At a previous press conference a few weeks ago, Premier Fahie told the press he did not know the details of the controversy that was brewing inside the BVIHSA. But days after saying so, a letter was leaked showing that Premier was significantly involved.

When questioned today about why he was not more forthcoming and transparent about his involvement, the Premier said: “It is an ongoing investigation, and it was something that I wasn’t the one doing the investigation. So, I wasn’t trying to hide anything at all. I was letting it take its position. I realise how it came out. The media is like that. They have it as an ‘I got you moment’ but it’s not something I’d have put in the public domain at all,” Fahie said.

Media misinterpreted me

The Premier said the media misinterpreted his comments as he did not deny knowing about the issue that led to the dismissal of two senior workers at the BVIHSA.

“Well, first of all, it was reported that I said I denied [knowing] but what I stated clearly was that I was not involved in the weeds of what was happening. What came to my attention was one where I dealt with it as Minister of Finance. It was not for the Minister of Finance to get into the everyday running of any board or ministry,” Fahie said.

“The central government is the main shareholder of the BVIHSA and over $40 million that we must put into the establishment so if there is a concern, the Minister of Finance has the right to ask about the institution and how those funds are being spent. The Minister of Finance and Premier in terms of roles must always make sure there is due process,” he added.

The Premier mentioned the situation is not a matter of him denying whether he had full knowledge, some knowledge or no knowledge. What he did was deal with what came to his attention as Finance Minister since the ministry has stakes in healthcare.

Just last week, Fahie told our news team he wrote the letter “solely from an outside eye stating that it has come to my attention that an audit was done and there were concerns with the audit and the auditor, which is the internal auditor at the BVIHSA”.

Meanwhile, the Premier said he did not think he overstepped in writing the letter to the Health Minister expressing his concern over BVIHSA which is a statutory body.

“If there are concerns along the lines of being the main shareholder and being that people’s health is of paramount interest to the country and being that you want to maintain a good governance, then the Finance Minister and Premier would make sure they do two things” Fahie noted.

“If it is a heavy finance matter, you would align through the minister and the finance secretary and if it is not a matter on the financial aspect mainly or at all you direct it to the minister to give some kind of information,” the Finance Minister added.

BVIHSA skirts around scandals

And despite promises from both the Health Minister and the BVIHSA Board Chairman Moleto Smith to properly address the matters plaguing the organisation in recent times, yesterday they issued a public release that largely skirted around the issues.

The release said although certain information might pique the interest of the general public, the board reminds the public that some matters are considered privileged and confidential.