Crown land makes up a third of all the land in the Virgin Islands, and last week’s Commission of Inquiry hearings delved into how those parcels change hands. Over the …
October 26, 2021
October 24, 2021
Deputy premier slams inquiry at United Nations meeting
As the Commission of Inquiry continued its work here in the territory, Deputy Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley repeated the government’s often-stated complaints about the process this month before a …
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October 22, 2021
Auditors stand by reports, refuting PS
Auditor General Sonia Webster and Internal Auditor Dorea Corea fired back against criticism of their reports on Friday, standing by their claims that the Premier’s Office refused to cooperate with …
October 21, 2021
Commission of Inquiry grills governor over United Kingdom’s role in the British Virgin Islands
During a Tuesday hearing with Governor John Rankin, the Commission of Inquiry probed whether successive governors have fulfilled their obligation under the Virgin Islands Constitution to support the people of …
October 18, 2021
Ports lawyer lost job after pushing for due diligence on Pasea Place lease
Shortly after the BVI Ports Authority board decided in July 2019 to lease a property owned by board member Patsy Lake, the agency’s general counsel recommended several due-diligence measures in …
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October 15, 2021
Asked about NPP, Fahie points to late premier
When the Commission of Inquiry asked Premier Andrew Fahie on Monday about his role in the controversial Neighbourhood Partnership Project from 2008 to 2010, he repeatedly deflected responsibility to late …
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October 15, 2021
Willock ordered to pay legal costs
A judge has dismissed Speaker of the House Julian Willock’s claim that government should pay legal costs exceeding $121,000 related to his withdrawn request for an injunction against three Commission …
October 14, 2021
Premier dodges Commission of Inquiry questions during testy hearing on Covid stimulus
As the Covid-19 pandemic continued to batter the Virgin Islands economy in September 2020, Premier Andrew Fahie authorised a system of distributing stimulus grants to religious organisations and schools, he …
October 11, 2021
Skelton-Cline dodges many COI questions
Government consultant and radio personality Claude Skelton-Cline initially refused to answer many of the Commission of Inquiry’s questions on Oct. 4 after claiming its probe was unfairly focusing on him …
October 7, 2021
Attorney General blasts Commission of Inquiry’s belongership hearing
During a Sept. 28 hearing, the Commission of Inquiry read from a document recounting a 2019 Cabinet meeting in which members considered granting belongership to a rapist imprisoned in the …
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October 1, 2021
Commission of Inquiry alleges Customs programme may violate law
In its roughly 40-year history, the Customs Department’s Partial Payment Programme has never been governed by a formal policy, despite Custom Commissioner Wade Smith’s assurance following a December audit that …
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October 1, 2021
Imprisoned convicts were considered for belongership
As part of government’s 2019 “fast-track” programme, Cabinet considered granting belonger status to two convicted criminals, including a man serving 10 years for rape in the United States, Commission of …
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September 27, 2021
COI team returns to ESHS wall project
The Commission of Inquiry revisited the auditor general’s special report on the Elmore Stoutt High School wall on Monday, calling former Education and Culture Minister Myron Walwyn to answer various …
September 24, 2021
Premier disbanded the climate change board even though he knew it was likely illegal
When Cabinet ministers effectively disbanded the Climate Change Trust Fund board shortly after the 2019 general election, they knew that then-Attorney General Baba Aziz believed the move was unlawful, Premier …
September 23, 2021
Fraser dodges the blame for project in SCB
Opposition member Julian Fraser claimed on Sept. 16 to have limited knowledge of the unfinished Sea Cows Bay Harbour Development Project in his Third District, alternately blaming its many problems …
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September 18, 2021
Fahie grilled over board shake-ups
The Premier’s Office — which currently oversees 11 statutory bodies — chose board members through an informal process that typically didn’t employ vacancy announcements, interviews, background checks, or conflict-of-interest reviews, …
September 17, 2021
Government blasted for ‘massive’ response on Covid grants
Though representatives for the Attorney General’s Chambers have repeatedly complained that the government lacks the time and resources to keep up with information requests from the Commission of Inquiry, Commissioner …
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September 17, 2021
COI probes SSB appointment process
The board of directors for the Social Security Board was mostly empty for about five months in early 2020, but leaders couldn’t offer a clear explanation for that fact last …
September 14, 2021
EDITORIAL: Premier dropped the ball on climate change fund
As we’ve said before, the current government’s 2019 decision to revoke all six appointed members of the Climate Change Trust Fund board was a huge mistake. The failure to replace …
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September 10, 2021
Speakers withdraw injunction request
Speaker of the House Julian Willock and Deputy Speaker Neville Smith have withdrawn their request for an injunction to prevent three Commission of Inquiry lawyers from working in the territory …
September 9, 2021
Government, COI still arguing over information delays
The Commission of Inquiry into alleged government corruption continues to be frustrated by government’s delays in providing certain evidence, Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom said Monday as hearings restarted after a …
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September 9, 2021
Climate fund has never benefited from eco-levy
Less than two months after the Virgin Islands Party came to power in the February 2019 general election, all six private-sector members of the Climate Change Trust Fund board received …
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September 9, 2021
Commission of Inquiry questions transparency of Health and Social Development board appointments
The process for appointing members to the two statutory boards within the Ministry of Health and Social Development lacks transparency, as ministry officials do not advertise for the positions and …
August 27, 2021
Government legal fees exceed $3m in COI
Asked recently how much the government is paying the law firm Withersworldwide for representation during the ongoing Commission of Inquiry, Premier Andrew Fahie did not provide an exact figure. But …
August 27, 2021
Commission of Inquiry team returning to VI
After taking a month-long break from holding hearings, the United Kingdom’s Commission of Inquiry is set to resume the process early next month. Then-Governor Gus Jaspert announced the inquiry in …
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