"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
After finishing an initial review of the 1,000-plus-page report by the Commission of Inquiry, Governor John Rankin said on April 21 that he will disclose it to leaders in the …
Continue reading “COI report to be public in June, guv says”
Another delay of the Commission of Inquiry report that would have been due this month means it may not be delivered until April, Governor John Rankin said Tuesday. The delay …
In a move that cost taxpayers more than $2 million, Premier Andrew Fahie authorised the use of three barges owned by EZ Shipping for border security during the Covid-19 pandemic …
Continue reading “Premier pushed for EZ Shipping border barges, guv says”
A constellation of issues rose to the surface when about two dozen protesters demonstrated Monday morning in front of the Save the Seed Energy Centre — the House of Assembly’s …
Continue reading “Plan to pay speaker’s fees sparks protest”
Though launching the Commission of Inquiry was one of the most difficult decisions he has made, former Governor Gus Jaspert said during a COI hearing last week that it was …
Continue reading “Ex-guv: Drug links alleged among ‘highest’ officeholders”
In a first for the Commission of Inquiry, Auditor General Sonia Webster was called on Oct. 20 to be cross-examined by Queen’s Counsel Sir Geoffrey Cox on behalf of the …
Continue reading “In a Commission of Inquiry first, auditor cross-examined”
In response to allegations of poor governance aired during the ongoing Commission of Inquiry, Premier Andrew Fahie last week described a pattern of systemic problems with the Virgin Islands’ constitutional …
Continue reading “Facing COI, Fahie explains rocky UK relationship”
Since May, the Commission of Inquiry has been meeting with public officers, political operatives, and elected leaders to probe allegations of potential corruption and serious dishonesty in the Virgin Islands. …
Continue reading “Commissioner of Inquiry wraps up oral hearings”
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Deputy premier slams inquiry at United Nations meeting”
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 …
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Ports lawyer lost job after pushing for due diligence on Pasea Place lease”
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 …
Continue reading “Asked about NPP, Fahie points to late premier”
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Attorney General blasts Commission of Inquiry’s belongership hearing”
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 …
Continue reading “Commission of Inquiry alleges Customs programme may violate law”
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 …
Continue reading “Imprisoned convicts were considered for belongership”
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 …
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 …
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 …
Continue reading “Fraser dodges the blame for project in SCB”
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, …
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 …
Continue reading “Government blasted for ‘massive’ response on Covid grants”
