Leader of Government business the Hon. Andrew A Fahie has on many occasions publically referred to the National Democratic Party (NDP) as the most corrupt Government in the modern history of the Virgin Islands calling them morally and politically bankrupt, particularly while sitting on the opposition during the period of 2015-2018.
In 2015, during his remarks at the presentation of his First District Annual Report on the evening of January 24th, 2015 at the Capoon’s Bay Recreational Grounds at the time present with him was then Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3).
Fahie said of the then ruling National Democratic part, “This government has been the most corrupt government in the modern history of this Territory. They have repeatedly used this Territory as their personal piggy banks; and they have refused to adhere to the principles of good governance.”
Adding that, “Project NDP has proven to be morally and politically bankrupt and corrupt. They only adhere to the rules when it benefits them and theirs.”
In referencing projects under the NDP that he deemed “corrupt” Fahie named: “Crafts Alive was well over a million dollars and no tendering was done for that project; Spooner Estate roads and walls was well over a million dollars and no tendering was done for that project; Georgie Hill road project was well over a million dollars and no tendering was done for that project. The list can go on and on.”
Fahie continued, “They have ensured jobs for their boys; projects for their friends; and have left you to fend through getting the crumbs from their corrupted tables. But we are a people of dignity and we are saying enough.”
Fahie declared, “We are saying that the people’s time will soon come. We are saying that the election must have consequences for those involved in corruption and kickbacks.”
Recently during his testimony by the Commission of Inquiry given on day 6 of the COI hearing on May 18th, 2021, based on transcripts obtained by our team of reporters. Now Leader of Government Business and Minister for Finance Hon. Andrew A Fahie as a witness when grilled by the Commissioner on his statements on the NDP being the most corrupt Government in the history of the Virgin Islands Fahie struggled to stand by his statements.
Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom ask, “Can I, final matter that I I’d like to canvas with you Premier. I can take you to them if you want but there are a number of articles online in which you were in opposition and this spans from 2015-2018. You made or had attributed to you allegations that the previous administration were corrupt. So you accused them of corruption, you accused them of being political pirates, you accused them of financial misappropriations. As I said, if you want me to take you through the news reports I can do so but is it right? Did you make such remarks?”
To which the Premier (Witness) said, “Yes I did.”
Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom continued, “And I mean, do you stand by your allegations that NDP are corrupt?”
To which Premier Fahie (witness) responded saying, “There were actions that concerned me, I didn’t hide them and I don’t hide them now. And I am always appalled that when we are in the opposition we ask for COI on these and we were told by the Governor that it would be too expensive to have a COI. And then we came to office, the Governor had called us one week asking many times for COI on the areas of great concern to taxpayers and we were told that it was too much money to have a COI. It would have taken up too much resources and they would report to the police and we had never heard anything about it again to this date. So we are always told about the lessons learnt but there was no lesson learnt based on what you can see. So I must say commissioner if I can please, I realized very quickly that we have to strengthen our resolve to have good governance because if you search anyone’s life from now til whenever you will find things that persons have to improve upon because there is none that is free from something that went wrong. Not illegal but wrong. That’s life, but as my life, your life, or who life, but to recognize now that with the contracting of our legislations to make sure that we put the legislation in place dealing with good governance. With the second and third reading right now we want to make sure that good governance in strengthened.”
Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom then interfered saying, “I’m sorry Premier to interrupt. I understand that these measures are going through but as I understand it the answer to the question as to whether you stand by those comments is yes?
Premier Fahie (witness) responded by saying, “The answer Commissioner is yes but I haven’t seen any lessons learnt so before we get taught lessons like now, we are putting good governance legislation which we got little delayed with. I’m trying.”
Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom then says, “No I understand that.”
Premier Fahie (witness), “Stop corruption.”
Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom, “I understand that but the answer to the question is yes?”
Premier Fahie (witness), “Yes.”
Interrogator then intervenes and ask, “And at the time making such allegations such as financial misappropriation, or corruption, you were effectively accusing were you not, the previous administration of engaging in criminal activity?”
Premier Fahie (witness), “One, make it specific that I was saying that we were talking about BVIAA, that was one. And it was not hard to say that because we had no plane, no money, no flights. I mean a beginning lawyer in first year of law school would say something is wrong there and every entity that could have looked into that when we went to them in the opposition turned us down. So I saw that at that time were we probably looking at this incorrectly. But I maintain that, that was quite a bit of taxpayer’s money that went out and you had no plane, no money. I didn’t say that as a personal attack on them we were dealing with situations that were right in front of your very eyes and every time you went to the Governor’s office to get the COI since we were getting nowhere because we were on the public account committee, we did a report on that and other things. When we carried it out to the Governor’s office, he said that was not enough for a COI, let the Attorney General do. They did their work, nothing. That’s enough. We went back they stated to us that it’s too expensive for a COI so after a while the arms and tenants that were supposed to help the good governance wasn’t there.”
Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom interrupts again saying, “I’m sorry again to interrupt Premier but going back to the question. The question was that by making those remarks, you must have meant that the previous administration was involved in criminal activity. But certainly those remarks certainly must have meant, sorry, this is a question. By using the words corrupt must have meant dishonest?”
Premier Fahie (the witness), “I can’t say if there were criminal activities, because until proven guilty you’re innocent. I just saw it as corruption not just the mere fact of planes or whatever wall or so I saw the whole system as corrupt.”
During his testimony Premier Fahie (witness) was constantly asked by the Commissioner to please answer the questions directly.
It is imperative to note that the transcripts take a long time to be publically available and some information from transcripts may have been redacted. Additionally, usually when a testimony is given, if the testimony has been redacted, it would clearly state in the transcripts at which points exactly the statements were redacted.
The transcripts published by the COI do not state if in fact pieces of the statements were removed. It is unclear if this is the full statement given by the Premier.
The Commission of Inquiry (“the COI”) was issued on 19 January 2021 to look into whether corruption, abuse of office or other serious dishonesty may have taken place amongst public, elected and statutory officials in recent years; and to make appropriate recommendations as to governance and the operation of the law enforcement and justice systems in the BVI. The Rt Hon Sir Gary Hickinbottom is the sole Commissioner.
The COI hearings continue.