‘God is the only judge’ — Andrew Fahie pens farewell letter
Embattled former Premier Andrew Fahie has penned what could be described a reflective and motivational farewell letter to his former colleagues of the House of Assembly, urging them to keep fighting for the prosperity of the territory and focus on the areas that unite them as Virgin Islanders.
The former Premier’s farewell letter had prophecies of independence, as he told his colleagues to create a BVI where young people can dream of being the next Speaker, Clerk, Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecution, elected official, minister of government, Premier, Governor, or Governor-General.
Fahie’s letter said the current times call for Virgin Islanders to be “laser-focused on the areas that unite rather than those that divide”.
The former Premier, who is accused of knowingly travelling interstate to facilitate a business enterprise involving narcotics, also called his colleagues to, “allow God, through time, to do what only he does best with time — which is to be the only true and fair judge while healing all wounds.”
Fahie also used the letter as an opportunity to express gratitude for the time spent in politics. He placed great focus on the task that elected leaders have in helping to advance the BVI beyond the work of their foreparents.
There were many biblical references included in the letter, including a quote from St Luke chapter 1:37, “For with God nothing shall be impossible”. He also likened the BVI’s forefathers to Moses who led the children of Israel “en route to the promised land”.
The letter was addressed to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, and serves as Fahie’s official resignation from his elected post as First District Representative and retirement from representational politics, effective November 24, 2022.
His resignation comes eight months after he was arrested at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport on drug and money laundering charges, which has since been upgraded to include racketeering charges.
It is unclear why it took Fahie this long to resign from his seat and why his resignation was submitted yesterday — just weeks ahead of his next court appearance in the United States. He is currently waiting to commence his trial which, up to publication time, was scheduled to take place in a Florida court on January 9, 2023.
His resignation as First District representative was a topic of national debate as many wondered why he still held the seat after being absent from the role for many months.
Some public figures and elected leaders said his removal had to be done according to law while others said it was at the discretion of the House of Assembly Speaker.
Fahie’s letter said the current times call for Virgin Islanders to be “laser-focused on the areas that unite rather than those that divide”.
God is the only true and fair judge
The former Premier, who is accused of knowingly travelling interstate to facilitate a business enterprise involving narcotics, also called his colleagues to, “allow God, through time, to do what only he does best with time — which is to be the only true and fair judge while healing all wounds.”
Fahie also used the letter as an opportunity to express gratitude for the time spent in politics. He placed great focus on the task that elected leaders have in helping to advance the BVI beyond the work of their foreparents.
There were many biblical references included in the letter, including a quote from St Luke chapter 1:37, “For with God nothing shall be impossible”. He also likened the BVI’s forefathers to Moses who led the children of Israel “en route to the promised land”.
The letter was addressed to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, and serves as Fahie’s official resignation from his elected post as First District Representative and retirement from representational politics, effective November 24, 2022.
Why resign now, several months later?
His resignation comes eight months after he was arrested at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport on drug and money laundering charges, which has since been upgraded to include racketeering charges.
It is unclear why it took Fahie this long to resign from his seat and why his resignation was submitted yesterday — just weeks ahead of his next court appearance in the United States. He is currently waiting to commence his trial which, up to publication time, was scheduled to take place in a Florida court on January 9, 2023.
His resignation as First District representative was a topic of national debate as many wondered why he still held the seat after being absent from the role for many months.
Some public figures and elected leaders said his removal had to be done according to law while others said it was at the discretion of the House of Assembly Speaker.