Former BVI Premier Andrew Fahie’s Correspondence Revealed in Court Records

Recent court records reveal that former British Virgin Islands Premier Andrew Fahie engaged in correspondence with individuals like W. Smith, R. Sylvester, and M. Vanterpool shortly before his arrest on charges of narcotics smuggling and money laundering.

While inclusion on the call list does not necessarily imply wrongdoing, prosecutors deemed these phone calls and messages significant enough to be presented as evidence.

The evidence list mainly consists of initials and surnames, with notable exceptions such as Royal Virgin Islands Police Force Commissioner Mark Collins. This development comes amid an ongoing investigation into Collins, launched by outgoing BVI Gov. John Rankin.

The revelations follow the release of a Commission of Inquiry report that detailed potential corruption in the BVI government, recommending drastic measures including the suspension of the local constitution and direct control by London.

Fahie’s trial is set for Monday, where the content of his communications and the involvement of alleged co-conspirator Oleanvine Pickering Maynard will be further unveiled.

Maynard, the former BVI Ports Authority managing director, is scheduled to testify against Fahie, having already pleaded guilty to cocaine smuggling charges along with her son, Kadeem Maynard.

The intricate plans allegedly involved collaboration with international drug runners, bribery of local officials, and elaborate schemes to legitimise drug-laden cargo ships.

These revelations have led to several arrests and added layers to an already complex web of corruption allegations.

Fahie is charged with one count of conspiracy to import a controlled substance and launder money, attempted money laundering and interstate and foreign travel in aid of racketeering

The trio were arrested during a DEA sting spanning meetings in the BVI, United States Virgin Islands and the United States.

The DEA affidavit said they had planned to use the territory’s ports to ship thousands of kilos of cocaine from Colombia to Miami and New York via Puerto Rico; each kilogram would be sold for between US$26,000 and US$38,000.