Rift between Fahie gov’t and governor caused COI — Walwyn
Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn has argued that the breakdown in relations between the previous Andrew Fahie administration and the Governor’s Office was the key factor that led to the controversial Commission of Inquiry (COI), which almost pulled power away from elected leaders.
Speaking in the House of Assembly in a debate to mark the lifting of the Order in Council, Walwyn pointed to the fragile constitutional balance between the Premier and the Governor’s Office, noting that fragility was not respected when Fahie was Premier and the UK’s Augustus Jaspert held the seat of Governor.
“If I want to hazard a guess — I’m ashamed to say, but I believe it to be so — that this COI was brought about more [because] the relationship between the Premier and the Governor at the time broke down to the point of disrespect publicly,” the Opposition Leader stated.
Walwyn then pointed fingers at current members of the House of Assembly who were part of the Fahie administration, saying they contributed to the tensions: “And you had other people — some of them in this very House — who were part of it. You’re not going to agree on everything, but the disrespect – the relationship got so far out of control that I believe that that COI was more ‘ah, I could get you,’ more than anything else.”
Tensions during Fahie-Jaspert era
Walwyn’s comments are in reference to the strained relationship between former Premier Fahie and then-Governor Jaspert — a period widely marked by disagreements and visible friction between the elected government and the Governor’s Office. The friction was spoken about in several sections of the society, with many at the time noting Fahie’s constant disagreements with positions taken by the UK.
In his presentation, Walwyn recalled some of those times, noting that during the COVID-19 pandemic, tensions between the two offices were often on full display during press briefings, where observers noted stark differences in tone and body language.
“You saw it during COVID… you could see the Governor’s face during the briefings,” he said.
Beyond optics, policy disputes also highlighted the strained relationship. One of the most notable flashpoints involved national security concerns, including disagreements over maritime border protection. At one point, the Governor exercised his constitutional authority to bring in the UK naval vessel RFA Medway to assist with safeguarding the territory — an intervention seen by some as overriding Fahie, who insisted on using barges to safeguard the BVI’s borders.
BVI’s winning formula?
In addition to his analysis of the political climate under the Fahie administration, Walwyn referenced a political formula that he said generally yields tangible results for the BVI: political eras marked by stronger Premiers working alongside less assertive Governors. He gave Ralph O’Neil and Lavity Stoutt as examples.
Conversely, he warned that “stronger Governors and a weaker Premiers” generally tilt decision-making power toward the UK.
“If you had a stronger Governor and a weaker Premier, then the Governor and the UK would have their way. But the key thing is that relationship between those two persons must work well. That’s why it’s called a modern partnership,” Walwyn explained.
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THIS IS THE TRUTH
My understanding was that rift was because everyone on the Island, including the Governor was aware of all of the drug trafficking that was going on, and Fahie’s involvement in it!
Nobody will deny what happens in BVI but can you honestly say that the COI found anything of substance for the amount of time, money, publicity, order in council etc? The COI was rubbish and the drug running has always been known to the UK/USA they only now decided to do something about it. The downturn in drug running has nothing to do with the COI and all to do with US/UK taking action.
I was referring to the cause of the “rift” between Fahie and Jaspert. As you bought the COI up, the COI reported loads of relevant findings, which have had an impact on the island and have helped impede some of the blatant corruption that was running wild.
THE GREED FOR POWER & AUTHORITY / THAT WAS THE DTIVING FORCE THAT BROUGHT OUT THE THE PREDATORS OR THE ” DOG EAT DOG ” MENTALITY FROM WITHIN THEIR DIRTY MINDS AND THE “NOTORIOUS B I G ” BEGGED FOR IT WHILE “SNITCHING” ON HIS OWN PEOPLE AND TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY , HE INTRODUCED US TO THE LOVELY ( CARTELS ) HENCE THE DRUGS-GUNS – COLDBLOODED EXECUTION STYLE KILLERS, WHO IS STILL WALKING IN THE STREETS AMONGST US , BECAUSE OF THE FAILED JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE CORRUPTION LINGERS ON / ALONG WITH XENOPHOBIA ●¿● AND WE ALL KNOW THAT • GREED IS IN EFFECT / THE CIVIL SERVANTS & POOR PENSIONERS WAS THROWN IN THE GABBAGE WHILE ” PUFF DIDDY WEATIE FILLED HE AND HIS PUPPETS FILLED THEIR POCKETS / WHILE THE INFRASTRUCTURES REMAINS IN STAGNANT AS THEY RENTING PROPERTIES AND WON’T COMPLETE THE REPAIRS ON GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS ( ETC ) AND THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE ” RODEO GAMES” THAT IS BEING PLAYED ON US , MEANWHILE THEY TRAVELING ALL OVER THE WORLD ON TAXPAYERS MONEY LIKE LIKE KINGS – THESE ENTITLED ONES SURE KNOWS HOW TO PARTY ■ AND STILL BAREFACED ENOUGH TO BLAME THE UK / OR AS “JUDGE WIGGIE LOVES TO CALL THEM THE WHITE COLONIALIST SLAVE MASTERS ” FOR WHAT WE ARE DOING TO OUR OWN OURSELVES ••• //\_ CSC SAID IT RIGHT ” WE FRIGGED ” MIGHT AS WELL WE GIVE HIM A SHOT AT RUINING THE TERRITORY , WITH HIS MILLION DOLLAR SMILE , WE ALL WILL BE SMILING ON OUR WAY TO OUR GRAVES – RIP .
Myron is percent right with this. The disrespect between the VIP and the governor was off the rails. I remember Fahie, Natalio, CSC, even d**cy Kye Rhymer and others being openly rude and unnecessarily disrespectful. Natalio is playing innocent but he was a big part of the breakdown in relations. He followed everything Fahie did. I recall one time hearing him curse out the governor in the House to the delight of his head coach. When Fahie got arrested he immediately turned into a British Boy Scout because he wanted to be Premier. The UK then to him became the best thing since sliced bread. The VIP caused Jaspert to react. They were being very rude and they were doing dirty things. They wasted covid money, gave out belongers to boyfriend etc. They caused the COI
I swear that Myron is the only one in there with any sense at all
What cause the corruption on the high school wall? Is he going to blame that on a rift? Remember he is still in court to answer for our tax payers money
Those who know knows, and don’t who still refuse to know will eventually know. Fahie called it and the Governor obliged after he was seeing all the nonsense they were doing. Bad deals is bad deals; those happen. But raping the treasury for family, friends, boyfriends and rapists is unacceptable.
This goof should just be happy he escaped Balsam Ghut and zip it
Somebody escaped Balsum ghut when the court said that there is no case answer? People like you are the scum of the earth. You would never change until bad things happen to you. Anybody could get charged with a crime. Anybody including you fool!
If a man is innocent why should he be afraid to speak? You all think that everybody alike. Because you might teef don’t mean that everybody is that way. Talk as you like Myron. You are talking the truth.
Wiggy, you are guilty as hell so you can’t talk. Myron has been cleared by the court because he had no case to answer. You have a case to answer on fraud. You are no stranger to balsum ghut. Remember you spent some time there already.
Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? #1 KARL,#2 MITCH,#3 JULIAN,#4 LUCE,#5 KYE,#6 MYRON,#7 NATALIO.#8 MARLON,#9 VINCENT,#10 SHARIE,#11 RONNIE,#12LORNA,#13 STACY? or Mark?
The goof is right on this one though, so name calling won’t change the price of bread.
The political realities between the governor, political body and the people must be severed completely and totally.
The people must be free to chart their own political and human course just as the UK is doing hers.
After-all, are we children of a lesser god? Are we not capable of leading, ruling and making deecisions for ourselves?
Were Ralph O’Neil and Lavity Stoutt not examples of that?
Myron is a divider he will never be premier and he should … over the high school wall corruption
I am Not a Fan of None in the HOA. Truth Really Hurts. Say what you want about Myron’s Comments But be truthful to yourself. He is Correct with what He said. What he missed is that the Saga still continues and yet Find justification for their actions. They still stealing Taxpayers Money and giving it to their Chosen few. They still giving Crown Lands to Families and their Chosen Friends. They are still planning on giving Stimulus to their Chosen Fake farmers and Fishers. Nothing has changed nor will change until We change the Old Guards. Corruption is still the order of the Day!!!! To Kill a Serpent you have to take the Head off First and the Tenacles will Die also.