Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

‘I wasn’t trying to hide anything’, says Premier on BVIHSA matter

‘I wasn’t trying to hide anything’, says Premier on BVIHSA matter

Amid having his honesty come into question at a press conference today, Premier Andrew Fahie said it was not his place to disclose to the media that he had written a letter to Health Minister Carvin Malone about the audit saga at the BVI Health Service Authority (BVIHSA).

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.

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
×