Shame to fame! Rymer says BVI has risen since Fahie’s arrest
The territory has since moved on from the ignominy and embarrassment of last year’s arrest of former Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Chairman and Premier Andrew Fahie on charges of drug smuggling and money laundering.
That was the sentiment shared by Deputy Premier Kye Rymer when he appeared on the VIP Let’s Talk show yesterday, March 21.
Rymer expressed that the BVI had experienced trying times in the aftermath of Fahie’s arrest, but said it is in a better place now, winning global recognition for Virgin Gorda as the number-one Caribbean destination for 2023 and for having some of the best bars in the Caribbean.
“When we went through what took place on April 28 (Fahie’s arrest), you know, we thought that the BVI was at its worst and we understand it was really bad,” Rymer said. “But you know, we are a praying people and we’re happy to see now we are gone from shame to fame.”
Rymer added: “We were on the world stage and we are now recognised now, after these [Commission of Inquiry] reforms are in place and you know we were at a crossroad then but we have moved forward.”
According to Rymer, the territory’s reputation has since rebounded as well, particularly in terms of its relations with the United Kingdom (UK), which threatened to institute direct governance after the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report was issued.
“Persons are speaking about the relationship with the United Kingdom. That relationship is the reason why we’re here today, that we are now able to have our elections,” Rymer stated. “Because the leadership of [Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley] at the time, he maintained that relationship. He maintained that relationship, that partnership that they speak about.”
Rymer suggested there have been times of disagreement in Cabinet since the Government of National Unity was formed, but commented that there has been a mutual and respectful relationship among the various parties to the degree that the UK government has deferred a suspension of the territory’s constitution.
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It was a trying time indeed but truth be told not all under fahie’s watch was bad. It is being made out to seem so because of the arrest but in fairness there has been a lot of good done to benefit the people before and since.
You all kept your mouth shut while Fahie was handing out our money to people who i am guessing funded the VIP. You didnt defend the people he was being mean to. You all agreed to the greedy bill. If it wasnt for the COI and Fahie greedyness amd stupiditu in trying to run drugs himself the BVi would be in a s**t place.
Thank goodness for Governor Gus who is the only person who had enough ingrigity to do the right thing and call the COI and take a hit to his career in the process.
If it wasnt for him the Government bank account would have had even more taken from.it.
Ayo see why we need to elect MB instead?
ASK HIM IF ANY OF THEM WENT TO LOOK FOR FAHIE OR HELPED HIM WITH LAWYER FEES OR ANYTHING OF THE SORT
MB for the win
Did Hon Rymer actually say these things?
What a n**case!
Lol
So we’re still labeled natures dirty little secret.
Day charters in USVI advise their customers against coming here as we hit visitors with fees, taxes, duties, and charges. No wonder we’re losing the tourism game.
We are anti expat, even though we need those very people to help us run our tourism sector. Add in the obvious racism prevalent in our government agencies, are we really getting better?
Yes we are doing better. We were digging a hole for years and finally stopped to look up. Now we have to climb back up
Listen, VG and those beach bars on JVD are being recognized not because of but INSPITE of you and your leadership. You are boldly taking credit for the accolades when your government has done nothing to shore up the tourism product on VG and especially JVD. This government gets a failing grade especially with all that has been revealed of late. Good luck in the elections because you will need it.
I never dig this dude act to perfect
The Uk and the Governor were too weak to kick the rats out of the cheese shop
The voters must now do it
There is still more money left to thief, and they are going after it, and the people are gullible enough to vote them in to thief it. We frig!
Are you the person who Andrew referred to as his Successor? Everybody looking at Natalio and others in the VIP, but we think its you. You think you slick but wait man you will have to answer for every wicked plot.
Everyone talking about Fahie giving out all this money. Who got the money? Fishes? Birds? Come on! The entire place is corrupt, leave Fahie alone! He was the Covid Santa Claus and THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE lined up for the gifts which were cheques from the SSB Grant. Time to move on from talking bulls**t. If we are not mandating that all the LOCAL PEOPLE who got money return the money or be charged, then hush. Andrew Andrew Andrew every f**king day. Come on man! He is hidden away somewhere far from BVI and you all just continue talking talking like a broken record. He retired from politics, he collected his pension, he may not see the BVI again for another 10 or more years. Who gives a f**k about Andrew Fahie?
I wonder if Hon. Rymer realises that Tourism is our jelly, but Financial Services is our bread and peanut butter.
While you are stating that we are back up, we have been blacklisted and going through an evaluation period to get ourself off that list. So we are not up yet, Hon. And having corruption and huge black question marks over our country is not good for that evaluation. Now that is the goose that laid the golden egg.
Also, in fact, Tourism took a hit too since the Moorings is now happily enjoying doing business with our neighbours, the US Virgin Islands. Oh, sorry, should not have mentioned that since the Governor and you are buddies.
#keephisbacksideoutofourpolitics #kindergartengovernment #wefailtheyreapthebenefits.
The good Lord stepped in to deliver the people of these islands from evil starting with the head so that come election day we the people can take the rest of them out! So that entire VIP party want me to believe that none of them knew why the green flags were being placed on the polls around the country, for how their leader was a talker? Only Mark had the integrity to speak out against ‘mamacita’ with his microphone when some wanted to call him crazy. But when you act with integrity, sometimes that means that you got to risk looking crazy. Mark is a man of integrity. He sticking with the party he believe in. I believe him and his party.
If Fahie made his bed he has to lie in it. The so called farmers and fishermen who received money for not fishing or farming should go his aid; also Chall**** and CSC and the others who got free money. Also the Samuel woman who got almost two hundred thousand dollars for 2 children, one of whom is studying hairdressing. Fahie didnt help a student studying to be a doctor to do her internship. Which was most important?
If we are in the world news for bad, corrupt and criminal behaviour. How could this be good. Its going get worse when AF is convicted…Imagine XPremier is convicted of all these crimes and his Party regained power. We have to be seen as backward, people..
While the NDP refused to give CSC any further contracts to the point where he had to sue them because they have INTEGRITY, the wee-oy-pee gave him THREE MORE CONTRACTS because they have zero integrity. Let me guess, they were oblivious to the fact that they were using my tax money to get clout from CSC to win their popularity contest because what comes at the end of the popularity contest ladies and gentlemen? $600K in cash money prizes in the first three years of retirement, according to the greedy bill. No wonder Sowande thought all he had to do was smile for the cameras and ker-ching!! Jackpot! Nobody on that vip party have integrity. Now let us not talk about the fact that a convicted th**f of public funds who served time at balo has ended up on the VIP ticket. What the voodoo is really going on here. Vote out the evil and greed.
Too much time spending on the past..Need to hear about plans for the future .Solution, Revenue increasing plan, like 1/ replacing people with residents and Belongers Cards, Just like licensing dept does every 3-4 yrs as looks and addresses changed and new technology evolved, every at a $90.00 per Card… And a revenue cutting Plan..Like reduction in the amt of boards, have one board responsible for multiple operations, Build a state of the Art State 3 – 4 storage building on that lot they have at Port Purcell round about next to Qwomar to house Govt offices cut back on office Rental..No need to worry about those office spaces govt move out of we have more spaces to attract investors others businesses and increase our privates sector. We can use two yrs rental expenditure to build that building we have for ever. Massive long term savings most important having our own..
puppet politicians need to be removed from power and then removed from the BVI.
Actually it more like ‘shame to lame’ in the BVI this season. Publicizing BVI beach bars is not exactly a badge of honor in the tourism business. Publicizing environmentally friendly islands like St. Barts draws tourists not sleazy beach bars. Burning landfills, polluted sea water and sewage in the streets are just more examples of the lame infrastructure in the BVI.
HIS BLOOD PRESSURE HAS RISEN SINCE MB PUT HIS HAT IN THE RING
Which people benefited? I only recall Relatives, Cronies and political party supporters benefitting from our money being squandered!!!
You sound like a real @$$! Let’s move on? Yet you all can’t move on from the 7.2 bad BVI Airways Deal? But we must move on from the more than 60 million dollars that were squandered were only a few benefited?
What a thing to say…..Wow…..come again Hon. Sir.
Go and clean up lower estate and sugar mill road and stop the families from occupying the sidewaks with derelict vehicles and junk. Stinky corner need to be addressed. For four years you’ve done nothing but change around the traffic in road town . Now its talking season. People wake up.
YEP!
I never thought that I will hear these words coming out of Kye Rymer’s mouth about his head coach. I am in shock.
WOW!
All of their document stating they came to work.
Nothing wrong with telling the truth. The BVI is climbing especially in the Financial Industry.Lorna Smith has said this as well.
The BVI is a resilent! Businesses is on the rise!I’m seeing new faces every other day. Even my fb page has been loaded with friend requests , in search of jobs. It’s a bread basket for thousands…
Both near and far…It’s a good product for tourism!! But more work needs to be applied eg roads/ sewerage,tourist attractions etc.
God bless these beautiful VI.s
The BVI is bigger than the Andrew Fahie. God is bigger than the BVI. We trust in God.
That St.Thomas is seeking policies for persons to come to their shores without visa?They are still hurting. High-end stores and other regular stores , even subway who was destroyed by storm have packed up and left St.Thomas, looking like a ghost town.
Kye is correct, maybe we are the ones who hasn’t done our homework. Some of us has become too relax …expecting things to work out for us without applying ourselves Let us Educate ourselves for new job openings (once you can Afford it. Get a second job perhaps if you have time on your hands. Save your money people!!!
Can you ask your team to remove those green devil rags in our district
He seem glad that Fahie was arrested!?