CoI report & Fahie's arrest was the ‘perfect storm’ for UK– Hon Fraser
In a podcast produced by Tortoise Media, a UK media house entitled 'Paradise Bust: Scandal in the British Virgin Islands', and released on September 26, 2022, the Governor has since admitted that he authorises US DEA sting operations in the Virgin Islands (VI), yet for some reason he had no knowledge investigations were underway in the VI.
Fighting chance was reduced to nothing - Hon Fraser
“It is one of those situations where it's like the perfect storm, perfect for them [UK]. Immediately we move from a people being accused and suspected of, to a people being condemned of” Hon Fraser remarked on the podcast interview.
“Immediately, our fighting chances had moved from good to almost diminished to nothing,” he added in relation to the VI launching a defense against claims of systematic corruption in the territory.
Hon Fraser was also referencing the release of the CoI report on April 29, 2022, with its 45 sweeping recommendations that included suspension of the local constitution and the imposition of direct rule from London.
A day before, on April 28, 2022, Governor Rankin had revealed that Premier Fahie was arrested in Miami in a sting operation connected to money laundering and drugs.
“I mean there was absolutely nothing you can say in your defense, what can you say?” Hon Fraser further posited.
UK Foreign secretary linked CoI to arrest
On the afternoon of Fahie’s arrest, then UK Foreign Secretary Liz M. Truss said the arrest of VI’s Premier showed the importance of the UK-sponsored Commission of Inquiry (CoI) in the territory.
Struss said she was appalled at the charges of drug trafficking and money laundering, which “demonstrates the importance of the CoI into governance on the Territory.”
Hours before, VI Governor John J, Rankin CMG had said the arrest was a US operation led by the DEA and was linked to the Commission of Inquiry report. Additionally, Mr Rankin said he was informed of the operation by the UK, only after Hon Fahie's arrest on US soil.
The Governor has since maintained those claims in his interview with Tortoise Media, even after ‘inadvertently’ admitting he authorises DEA sting operations in the VI.
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26 Responses to “CoI report & Fahie's arrest was the ‘perfect storm’ for UK– Hon Fraser ”
Whatever happens we did this to ourselves (or certain people did). Focus on that! Focus on fixing! Because if he didn't get caught and there was no COI, it would still be occurring.
We have to ask ourselves is it coincidence that the Premier who was strongly for independence and publicly enemies with the past governor finds himself tempted into this predicament?
If they had all this information why did they not 'set him up' as they did, before he became a Premier of the Virgin Islands? Which arguably would have saved us all a lot of trouble, remember these people are voted in democratically.
Was allowing him of all people to become premier, despite his alleged inclinations part of a larger plan to stifle the VI independence momentum?
It is a perfect storm it happened during a period of consideration for the review & updating of our constitution. Too many coincidences. Its as if from the Premier to rest of them there are vultures everywhere.
Right now there are things to be done in the territory to move us forward and we are at a stand still with in terms of progress with all of these political point scoring, and contrived situations.
There is nothing going on right now besides the COI which we can chalk up to point scoring missions, name one project aimed at uplifting the people. As much of a disappointment the Premier turn out to be at least it felt we were going somewhere as a territory, a lot of people believed the prayer.
No excuse for the Premier but all parts of government must fall under scrutiny, after what we've been through cmon we can not say lets not ask those questions.
Now we are a drift with elections due & no one knows where we are going. Perfect storm.
Can one really think that it makes sense to share the planned operation with anyone in said small nation? The bust took place in the US not the BVIs, so why would permission be needed from the BVI governor, or even the UK itself
No controversy at all. Good job US DEA! Well done.
Remember H.I.M Emporer Haile Selassie, when they paid Mossilini to invade Ethiopia. It was H.I.M Queen Elizabeth 11 who took him in, and that's why Ethiopia is the only Nation in Africa, which was never Conquer. United we Stand