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 …
Integrity bill gets to House of Assembly
This year started with the January launch of an investigation into alleged corruption in the Virgin Islands as then-Governor Gus Jaspert aired concerns about political intimidation and inappropriate use of …
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 …
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EDITORIAL: Presence, transparency will win trust for COI
The success of the ongoing commission of inquiry depends heavily on the trust and support of the Virgin Islands community. For this reason, we are glad that COI members have …
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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 …
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 …
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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 …
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 …
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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 …
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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 …
House to tackle digital data bills
The first House of Assembly sitting of 2021 is scheduled to kick off this week with a packed agenda that includes a slew of bills in the digital sphere up …
EDITORIAL: Now, governance reform is more urgent than ever
We were encouraged to hear Premier Andrew Fahie say last month that his government plans to turn its attention to governance reforms starting at this week’s House of Assembly meeting. …
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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 …
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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 …
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 …
14th governor sworn in
Governor John Rankin first visited the Virgin Islands not on vacation, but to lend his support as leader of a fellow overseas territory in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in …
EDITORIAL: Inquiry will need a tightly focused strategy
With a monumental task to complete in only six months, the commission of inquiry must devise a tightly focused strategy for shining its powerful spotlight into the dark corners of …
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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 …
Governor announces corruption inquiry
Pointing to longstanding concerns about poor governance in the territory, outgoing Governor Gus Jaspert on Monday announced a wide-ranging commission of inquiry that will probe allegations of potential corruption, political …
EDITORIAL: Unfortunately, the corruption inquiry is needed
Monday was a dark day for the Virgin Islands, with the United Kingdom flexing its colonial muscle and announcing a wide-ranging corruption inquiry in the territory. However, we are sad …
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