Julian Fraser

Julian Fraser (born 5 July 1950), is a politician who presently serves as leader of the opposition Virgin Islands Party in the British Virgin Islands. He is currently the elected member for the Third District (Sea Cow's Bay), a position which he has held since the 1999 general election. He was appointed as Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party on 28 May 2014.^[1] After the 2015 general election he was officially appointed as the Leader of the Opposition under the Constitution.

Early life and education

Julian Fraser was born on 5 July 1950 to and Andrew and Frances Fraser.^[2] He is married to Kharid Fraser, the Accountant General of the British Virgin Islands, with whom he one son, Jamil.

He attended High School in the British Virgin Islands before studying an associate degree, and a five year Certificate in Architecture from the Institute of Design and Construction. He then studied at the New York Institute of Technology, where he received a Bachelor of Science (Magna Cum Laude) and a Bachelor of Architecture (Cum Laude). He is a registered Architect in the State of New York, and a member of the American Institute of Architects.^[2] His personal website claims that he was the project architect for the US$2.2 billion building of the World Financial Center, New York whilst he worked at the firm of Haines Lundberg Whaler.^[3]

Third District

Julian Fraser was appointed as the Virgin Islands Party candidate for the Third District in 1999. From 1971 to 1999 the district was represented by Oliver Cills (who is a cousin to Julian Fraser), except for between 1983 and 1986 when it was represented by Earl Fraser (who is brother to Julian Fraser). Since 1971 the Third District has been continuously represented by grand children of James and Isabella Cills.^[2]

Political career

Upon his election in 1999 Julian Fraser was appointed as Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, a position he held until 2002, when he was appointed Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Communications and Works. In 2003 the Virgin Islands Party lost power and he served as a member of the opposition until returning to power in 2007, when he was re-appointed Minister of Communications and Works. He held that position until 2011 when the Virgin Islands Party lost power again.^[4]

Barring further party changes, he is expected to lead the Virgin Islands Party into the 2015 general election.

Leader of the Opposition

After Fraser was made leader of the Virgin Islands Party in 2014 Ralph O'Neal remained the official Leader of the Opposition under the Territory's constitution until he stood down in the general election in June 2015. In that election only two members of the Virgin Islands Party won their seats - Fraser and Andrew Fahie. Subsequently Fraser and Fahie argued over who should be named as leader of the opposition, as Fahie believed he should take over as party leader following the general election defeat.^[5] As the Constitution required that the Leader of the Opposition commanded a support of the "majority" of the opposition members, and the only two opposition members disagreed, there was an impasse. Governor John Duncan gave the men a month to resolve their differences, but they were unable to do so, and eventually the Governor appointed Fraser as the official Leader of the Opposition.^[6]

Controversy

In 2014 Fraser faced controversy in relation to his handling of the Sea Cow's Bay Harbour Development Project in the Third District. The Auditor General issued a report on the Project which highlighted several discrepancies, including the fact that the cost of the project rose dramatically from an initial estimate of US$1.4 million to over US$6.6 million. Documentation which would have provided details of the spending were found to have gone missing, but two of Fraser's brothers (Earl Fraser and Kenneth Fraser) had received substantial payments for work that was never done, according to the report.^[7] Fraser strenuously denied wrongdoing, and argued the report was part of the Governing National Democratic Party campaign to poison his name.^[7] Fraser's brother, Earl, who was also criticised in the report, refused to comment.^[8]

In a separate matter, Fraser was accused in the House of trying to sign a contract for the Government to pay his brother for the lease of certain land which actually belonged to the Government at the time.^[9] Fraser has refuted those allegations.^[10]

Electoral history

References

External links

• http://fraser.vg/about-fraser.html
• http://www.bvi.org.uk/government/cabinet/julianfraser
• http://www.onepaper.com/bvireview/?v=d&i=&s=Welcome+to+the+BVI:Local+Govt.&p=38618

Leaders of the Opposition in the British Virgin Islands Osborne Stoutt Henley Cills Wheatley Stoutt O'Neal Maduro Romney Brewley Smith O'Neal Smith O'Neal Fraser