London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2025

'Greedy capitalists paying no heed to Climate Change' - Premier Fahie

'Greedy capitalists paying no heed to Climate Change' - Premier Fahie

With the Bahamas still grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian that ravaged the country in September of 2019, Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie says now more than ever, the region and especially the British Virgin Islands must focus on building resilient economies to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The Leader of Government business made the utterance during his opening statement, when the Seventh Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands commenced today Thursday, October 17, 2019, in Road Town, Tortola.


Empathise with the Bahamas

Turning his attention to the state of affairs in the Bahamas, Hon Fahie said, "If anyone can empathise with the people of the Bahamas, we the people of the Virgin Islands can, because only two years ago we faced what they are facing at present... their situation is worst because the latest death toll from Dorian is 61 confirmed fatalities with about 600 persons still unaccounted for and they are dealing with a spill of about 1.5M gallons of oil from a damaged storage facility."

According to the Premier, every year storms are growing more unexpected due to a change in weather patterns for the worst and he says the region must, therefore, be prepared for anything.

"We are witnessing more powerful storms and hurricanes being formed, they are developing in more rapid succession... their behaviour is unusual and unpredictable often deviating from the forecast models [and] are more destructive," he said, noting that modern storms are defying known science and redefining it.

Premier Fahie pointed out that the Virgin Islands now has 'a front-row seat' to the destructive vicious cycle of climate change brought about by global warming, rising ocean temperatures and melting of ice in the polar region.

As a result of this, he said the region is now taking steps to do all that it can to protect the environment by building awareness and using international forums to keep the topic on the front burner.


Buiding resilient economies

"Regional leaders, including myself, and using every available forum to bring urgent attention to this situation that places countries like ours at the greatest immediate risk, but greedy capitalists in other so-called more developed countries are paying no heed as they continue to pump pollution and carbon into our atmosphere and oceans."

The Premier pointed to a September 23, 2019, presentation at the United Nations (UN) by Prime Minister of Barbados, Hon Mia A. Mottley where she was allotted an extremely limited time to speak on the topic of climate change and the Caribbean, yet interrupted, as an example of callousness to the subject by the developed world.

"Would you believe that the moderator tried on 6 occasions to cut off Prime Minister Motley before she could complete her statement, that is how they treat us as small counties," he said noting that three minutes was hardly enough to speak on such a vast issue even as the region accounts for less than 1% of global greenhouse gasses.

"These are some of the reasons why we in the Caribbean are now living on the edge and having to deal with the kind of trauma we faced when Hurricanes Irma and Maria ravaged us two weeks apart in 2017 and this is why as we continue the work to recover, we have to become more resilient."

Premier Fahie said moving forward, better economies will be designed as in the case of the VI, "Not just in terms of building infrastructure that can withstand strong hurricane winds, but resilient in terms of the diversity of our economy, the equipping of our people with skills that will reduce or remove their vulnerability to shocks."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
‘Frightening’ First Night in Prison for Sarkozy: Inmates Riot and Shout ‘Little Nicolas’
White House Announces No Imminent Summit Between Trump and Putin
US and Qatar Warn EU of Trade and Energy Risks from Tough Climate Regulation
Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Crackdown in Landmark Court Battle
Nicolas Sarkozy begins five-year prison term at La Santé in Paris
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
The Sydney Sweeney and Jeans Storm: “The Outcome Surpassed Our Wildest Dreams”
Erika Kirk Delivers Moving Tribute at White House as Trump Awards Charlie Presidential Medal of Freedom
British Food Influencer ‘Big John’ Detained in Australia After Visa Dispute
ScamBodia: The Chinese Fraud Empire Shielded by Cambodia’s Ruling Elite
French PM Suspends Macron’s Pension Reform Until After 2027 in Bid to Stabilize Government
Orange, Bouygues and Free Make €17 Billion Bid for Drahi’s Altice France Telecom Assets
Dutch Government Seizes Chipmaker After U.S. Presses for Removal of Chinese CEO
×