The Virgin Islands Party’s District Three Candidate Kevin ‘OJ’ Smith has fired back at comments made by Progressives United’s Chairman Hon. Julian Fraser, stating that his role in serving the former premier Andrew Fahie as a political advisor had nothing to do with Fahie’s personal activities.
Fraser issued a call to his district opponent at a recent campaign launch, urging Smith to be forthcoming with all the advice he provided the former premier up until his April 28th arrest in Florida.
Due to Smith’s close involvement with the former premier up until the day of the arrest, Fraser said that the VIP candidate who was earning in excess of $100,000 as Fahie’s political advisor, should provide answers to residents of the territory prior to election day.
In Smith’s response, he said Fraser was attempting to “misinform and mislead constituents and the general public.”
“Firstly as a professional for over 30 years, I have regularly been employed at the executive level and have always been paid a salary equal to my role and responsibilities. Furthermore, the salary ranges were approved by the cabinet and I am one of 3 consultants who have been paid at that level. My engagement with the Government pertains to policy matters and projects which were of importance to any Premier. Whatever occurred with the former Premier is yet to be proven in court. My job did not include advice or dealings with respect to the former Premier’s personal activities,” Smith responded.
As it relates to Fraser’s claim that the United Kingdom does not want the Virgin Islands Party as the governing administration, Smith said the claim “is a bold-faced lie”.
“If the UK wanted the VIP out they would not have allowed 3 members of the VIP to form the Unity Government. He [Fraser] claims the Unity Government concept was his idea yet he could not sit as a minister,” Smith stated.
He added, “The real truth is that the UK does not want any person guilty of poor governance to hold public office. Any member of the HOUSE of Assembly that has breached the laws of the Virgin Islands is of concern to the UK. The Harbour Development project in SCB [Seacow’s Bay] was audited and is currently being criminally investigated.”
Smith pointed to Recommendation B20 of the Commission of Inquiry Report to substantiate his claim, stating that it was solid fact-based evidence regarding the UK’s views of Fraser’s handling of the Harbor Development project.