Fahie still being paid as D1 Rep but should focus on his case — Premier

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has confirmed that disgraced former Premier, Andrew Fahie — who is now to be tried after pleading not guilty to charges of conspiring to launder money and import cocaine into the United States — is still being paid a salary by the BVI government.

There has been widespread public speculation on whether Fahie is still collecting paycheques despite being in US Federal detention for a little more than a month now. However, Dr Wheatley put to bed the speculations during a press conference late Friday afternoon.

“He is still the Representative for the First District so he would still be paid as Representative of the First District. Until he is no longer the Representative of the First District, he will continue to be paid,” Premier Wheatley explained.

During the early stages of the pandemic and up to earlier this year, the House of Assembly (HOA) made provisions for members to attend sitting virtually because of the threat of COVID-19. Dr Wheatley was asked if he anticipates Fahie would try to attend sittings virtually and if the HOA would facilitate him since he was recently offered bail in a Florida Federal Court.

Focus on the case

However, the current Premier said he does not anticipate that there will be any virtual sittings of the House anytime soon. He also made his feelings clear on what he thinks Fahie — who has been First District Representative since 1999 — should do.

“It is my view that he should focus on his defence. He has a difficult case and task ahead of him and that his where his focus should be,” Dr Wheatley said while referring to the former Premier.

He noted that while First District residents are without their elected representative, the Territorial At-Large representative are endeavouring to ensure those constituents are not void of representation in the House of Assembly.