The Premier made the statements on November 25, 2020, during the Third Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA).

'I praised our system for finding drugs' - Premier Fahie

“I mean it genuinely that I praise our systems for the greatest drug bust. Some saying that I am out there condoning wrong and condoning this and condoning the other, not agreeing that we don't have corruption,” he said.

Hon Fahie continued, “I just smile because if they played it back they won't hear that I say any of that at all, I am saying that I praise our systems, that our systems were working to make the bust and that our systems are working that we can get certain things done.”

Premier Fahie in his 2021 Budget Speech of November 12, 2020, has said that while the centre of focus for the press conference related to the drug bust should have been the capability of local law enforcement to make such a historic find, that was not the case in the joint press conference by Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert and Commissioner of Police, Michael B. Matthews.

“This latest bust does not show that our system is corrupt, but rather it shows that our system and our officers stand up for what is right,” he said.

There were also concerns raised when photographs of the drugs recovered appeared in UK publications but were not made available to the local media.

Premier Fahie in his 2021 Budget Speech of November 12, 2020, has said that while the centre of focus for the press conference related to the drug bust should have been the capability of local law enforcement to make such a historic find, that was not the case in the joint press conference by Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert and Commissioner of Police, Michael B. Matthews.

Strengthening systems for self-governance

Hon Fahie said the statements by the Governor about the VI having pockets of corruption are a well-calculated attempt to stain the good name of the many hardworking law-abiding citizens, the local law enforcement agencies and the VI economy.

The Premier during his budget presentation further called for systematic strengthening in the VI surrounding COVID-19 policies and other areas management.

“Whatever it calls for in COVID-19 era and beyond to strengthen our systems we have to do because our people have shown that we can police ourselves everywhere you go, there’s going to be good and bad but it is up to the system to be strong enough to weed out the bad and the bad is always a few numbers,” Hon Fahie had said, clearly indicating he was not of the position there is absolutely no corruption in the VI.

Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert had told the media that the drugs recovered were equivalent to 75% of the VI's National Budget. There were also concerns raised when photographs of the drugs recovered appeared in UK publications but were not made available to the local media.