TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, CMC – Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley has voiced support for embattled former Premier Andrew Fahie, saying he should not be abandoned despite his ongoing legal troubles.
Speaking at a recent gala of the ruling Virgin Islands Party (VIP), Wheatley reflected on the party’s legacy, describing it as the only political organization in the territory to endure beyond its founding leader, H. Lavity Stoutt.
He highlighted the party’s continuity following Stoutt’s death in 1995, noting the leadership of figures such as former Chief Minister Ralph T. O’Neal and himself.
Wheatley also made clear that Fahie remains part of that legacy, stressing that the VIP stands by its members during difficult times.
“When Virgin Islanders fall, we don’t cast them aside. We pick them up,” he said, drawing applause from attendees. He acknowledged Fahie’s current challenges but insisted he would not be discarded.
Fahie’s political career came to an abrupt end following his arrest in April 2022 in the United States during a DEA sting operation at a Florida airport.
He was accused of agreeing to facilitate cocaine trafficking through the territory and is now serving a lengthy sentence in a U.S. federal prison, in what has been described as one of the most significant corruption scandals in the Virgin Islands’ history.
During the same address, Wheatley also recognized D. Orlando Smith as the only non-VIP leader to have been elected Premier.
Smith, who attended the gala, led the National Democratic Party during his time in office. The Premier also praised Lorna Smith for her contributions to maintaining the financial services sector’s strength and prominence, prompting applause from the audience.
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