Caribbean News
Childhood friend of former BVI Premier’s pays bail; Fahie now free with ankle monitor
By Shanieka Smith
Features Writer
#BVI, June17, 2022 – After 47 days in police custody, former BVI Premier Andrew Fahie has been released on bail. This update was revealed by well-placed sources.
Fahie was arrested in the United States on charges of drug smuggling and money laundering. He was then offered bail of one million US dollars; it came with a Nebbia Proffer condition attached to $500,000.
This means Fahie must reveal the source of the half a million dollars used for his bail.
The Nebbia Proffer was made on behalf of his childhood friend and a well-known businessman, Albion Hodge.
Days ahead of the bail approval, we learned about Mr. Hodge.
As reported by the BVI News, in the 78-page of Hodge’s affidavit document, which serves as evidence of the source of funds, Hodge included that he is a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and the United States. He said he is a childhood acquaintance of Fahie and that he owns several businesses in the British and US Virgin Islands.
Included in the list of businesses were Stanley’s Welcome Villas in Cane Garden Bay, Carrie’s Comfort Inn in Cane Garden Bay, the CSY Marina where his ferry boats are moored, BVI Spring Water (a water bottling and sale concern), a 30 Hertz rental car franchise, CSY Oxygen Company, a residence in Cane Garden Bay valued at approximately $2.5 million, and Caribbean Maritime Excursions, Inc (CME). Hodge said his net worth is estimated to be more than $30 million.
In reports on the funding of the bail, it was learned that ‘Mr. Hodge used proceeds from the water business and Hertz franchise to “fund the initial acquisition,” his brother used revenue from his hotel and restaurant businesses — Stanley’s Welcome Bar, Stanley’s Welcome Villas, and Carrie’s Comfort Inn — which Mr. Hodge inherited after his brother’s death, according to the affidavit.’
The corporate bond guaranteed by Mr. Hodge is but one of the conditions of the bail. Mr. Fahie has agreed to 24-hour GPS monitoring, he has signed an extradition waiver, and must refrain from leaving his daughters’ Miami apartment even for attorney visits — Judge Kathleen Williams also ordered a $500,000 personal surety bond to be co-signed by Mr. Fahie, his daughter and a friend.
Upon release, Fahie is required to wear an ankle monitor, he should not be found close to any transportation centres, and his wife and daughters must hand over their travel documents to US officials.
Fahie’s trial is expected to begin in the middle of next month.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Revenue from the Turks and Caicos’ Financial Services Sector will more than double in the next few years, if E Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier and Finance Minister gets his way. It ‘s one of the reasons the country is investing so much capital into getting off of the EU blacklist and becoming a secure trustworthy financial destination.
“The FSC’s revenues for 2020/21 was $10.5M— the figures for 2021/22, would be about similar,” he said. He further explained that $10.5 million from the FSC represented about 2.6 percent of the country’s 408.5-million-dollar
revenue. Though it increased to $14 million in the 2021/22 financial year, finance is still a small fry compared to tourism or even stamp duties but that will change, says Saunders.
“My revenue goal for the Government by the year 2029 [or] the election after the next election – is $500M. By that time, I want the financial sector (FSC) revenues to represent at least 5% ($25M). So that’s my goal for the financial sector by 2029.”
This goal, should it be met, would increase the Government’s revenue by 100 million dollars, a significant increase in spending power for local upgrades and improvements for Turks and Caicos residents and visitors.
Saunders says it’s time for the TCI to diversify its sources of revenue to make sure that what happened in the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw residents out of a job for months, will not happen again. Tourism now makes up around 80 percent of the country’s GDP. The Minister of Finance wants to push that down to 60 or even 50 percent.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#Haiti, March 17, 2023 – When a CARICOM delegation visited Haiti earlier this month, conspicuously absent was the Turks and Caicos Islands despite being one of the nations most directly affected by the multi-dimensional crisis there. There is no comment, as yet from the Premier, to say why this was the case.
Still, from the expedition, CARICOM heads of Government have informed that there will be lobbying in Africa for assistance in Haiti. They say they have decided that the best course of action for the Caribbean country is to bolster the Haitian National Police and act as intermediaries with Africa and the world. The decision follows a one day visit on February 27th, and a March 5th meeting chaired by the Bahamas.
CARICOM says during the trip delegates ‘met with a broad range of Haitian stakeholders to hear their views on the
way forward to a Haitian-led solution’. With that in mind it has made a decision on how to proceed.
“The Heads of Government agreed to support the Haitian National Police in their efforts to address the security situation. The focus of the Community will be the provision of training for the HNP and the provision of humanitarian assistance to HNP and the wider Haitian society, taking into account the challenging humanitarian and security situation”
It’s not clear yet where and how this training will take place. Also distinctly absent from the report, no more mention of boots on the ground from other countries despite CARICOM Member States indicating they were ready and willing should it come to that.
In addition, recognizing ‘the common historical experiences and the strong African-Caribbean relationship’ CARICOM says,
“Heads of Government also agreed to seek support from African countries for Haiti. They also agreed to work with the Governments of Canada and the United States as well as the UNDP”
Magnetic Media has reached out to the Premier’s Office to get a full debrief of the February 27th visit (led by Jamaica; including The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago) to learn of Turks and Caicos’ posture following the critical sessions.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Musicians from the New World Symphony will be in the Turks and Caicos in concert next month and residents are invited to attend in support of the future of Ashley’s Learning Center. 
A fairly young orchestral academy based in Miami, the New World Symphony was launched in the 1980s by 1987, Michael Tilson Thomas and Ted Arison,Carnival Cruises founder. From the 1500 applicants who vie for a spot each year, the symphony accepts around 35 music graduates annually for training fellowships.
A select few of those graduates will be in country on April 8th headlining at the Ashley’s Learning Center concert ‘We’re all in this together’. The concert which also feature local artistes will be held at Brayton Hall on Venetian Road from 6 pm to 8:30 pm
Tickets are available ON ISLEHELP $75 PER GENERAL SEAT $125 PER PREMIUM SEAT $195 PER GALLERY SEAT – with /FREFRESHMENTS.
For TICKET RESERVATIONs you can call: 649-341-2304 or email EVENTS@ASHLEYSLEARNINGCENTER.ORG
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