Premier says miscommunication at play in EAC rift with gov’t
Premier Andrew Fahie has suggested that a miscommunication between himself and members of the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) may have led to stagnation in their work.
Premier Fahie established that ad hoc committee in 2020 to advise the government on ways of moving the economy forward.
Chairman of the EAC, Bishop John Cline, reportedly said that the Premier’s Office was presented with a report by the committee in May 2021 but the committee has not heard any response since then.
As a result of this, he reportedly said they decided not to meet again as a body.
While speaking at a press conference recently, Premier Fahie said: “This is the time when we definitely have to unite so if this is an area of misunderstanding, I will be looking for the Bishop to see what they are because life is too short so I am not going to get into public debacles (sic).”
He thanked the committee for their work and referenced a section of a speech he made last year after receiving that report.
“The Economic Advisory Council has recently presented their interim report with recommendations that are very much in sync with our overall vision – particularly for Tourism and Financial Services, as well as the blue economy and fledgling industries,” the Premier said.
He added: “These initial recommendations tie in with existing plans and help us to refine our strategies for achieving the rest of our goals in partnership with the business community.”
According to Premier Fahie, some of the goals put forward by the group have been implemented by the government, including tax breaks in certain areas.
He said the group also explored issues such as the implementation of a two-tiered tariff system for the BVI in order for businesses to be given certain advantages while simultaneously holding them accountable.
“There seems to be a breakdown somewhere in terms of communication with it so I’m going to do my best to re-engage to see what the issues were because I didn’t realize there was a full disconnect,” Premier Fahie added.
He said if there were areas the government fell down, he will apologise and fix them and likewise, if the EAC fell down in any areas, he will overlook those areas and keep going.
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He wants votes now so his memory came back
None of this is surprising
EAC produces to Government
Not even a response nearly a year later
EAC confirms what transpired so it becomes public knowledge
Premier sees a public relations issue and being the public relations superstar that he is, issues a statement to make his office not look bad
Electorate (mostly) says hmm same ole same ole moving right along.
This government is incompetent! We should realize this by now!
OMG incompetent badd!!!… If I didn’t live here it would be comical .
The EAC was set up to give the impression of progress, it was never the intention for the Premier to listen to anything that they put forward. Once again the dictator is l**ng and taking the people for fools.
from CGB ,who are supposed to be preaching the gospel ,don’t seem to understand that they can only serve ONE MASTER and stop fooling themselves
That’s quite a limited view of a limitless, all-powerful, all-seeing, all-knowing Master who is not one-dimensional and neither is His gospel. Remind me again why Christians should stay locked behind church walls?
What does this mean??? Bishop Cline is a BVI belonger with views and ideas like everyone else. What does preaching the gospel have to do with him giving advice on the economy. He has lots of vision which is lacking in high places, and I commend him for sharing (even if they are ignored). He has done his best.
Look at the Chairman! How We going to progress with these type of Individuals on Government Advisory Boards.
Look at Albert what the difference
When information get out fat man always got some Anansi story.
We want to see the EAC reports public.
It sounds like the Premier has been quite disrespectful to the people on the EAC who prepared such a lengthy report.
it has nothing to do with where he come from ? perhaps he should switch roles with uncle andy ? / youths disappearing / killing each other / drugs / guns everywhere/ murder etc ? what has he said on those ? you better go and pray for him
So we can rest assure that Bishop and his friends did not come up with the idea for Customs to make it so damn difficult to visit the BVI they don’t.
Still trying to work out who holding the knife that cut the throat of that industry, everyone blaming everyone else.
There is a marine man on the council. I bet they didn’t listen to him either!
where the stagnation resides..