“We lost a good soldier because of our timidity, fear and silence. In BVI, we believe that speaking out is a recipe for victimization, so we avoid ‘the road less traveled.’
But unless there is real dialogue in this community, it will never develop to its true potential.
In the end, we blame thirteen (the Representatives) when the fault may lie with one (self).
He was eloquent, charismatic, strategic, kindhearted, industrious, vindictive, strong-willed, publicly pious, bold, decisive, indefatigable, a man of conviction, resolute, prevaricating and rapacious wrapped up in an enigma.
Premier Fahie was well positioned and un-afraid to make the tough decisions that would have allowed BVI to flourish. Unfortunately, he fell off the high wire, perhaps, because functional checks and balances were brushed aside.
So, although the verdict in that Miami courtroom was spoken in the judge’s voice, it was the people of the BVI who delivered it.
BVI loaded the gun. The judge only pulled the trigger on the advice of the jury.
We knew we were heading to excess when our leader, in an unprecedented fashion, chose his own, considerable, security detail.
We sat silent when the green tide stopped activity in all the public boardrooms, dismantling some, to gain unfettered exercise of state power. Autocracy was in the air.
We grumbled in dark corners when it was published that the chairman of one of the statutory boards was someone who had previously helped to answer certain questions in that space.
We wondered why the gatekeeper, keen on good governance, was permissive.
The farmers and fishermen stimulus and SSB’s role in it are things of legend.
BVI loaded the gun. The judge only pulled the trigger on the advice of the jury.
We harassed our leader from early morning until late at night to ensure that a space was made at the trough of state so that we could have a lifestyle that we did not earn.
We tempted him to use the treasury like a personal bank account or to find funds, however he could, to satisfy our needs otherwise he was threatened with the withdrawal of support.
We tremble to mention our avaricious demands on the politicians’ slush fund, now removed, on the recommendation of the COI Commissioner.
We witnessed, in quietness, a well-organized brawl in print, voice and state to discredit the British and distract and confuse the people.
Neither we nor the twelve (maybe compromised by the greedy bill) said very much when state power was increasingly exercised by a single office.
Government became more unresponsive and inefficient. State employees were waiting to be told how to think and what to do.
Businesses felt the pinch. Squealer’s (Animal Farm) paint bucket and brush were kept busy recasting the rules and social media went into overdrive.
And those who dared to speak out were branded as enemies of the state.
We were shocked, but inaudible, when the Minister for National Security abdicated his responsibility and allowed political rejection of a patrol ship to secure our borders.
We missed multiple opportunities to get technical help from the U.K. because we wanted to make it clear that we had no interest in an overseer.
We said nothing as our most experienced professional in the industry that puts the majority to work was pushed off the bus into oncoming traffic because neither her competence nor fearlessness could be broken.
We felt comfortable with inexperience and mediocrity accepted permanent residence in the offices of state.
BVI loaded the gun. The judge only pulled the trigger on the advice of the jury.
But despite the court’s current confusion, the judge has spoken.
And BVI has the opportunity to change its ways and ease its dependence on the political class.
We must stop pushing our politicians to corruption and then blaming them when their own avaricious behaviour eclipses even our ambitions.
How much longer will BVI load the gun and turn its back once the shots are fired?
And how many more good soldiers are we prepared to see destroyed before individual pride, industriousness and independence are restored?
Fridays would like to know.
Happy Friday!”