BVI Premier Andrew Fahie
The Premier of the British Virgin Islands Andrew Fahie remains in a federal lockup in Miami, after he and Oleanvine Maynard, head of the BVI’s Port Authority were denied bail during a Friday court hearing.
Fahie and Maynard appeared via Zoom from a narrow holding room at the detention facility. The Premier indicated that he had retained legal counsel. Maynard said that she did not, and asked the Judge for a court-appointed attorney. That request was denied, as Magistrate Judge Johnathan Goodman determined from a pre-trial report that the Ports Director had too many assets to qualify for a public defender.
Maynard reportedly told the judge that she did not know anybody who could serve as her counsel, and asked Goodman for recommendations — another request which was denied, for obvious reasons.
Maynard then turned to Fahie’s lawyer, Theresa Van Vliet, asking her for representation. Again, the judge had to intervene, explaining that one attorney could not represent multiple people charged in the same matter.
After some discussion, Van Vliet offered to contact Kadeem Maynard, who was arrested on St. Thomas on the same day his mother and Fahie were apprehended in Miami. Van Vliet said she would discuss attorney options for Oleanvine Maynard with her son, who is scheduled to be transported to Miami to appear in court there. Records in the VI District Court indicate that the younger Maynard was assigned a court-appointed attorney.
After the discussion, the judge expressed hope that a lawyer would contact Oleanvine to arrange representation, and wished her good luck.
A pre-trial detention hearing is scheduled for Andrew Fahie and Oleanvine Maynard is scheduled for May 4th, with the arraignments set for the following week.
