"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
We applaud the specific deadlines in the reform proposal agreed this month by the Virgin Islands and United Kingdom governments. The targets are ambitious, but they represent exactly the sort …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Coming reports and audits must be published quickly”
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 …
This democracy dodged a bullet on June 8. Kudos to Virgin Islands and United Kingdom leaders for mapping a route to comprehensive governance reform without resorting immediately to a partial …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Virgin Islands democracy has dodged a bullet — for now”
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”
Given the developments of recent weeks, it seems clear that badly needed governance reforms are coming to the Virgin Islands by the hook or by the crook. This is great …
In May 2020, then-Premier Andrew Fahie received an unsolicited offer from the company EZ Shipping to use radar barges to help secure the territory’s borders, which were closed to gird …
Continue reading “COI: Fahie deployed radar barges unilaterally”
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”
In 2009, government auditors blasted the House of Assembly Assistance Grants Programme for a lack of transparency and accountability, noting that legislators had approved constituents’ funding requests for items including …
The United States’ criminal complaint against former premier Andrew Fahie painted a disturbing picture of an international drug trade that flourished in the Virgin Islands with the help of bad …
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”
Throughout his Commission of Inquiry, Sir Gary Hickinbottom demonstrated an unshakeable commitment to transparency. As a result, his findings have currency in the Virgin Islands community, which was able to …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Now is the time for transparency”
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 newly formed “National Unity Government” has sent the United Kingdom a proposal to make reforms locally without the two-year dissolution of the House of Assembly as recommended in the …
Continue reading “Government sends proposal to UK, but it’s not public”
Hours after the House of Assembly voted to revoke Andrew Fahie’s premiership on Thursday, Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley was sworn in to head a new “national unity government” that is …
Continue reading “‘Unity government’ sworn in, but UK still silent”
In an attempt to avoid the partial suspension of the Constitution and a temporary takeover of the Virgin Islands government by the United Kingdom, VI political leaders are proposing that …
“Whose country is this?” Angelle Cameron shouted to a crowd gathered Monday morning along the road near the Governor’s Office. “Ours!” the crowd yelled back. “Whose country is this?” “Ours!” …
Continue reading “Marchers protest direct UK rule, but others open”
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”
Premier Andrew Fahie was detained in Miami on Thursday morning on charges related to conspiracy to import a controlled substance and money laundering, Governor John Rankin announced Thursday afternoon. “As …
Continue reading “Premier Fahie detained in Miami in DEA operation, guv says”
