International
US Judge Refuses To Lift Travel Ban For Daughters Of Former BVI Premier Andrew Fahie Currently On Drug Charges
A United States judge on May 5 denied a motion to allow the daughters of former British Virgin Islands Premier Andrew Fahie presently on federal drug charges to travel to their homeland for a family funeral.
A motion was filed on Thursday, May 4 to modify the conditions of Fahie’s $1 million bond to allow his daughters — Kedisha and Khadija Fahie — to attend the funeral service of their maternal grandfather Winston Theodore Herbert on May 27 at the Upper Room Victory Church on Tortola.
The unsuccessful motion also asked that the two girls be allowed to spend not more than seven days with their mother.
The former Finance Minister lives with his two daughters in a two-bedroom apartment in Florida. He also wears an ankle monitor and he and his daughters had to surrender their passports as part of the bail agreement. They attend online classes.
In April, the court relaxed Fahie’s bail conditions to allow him to visit a dentist and to travel 45 minutes to his lawyer’s Ft. Lauderdale office no more than three times a week to discuss sensitive matters for his upcoming trial.
The former First Electoral District Representative and chairman of the Virgin Islands Party, was arrested on April 28, 2022 by Drug Enforcement Administration Agents (DEA) at the Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport.
Fahie, along with Ports Authority Director Oleanvine Maynard and her son Kadeem Maynard, are charged with conspiring to import more than five kilos of cocaine into the United States and conspiring to launder $700,000.
The female Maynard was arrested in Florida, while her son was detained in St Thomas, United States Virgin Islands. The Maynards are both still in federation custody awaiting trial.
The former mathematics teacher was first elected as District One representative in 1999 at the age of 28, a seat he has held continuously for 23 years. As a member of the Virgin Islands Party government, he has served as Minister for Health, Education and Welfare from 2000 to 2003 and Minister for Education and Culture from 2007 to 2011.
In 2016, Fahie became leader of the VIP and three years later, on February 25th, 2019, he led his party to victory in the general election, breaking the National Democratic Party’s winning streak. VIP won eight of 13 elected seats in the House of Assembly.
In November 2022, he resigned as chairman of the party and from Virgin Islands politics.
Dame Pereira, who hails from North Sound, Virgin Gorda, has had a distinguished legal career that began when she was called to the Bar of the Virgin Islands in 1981. Rising through the ranks of the judiciary, she became a High Court Judge in 2003 and was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2009. On October 24, 2012, she made history as the first female Chief Justice of the ECSC, a position she held with distinction until her retirement earlier this year in St. Kitts and Nevis. Her legal career has spanned over three decades, marked by numerous groundbreaking achievements and an unwavering commitment to justice.
Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley of the Virgin Islands lauded Dame Pereira’s appointment in a social media post, describing it as “well-deserved” and noting her inspirational impact on the Virgin Islands community. “Your achievements inspire us all!” Premier Wheatley declared, emphasizing the pride that her accomplishments have brought to the region.
The Privy Council appointments, officially announced on August 28, also include notable figures such as Baroness Eluned Morgan MS, the First Minister of Wales, and John Swinney MS, the First Minister of Scotland.
The Privy Council remains one of the oldest government institutions in the UK, advising the sovereign on matters of state and governance.
Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo won gold in the men’s 200 meters final on Thursday, August 8, finishing with a time of 19.46 seconds, the fourth-fastest in Olympic history.
Tebogo’s victory overshadowed the struggles of American star Noah Lyles, who crossed the line in third after revealing he was battling COVID-19. Following the race, Lyles was assisted off the track in a wheelchair.
Lyles’ finish for the second consecutive Olympics left fans and competitors in shock. Despite his health struggles, Lyles managed to finish in 19.70 seconds, falling to his back in pain as he grappled with the effects of the virus that had impacted him throughout his Olympic journey.
As Lyles dealt with his medical issues, Kenny Bednarek secured silver with a time of 19.62 seconds.
Lyles’ condition became evident a night earlier when he finished second in a semifinal and headed to the medical tent without speaking to the press. Despite reassurances from his coach that he was fine, it was clear something was wrong as the final unfolded.
As the runners approached the homestretch, Lyles fell behind, unable to summon his finishing kick. What was once a reliable surge in the final stretch transformed into a push for the line, culminating in a collapse onto the purple track, marking a conclusion to his Olympic journey.
Photo: John David Mercer Photo USA Today
At just 18 years old, Adaejah Hodge has made a mark at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Competing in the 200m semifinals at the iconic Stade de France, Hodge clocked in at 22.70 seconds, securing 8th place in her heat and 17th overall in the semifinals. She becomes the first athlete from the British Virgin Islands (BVI) to advance to an Olympic semifinal in the 200m event.
“Before the race, I was talking to myself to get amped up, and it seemed to work because I actually lowered my time,” Hodge shared with the BVI Olympic Association, reflecting on her pre-race routine. “Just finding exercises like those to prepare me for the race is what I was doing. Throughout the race, I just trusted my training, trusted what I’ve been doing leading up to this point. I think I executed my race well. I’m only 18, so I’m looking forward to the next event, which is the U20s in Peru, and dominate there.”
Earlier in the day, she qualified through the Repechage event.
Reflecting on her Olympic experience, Hodge acknowledged the challenges of competing on such a grand stage. “It’s very hard to go out into the crowd — everyone screaming — so getting comfortable in the situation with all those fans and allowing myself to be Adaejah Hodge is something I will need to do,” she noted.
As the youngest competitor in her event at Paris 2024, she has set a high bar for future competitions.
The U20 Championships in Peru await, where Hodge is determined to build on her Olympic experience.
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