any such suggestion based on his reading of the bill. 

“It sounds like a good news bite to put out there that we are privatising the BVI Airports and Ports Authority when they’re merged. But that’s not so,” the Premier said. “And when I read through the bill, I was checking to see if it was the same bill I was reading.”

Fahie called the Opposition Leader’s claims a ‘well-placed shot’.

“We have no intention of giving away the people’s ports and airports like that at all and I have to address that because I can hear the news headlines now and I can see them,” the Premier added.

The bill was ultimately passed with amendments after going through the ‘committee stage’ of the legislative process. The Premier reassured employees of the ports that they will have nothing to worry about as there would be no jobs lost because of the impending merger. 

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20 Comments

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  1. My crosses says:

    Sorry Sir. I cannot believe a word coming from your mouth. I know you from a long time now. I can’t be fooled by who you are like how you fool these other voters with your sweet mouth. Nothing you say can be trusted.

    Like 23
    Dislike 2
    • Jah says:

      The ports are being reorganized under a limited trust partnership, this conglomerate is based on a multi level autonomous, self regulating agency requiring government oversight and public board management. The end result is a quasi funded group requiring forward thinking reverse synergy to mold a social service providing maximum capital.

      It’s actually all quite simple.

      Like 2
      Dislike 2
    • @my crosses says:

      I agree with your sentiments. He is not a man of his words. Trust is not in any equations involved Andrew Alturo Fahie.

      Like 11
      • Please says:

        The Premier has always been a man to his word so we know it is the same person blogging the same foolishness over and over and over but it will not work.

    • Sour says:

      Nothing sweet about F** Alberts mouth

      Like 2
      Dislike 1
  2. Layer cake says:

    You don’t do anything unless you or your cronies benefit in some way. The truth will reveal itself because you cannot be depended on for the truth.

    Like 16
    • Well Well says:

      What I can`t understand is, What do passengers have to do with freight and cargo. All that is needed is a simple system for all passengers entering the country, whether it is Air Or Sea.
      leave Cargo by itself. That’s why we have so much crack coming in and no one getting arrested.

  3. Strupes says:

    Can we find something better in the news this morning? So many things happening and we got to read this nonsense. Why BVI news giving these people air time?

    Like 3
    Dislike 2
  4. LOL says:

    Premier you L** SO F**KING MUCH so why are you surprised at anything? NOBODY believes anything you say, NOBODY!

  5. L Ipton says:

    Whenever there is a merger or acquisition, there must be redundancies. You certainly cannot have two heads or two deputies of the new authority…simple. there will be cuts or transfers.

  6. heckler says:

    If fahie says go left please go right

  7. Assent says:

    I doubt the Governor will assent to this merger law. It is a step backwards.

  8. @Strupes says:

    Unfortunately V*** still insists on portraying F** Albert as a hero of the BVI people. Whilst this madness continues BVI News has no option but to continue publishing these stories, and show F** Albert as the dish***st t***tor that he has become.

  9. Yawn says:

    If Fahie say walk please run. Zero credibility.

  10. SMH says:

    Mr. Premier, stop bickering and start implementing. Tired of all this ? of back and forth melee. People need help! Territory needs work! You just yapping! Just making People more annoyed and distress. Even if you don’t care. Atleast let the Freshman Electors prove themselves instead of being blemished and stained by your DEMEANOR.

  11. HELP says:

    I really believe that Andrew Fahie had some training from Donald Trump, or maybe he liked how Trump ruled the USA and is trying the same thing on the BVI.

    Like 6
    Dislike 2
  12. He Always.......... says:

    Mystified, stupified,nullified, misidentified, misclassified but non can be identified.

  13. WOW says:

    I find the negative post about the Premier with this article to be personal and stupid by his same set of few haters. Why? All any of us had to do is read the Bill to verify. I am sure none of you did so. I read the Bill and agree with the Premier but then again his few haters can’t read.

  14. Ginger tea says:

    Sure getting hot !! When Penn read into his hidden agenda, he cries foul. Penn knows ewhat he taking about

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