Speaker of the House Julian Willock missed a scheduled appearance before the Commission of Inquiry on Monday, causing Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom to declare him “in willful default” of a …
June 17, 2021
June 17, 2021
Inquiry probes Registry of Interests, assistance grants
Focusing on elected officials’ financial interests and how they go about allocating $1.8 million each year in assistance grants, the Commission of Inquiry resumed public hearings again this week. COI …
Continue reading “Inquiry probes Registry of Interests, assistance grants”
June 11, 2021
COI tests lawmakers’ transparency claims
Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom put elected officials’ claims to be “champions of transparency” to the test last week, suggesting that they should have no objection to his Commission of Inquiry …
June 10, 2021
Speaker defends lawmakers’ COI response
Two days after the Commission of Inquiry again criticised the government for failing to provide complete information on request, Speaker of the House Julian Willock issued a statement on June …
June 10, 2021
In inquiry, ex-top cop Matthews slams barge plan
During a hearing before the Commission of Inquiry last month, former Police Commissioner Michael Matthews slammed the government’s decision to rent three barges to help patrol the territory’s borders in …
Continue reading “In inquiry, ex-top cop Matthews slams barge plan”
June 4, 2021
Inquiry airs hearing live for first time
The Commission of Inquiry’s first livestreamed hearing began promptly at 10 a.m. on June 2, but it went off the air about two hours later due to technical difficulties. Commissioner …
June 4, 2021
COI grills premier, staff over alleged missing info
Claiming that initial requests for government documents came up short, the Commission of Inquiry grilled Premier Andrew Fahie and his staff last month about contracts awarded to consultant Claude Skelton-Cline …
Continue reading “COI grills premier, staff over alleged missing info”
May 28, 2021
COI probes contracts, airport, barges
Recently released transcripts show that Commission of Inquiry hearings held on May 11 and May 13 focused on topics including the development of the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, the …
May 28, 2021
Premier, COI contradict each other on hearings
Premier Andrew Fahie said again on May 20 that he believes all hearings before the Commission of Inquiry should be broadcast live for transparency’s sake, but the COI responded the …
Continue reading “Premier, COI contradict each other on hearings”
May 20, 2021
Commission of Inquiry questions ministers, others
The United Kingdom’s Commission of Inquiry has been pressing forward with seeking evidence of corruption and misconduct in the territory, holding a series of hearings focused largely on document production. …
Continue reading “Commission of Inquiry questions ministers, others”
May 14, 2021
COI releases transcript of first hearing
Wednesday afternoon, the commission of inquiry released the transcript from the first session of its first hearing, during which it considered and ultimately approved Attorney General Dawn Smith’s application to …
May 6, 2021
Inquiry hearings under way
Sir Gary Hickinbottom started off closed hearings on May 4 to fulfil his mandate as head of the United Kingdom’s commission of inquiry into corruption in the Virgin Islands. In …
May 3, 2021
Inquiry hearings start this week
The United Kingdom’s commission of inquiry is scheduled to start holding its first hearings today in Road Town. The move is the next step after the commission received various written …
April 22, 2021
Government gave commission of inquiry 73k pages
The government so far has provided 3,977 official documents amounting to 72,902 pages to the United Kingdom commission of inquiry, Premier Andrew Fahie told the House of Assembly on April …
Continue reading “Government gave commission of inquiry 73k pages”
April 16, 2021
Rules set for commission’s hearings
When the commission of inquiry was announced in January, Premier Andrew Fahie said he supported the probe but sought full transparency, including the live broadcast of hearings. But Sir Gary …
April 9, 2021
Commission of Inquiry team back in Virgin Islands
The commission of inquiry’s commissioner, secretary and senior solicitor came back to the Virgin Islands on April 1, starting the countdown on their 14-day quarantine. Their return marks the potential …
Continue reading “Commission of Inquiry team back in Virgin Islands”
March 25, 2021
Inquiry team to return next week
The second stage of a probe into alleged corruption in the Virgin Islands will continue with the return of the investigative team from the United Kingdom next week, the commission …
March 12, 2021
Commission of Inquiry given access to register of interests
Though the commissioner leading the United Kingdom’s corruption inquiry has the powers of a High Court judge when it comes to summoning witnesses and obtaining documents, Attorney General Dawn Smith …
Continue reading “Commission of Inquiry given access to register of interests”
March 12, 2021
Commission of Inquiry: Don’t censor submitted documents
The commission of inquiry released more detailed information this week about the protocols for providing evidence to the team, and how that information subsequently may be redacted. Commissioner Sir Gary …
Continue reading “Commission of Inquiry: Don’t censor submitted documents”
March 8, 2021
Caricom leaders slam UK over VI inquiry
Following a virtual meeting attended recently by Deputy Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley, leaders from the Caribbean Community expressed “dismay” with the way the United Kingdom went about launching its …
February 26, 2021
Government offers official inquiry support
Government offered a clearer picture of the role United Kingdom lawyer Sir Geoffrey Cox and Withersworldwide are playing in its response to the UK’s corruption probe this week with the …
Continue reading “Government offers official inquiry support”
February 18, 2021
Inquiry seeks info from public officials
The commission of inquiry probing alleged corruption in the Virgin Islands is now focusing on collecting information and documentation from public officers, including elected and statutory officials, according to COI …
February 15, 2021
Finance industry copes with inquiry fallout
The financial services industry that has helped keep the Virgin Islands economy afloat amid the global pandemic is rushing to distance itself from a new threat posed by the commission …
Continue reading “Finance industry copes with inquiry fallout”
February 11, 2021
Inquiry teams returns to England for now
Thirteen days after Sir Gary Hickinbottom was sworn in to head the commission of inquiry into alleged corruption in the territory, he and his secretary returned to the United Kingdom …
January 28, 2021
Commission starts gathering evidence
Following the bombshell announcement last week that the United Kingdom will lead an independent investigation into potential corruption in the Virgin Islands, Governor Gus Jaspert and Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom …
