They misrepresent me as a dictator — Premier Fahie
Premier Andrew Fahie has complained that his detractors have been falsely misrepresenting him as a dictator, but argued that his approach is better represented as ‘true leadership’.
At a weekend rally celebrating the Virgin Islands Party’s (VIP) third year in office, Fahie said his party has always been unified despite its differences.
He drew a contrast between his leadership throughout the pandemic and leadership of the previously governing National Democratic Party (NDP) administration following the devastation caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria.
“While we could not get everyone help, we tried to help everyone. And we helped quite a bit. We did not fold during the time our people needed us the most. We did not do like others and let the cement harden on the recreation grounds after Irma and none reached to the people to fix their homes,” he said.
“We did not do like others and let the food spoil before they could feed the people; because what we were despite our differences, was unified,” he argued.
“That’s why they misrepresent me as the dictator, and they misrepresent leadership for dictatorship,” he added.
“Leadership says ‘let’s go’, dictatorship says what they say, ‘I will go’ — and they went on their separate paths, while the people of the Virgin Islands remained suffering,” he said.
Premier Fahie also complained that his government is still saddled with paying bills incurred by the previous government. He said some of these lawsuits, which he said had no business being in the courts in the first instance, totalled as much as $20 million.
He drew a contrast between his leadership throughout the pandemic and leadership of the previously governing National Democratic Party (NDP) administration following the devastation caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria.
“While we could not get everyone help, we tried to help everyone. And we helped quite a bit. We did not fold during the time our people needed us the most. We did not do like others and let the cement harden on the recreation grounds after Irma and none reached to the people to fix their homes,” he said.
“We did not do like others and let the food spoil before they could feed the people; because what we were despite our differences, was unified,” he argued.
“That’s why they misrepresent me as the dictator, and they misrepresent leadership for dictatorship,” he added.
“Leadership says ‘let’s go’, dictatorship says what they say, ‘I will go’ — and they went on their separate paths, while the people of the Virgin Islands remained suffering,” he said.
Premier Fahie also complained that his government is still saddled with paying bills incurred by the previous government. He said some of these lawsuits, which he said had no business being in the courts in the first instance, totalled as much as $20 million.
