"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
More than 11,000 pages of supporting documents that Governor John Rankin received with the Commission of Inquiry report on April 4 were posted last week on government’s website — more …
Continue reading “Commission of Inquiry supporting documents now public”
Less than two months after the Virgin Islands Party government came to power in February 2019, Cabinet revoked the membership of the Climate Change Trust Fund Board — a move …
Hoping to address long-standing issues with the territory’s jury pool that resulted in legal action in 2019, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley recently introduced a bill in the House of …
Last week government backbencher Mark Vanterpool once again got permission to retain his seat in the House of Assembly while one of his businesses secures a government contract. To make …
The framework for carrying out Commission of Inquiry recommendations includes a deluge of deadlines for July, but Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said last week that his National Unity Government …
On June 30, legislators missed their deadline to make the Register of Interests public and establish penalties for violating declaration rules. On July 21, however, they passed a bill to …
More than a month ago, the new National Unity Government agreed to work with the United Kingdom to carry out reforms recommended by the Commission of Inquiry — thereby avoiding …
The House of Assembly missed its deadline on June 30 to pass legislation to reform the Register of Interests by making it public. However, Governor John Rankin said the next …
Continue reading “Interests bill tabled, but not passed by deadline”
Despite a missed deadline to publish the Register of Interests by June 30, Governor John Rankin and Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said on July 1 that they are pleased …
Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley recently thanked fellow leaders of British overseas territories for their support in the aftermath of the Commission of Inquiry report, and he offered to help …
This week residents were given the first public opportunity to weigh in on the plan the Virgin Islands and United Kingdom governments have agreed for carrying out every Commission of …
Forty-eight of 49. That’s how many Commission of Inquiry recommendations the new National Unity Government has pledged to complete over the next two years under the proposal recently agreed with …
The wait is over. Governor John Rankin and Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley announced on Wednesday morning that the United Kingdom will not suspend parts of the Virgin Islands Constitution …
Continue reading “No direct rule for now as UK accepts unity government’s proposal”
The Virgin Islands government has paid out more than $8 million in responding to the United Kingdom-led Commission of Inquiry, most of which went toward covering legal fees, Premier Dr. …
Continue reading “Commission of Inquiry cost government more than $8 million”
Statutory boards in the territory are supposed to function independently, but many fall far short of that ideal because of political interference and inadequate appointment practices, a cording to the …
Continue reading “COI blasts gov’t handling of statutory boards”
Government leaders have not always followed 2018 guidelines for government rental property, and they have improperly excluded the Deputy Governor’s Office from the process in many instances, according to the …
Continue reading “COI: Policy on gov’t rentals not always followed”
A special committee of the House of Assembly has recommended against using public funds to pay more than $100,000 in legal costs that former HOA Speaker Julian Willock incurred while …
Continue reading “HOA committee says Willock should pay legal fees”
As residents struggled to stay afloat during the Covid-19 border shutdowns two years ago, House of Assembly members were each allotted an extra $300,000 to disburse to needy residents as …
Continue reading “COI suspects ‘serious dishonesty’ in Covid grants”
Though government paid the United Kingdom-headquartered law firm Withers LLP $6.5 million for representation during the Commission of Inquiry, not all branches of government benefited from the firm’s services, according …
Continue reading “$6.5 million paid to Withers during inquiry”
As the Virgin Islands waited to learn whether the United Kingdom will impose direct rule, Special Envoy of the Premier Benito Wheatley provided an update to the United Nations Special …
The territory waited in limbo after the newly formed National Unity Government privately sent the United Kingdom a proposal last week to make reforms locally without the two-year dissolution of …
Continue reading “Government makes plans ahead of UK decision”
Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley hopes the territory will hear “very soon” whether the United Kingdom will impose direct rule for two years here, he said in a press conference …
Continue reading “Premier hoping for UK word on direct rule ‘very soon’”
Governor John Rankin has instructed Police Commissioner Mark Collins to launch several criminal investigations recommended by the recently published Commission of Inquiry report. The investigations will probe four areas, Mr. …
Continue reading “UPDATE: Guv announces criminal probes advised by COI”
The day after Premier Andrew Fahie’s arrest in Miami, Governor John Rankin said Friday morning that he had decided to expedite the release of the Commission of Inquiry report, which …
Continue reading “COI officially recommends 2-year UK takeover [FULL REPORT INCLUDED]”
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”
