‘BVI has to move on’, Fraser says
Third District Representative and member of the political Opposition, Julian Fraser, said the BVI must move on from the international fiasco caused by the arrest of Premier Andrew Fahie in the United States late last week.
“As recently as four days ago, our only concern was to be in the United Kingdom on May 19 for a meeting with the Minister (Overseas Territories Minister Amanda Milling) regarding the Commission of Inquiry’s report,” Fraser commented yesterday, May 1.
But he said all of this has changed with the arrest of Premier Fahie and his appearance on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering in a US District Court in the Southern District of Florida.
Minister Milling is now meeting locally with elected officials and other interested parties on the report which was released by Governor John Rankin late last week.
“We are saddened by what took place, the events that took place. We wished it never happened. However, things being the way they are, we have to move on,“ the legislator said.
Fraser said in the Opposition members’ position on the issue was still being discussed and he expressed hope they could arrive at a resolution as talks with the remaining members of the government continue ahead of the meeting today.
“We want to let the people know that the overarching and most important matter on the recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry remains that of direct rule by the United Kingdom government under the governor,” Fraser stated.
“We must at all costs as people of the Virgin Islands show that we have matured to this point. It took us 70 years to get there – and there’s nothing that we should do to allow it to be taken away from us and show that we are united in keeping the territory as self-governing under your elected representatives.”
Fraser said he hoped that both the government and Opposition members would appear with a united front when they faced the UK’s Overseas Territories Minister today and said he felt that legislators are united enough to know that this was important.
“If you ask me directions right now, they won’t be the same as if you did a few days before but I think that we are working hard and diligent enough to make sure that this comes to fruition,” Fraser said.
But he said all of this has changed with the arrest of Premier Fahie and his appearance on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering in a US District Court in the Southern District of Florida.
Minister Milling is now meeting locally with elected officials and other interested parties on the report which was released by Governor John Rankin late last week.
“We are saddened by what took place, the events that took place. We wished it never happened. However, things being the way they are, we have to move on,“ the legislator said.
Fraser said in the Opposition members’ position on the issue was still being discussed and he expressed hope they could arrive at a resolution as talks with the remaining members of the government continue ahead of the meeting today.
“We want to let the people know that the overarching and most important matter on the recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry remains that of direct rule by the United Kingdom government under the governor,” Fraser stated.
“We must at all costs as people of the Virgin Islands show that we have matured to this point. It took us 70 years to get there – and there’s nothing that we should do to allow it to be taken away from us and show that we are united in keeping the territory as self-governing under your elected representatives.”
Fraser said he hoped that both the government and Opposition members would appear with a united front when they faced the UK’s Overseas Territories Minister today and said he felt that legislators are united enough to know that this was important.
“If you ask me directions right now, they won’t be the same as if you did a few days before but I think that we are working hard and diligent enough to make sure that this comes to fruition,” Fraser said.
