TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, CMC – Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley believes that an announcement by Governor John Rankin to seek additional powers over this British Overseas territory was strategically planned to align with the trial of former premier Andrew Fahie, which is set to get underway shortly in the United States.
According to Wheatley, who was speaking on a local radio show, the move could be described as a psychological tool.
“Andrew Fahie’s trial is set to start somewhere around now. I don’t take these things for granted regarding how they plan them,” Wheatley said.
He also hinted at a possible trend for outgoing governors to make a significant decision when departing the territory.
“The only thing I can come up with is that they have a particular method of doing things, some of which may be psychological. For instance, when Augustus Jaspert was leaving, he [announced the COI]. It’s almost as if they don’t have to deal with the consequences of their decisions, and you can’t hold somebody else accountable for those decisions,” the Premier added.
Fahie was arrested on drug trafficking charges in 2022, and shortly afterward, the Commissioner of Inquiry (COI), which was already underway in the BVI, delivered its final report to the governor and ordered the suspension of the territory’s constitution.
Local leaders eventually stopped the UK from suspending the constitution. Still, many, including the late Carvin Malone, maintained that the COI results were pre-planned to align with the capture of Fahie.
Outgoing Governor Rankin has denied these allegations, saying he knew nothing about the arrest of the former Premier Premier.
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