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 …
June 17, 2022
June 8, 2022
No direct rule for now as UK accepts unity government’s proposal
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 …
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June 3, 2022
Commission of Inquiry cost government more than $8 million
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. …
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May 27, 2022
COI blasts gov’t handling of statutory boards
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 …
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May 27, 2022
COI: Policy on gov’t rentals not always followed
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 …
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May 26, 2022
HOA committee says Willock should pay legal fees
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 …
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May 25, 2022
COI suspects ‘serious dishonesty’ in Covid grants
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 …
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May 19, 2022
$6.5 million paid to Withers during inquiry
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 …
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May 19, 2022
Direct-rule concerns aired at UN meeting
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 …
May 19, 2022
Government makes plans ahead of UK decision
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 …
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May 13, 2022
Premier hoping for UK word on direct rule ‘very soon’
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 …
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May 12, 2022
UPDATE: Guv announces criminal probes advised by COI
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. …
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April 29, 2022
COI officially recommends 2-year UK takeover [FULL REPORT INCLUDED]
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 …
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April 28, 2022
COI report to be public in June, guv says
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 …
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April 28, 2022
COMMENTARY — Waiting on UK response to COI
I am not surprised by the timeline published by the governor for the publication of the Commission of Inquiry report, because from his first announcement I estimated it would take …
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April 8, 2022
Governor gets COI report, but public doesn’t yet
Following the broadcast of dozens of testimonies and the collection of thousands of pages of evidence, the United Kingdom-led Commission of Inquiry into possible corruption in the Virgin Islands concluded …
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February 9, 2022
The 3 Cs: Governor talks Covid, COI, crime
Managing the pandemic, keeping up with the Commission of Inquiry, and overseeing changes within the public service made for a busy first year in office for Governor John Rankin. Mr. …
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January 6, 2022
COI report delayed 3 more months
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 …
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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