Fahie was ensnared in a months-long United States (US) Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) undercover operation which culminated in his arrest on April 28, 2022 at a Miami airport. The former Premier has since been charged with Interstate and Foreign Travel in Aid of Racketeering; conspiracy to import a controlled substance; conspiracy to engage in money laundering; and attempted money laundering along with his co-accused, former BVI Ports Authority Director Oleanvine Maynard and her son Kadeem Maynard.

While speaking at a recent political rally in Huntums Ghut, Dr Pickering suggested that the arrest was a watershed moment for the territory and said the date will become so important in the future that persons will be asked where they were and what they were doing on that fateful day.

The former lawmaker called for a serious and sincere examination of what happened on that day and said unless this is done, the territory won’t be able to move forward.

He also pleaded with residents not to bury their heads in the sand, expecting the entire ordeal to blow over. “It’s not going to blow over, we took a serious hit. We took a setback and in order for us to move forward and progress, we have got to first analyse it,” he said.

“We don’t want to live in a country where we have to feel ashamed of ourselves and where we are as a people, we are better than that,“ Dr Pickering said as he urged introspection from residents.

To help the territory to progress past that point, Dr Pickering proposed that there needs to be a few good men and women who are genuinely committed to the future of the country and are willing to make the sacrifices to do what is necessary to ensure the territory moves forward.