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 …
January 6, 2022
December 3, 2021
Premier pushed for EZ Shipping border barges, guv says
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 …
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December 2, 2021
Governor John Rankin cross-examined during Commission of Inquiry hearing
When Queen’s Counsel Sir Geoffrey Cox sat before the Commission of Inquiry last week to cross-examine Governor John Rankin, he bore down on a central question explored previously by the …
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November 24, 2021
COMMENTARY — Inquiry seen as a ‘last chance’
The man or woman who wants to understand the present Virgin Islands moment and look with clarity into the future must read and objectively assess recent history. At the very …
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November 15, 2021
HOA sends Willock fee motion to committee
The House of Assembly did not decide outright last week whether or not to excuse Speaker Julian Willock from personally paying more than $120,000 in legal fees he incurred while …
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November 5, 2021
Plan to pay speaker’s fees sparks protest
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 …
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October 28, 2021
Facing COI, Fahie explains rocky UK relationship
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 …
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October 27, 2021
COMMENTARY — In response to letter, a history lesson
Growing up in the Virgin Islands, I had the opportunity to hear and learn the meaning of certain sayings which we now refer to as local proverbs. Recently, I was …
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October 26, 2021
COI probes Crown land transfers
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 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 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 6, 2021
COMMENTARY — COI called ‘enforcer of good governance’
Without an enforcement mechanism ensuring that rules are followed by government officials, good governance is a mirage. Virgin Islands residents are today witnessing the true meaning of the rule of …
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September 29, 2021
COMMENTARY — COI called a ‘very public watchdog’
The Virgin Islands Commission of Inquiry is a watchdog that acts as a guarantee of good behaviour by the powerful. VI residents today understand the true meaning of checks and …
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September 23, 2021
Willock: Lawyer costs ‘not my responsibility’
Speaker of the House Julian Willock has denied personal responsibility for paying legal costs related to his withdrawn request for an injunction against three Commission of Inquiry attorneys. Instead, his …
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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 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 15, 2021
COMMENTARY — COI commentary draws sharp retort
This week I read a commentary about the Commission of Inquiry in the Beacon’s Aug. 26 edition, which was captioned “COI seen to bring checks, balances.” As someone who dabbled …
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September 15, 2021
COMMENTARY — ‘Culture of fear’ seen in VI
The Commission of Inquiry is presenting a mirror for all residents to look at. What it reveals is not good. The investigation into Virgin Islands governance is showing up this …
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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 8, 2021
LETTER — COI seen to shake up VI politics
This is the most unpredictable time in Virgin Islands politics in living memory. Anyone claiming to know the political and constitutional outcomes for the VI from the very public Commission …
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September 1, 2021
LETTER — COI viewed through history lens
I recently shared this with some friends during a conversation about the ongoing Commission of Inquiry. I view the COI through a historical context, where our foreparents built this territory …
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 …
