Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

CoI must consider culture of VI regarding board appointments- Premier argues

CoI must consider culture of VI regarding board appointments- Premier argues

Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has argued that the internal process of selecting board members for appointment, as opposed to always advertising the position, is one that is the Culture of the VI rather than a process that is indicative of a lack of good governance.

Hon Fahie moved to argue this position at today’s September 14, 2021, Virgin Islands (VI) commission of Inquiry Day 33 of the hearings, after it was suggested that the process used by the Fahie administration for the selection of board members in some instances was as a result of no sincere efforts being made to select the best candidates.

Hon Andrew A. Fahie moved to argue this position at today’s September 14, 2021, Virgin Islands (VI) commission of Inquiry Day 33 of the hearings after it was suggested that the process used by the Fahie administration for the selection of board members in some instances, was as a result of no sincere efforts being made the select the best candidates.


CoI must consider VI culture


According to Premier Fahie, “If the United Kingdom is considering a law to be passed or a new policy, they will not base it on the culture of the Virgin Islands or in Afghanistan or anywhere else, it would have to be based on the United Kingdom.

“And if the BVI is doing a new policy in law, they would have to what the culture is… and also bearing in mind to recognise what [is] happening internationally. That is key,” he said.

As such, Premier Fahie said the culture of the VI, in terms of how an issue is being dealt with, comes from a long 71-year history and that must be factored in by the CoI.

He said the informal process of selecting board members internally is not one where persons are unknown, rather, many of the individuals are already known.

Premier's officer taking steps to transform the system


“We recognise in the Premier’s Office, long before the CoI started, is that this is now evolving, because our population has moved… up to 35,000 and counting,” he said.

He said although the process has merit there was still a need for adjustments and his administration has moved towards a stage of advertising the position for boards even amidst the cultural dynamics of the territory.

“So, Commissioner you would have to excuse me when I receive a question from the commission 'why wasn’t the post advertised?' That’s a legitimate question coming from your lens out of the UK or a bigger country,” he said.

“For us, most of that was not even part of most of the act,” he said.

While the Premier agreed that advertising of positions is good, he said it must also be explored whether that is the best way to get the best candidates for the job.

CoI commissioner Sir Gary R. Hickingbottom agreed that while it may not be the best way to get board members, he suggested that the informal process where board nominations happen internally, lacking an external element, would disadvantage some persons from applying for the job.

Advertising not the flagbearer of good Governance - Premier


Premier Fahie said, however, that using advertising as the flagbearer for good governance, which cannot guarantee the best candidates, would be an unjust position.

He said, however, his administration is not only engaging in advertising the positions of the board chairman but rather, moving to advertise all other board members appointed under the government in the VI.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
×