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 …
EDITORIAL: So far, so good on governance reforms
Despite a few hitches, the National Unity Government is off to a good start with the governance reforms agreed with the United Kingdom. Already, the territory is seeing badly needed …
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EDITORIAL: Reform detractors should put up or shut up
Make no mistake: The people of the Virgin Islands are fed up. For decades, they have watched their elected leaders waste taxpayer money, reward cronies, shun transparency, and otherwise break …
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Guv withholding some COI docs
A bundle of more than 100 supporting documents submitted to the governor with the Commission of Inquiry report — including contracts, letters, emails, minutes, memoranda and numerous other types of …
Premier says government is on track to hit COI targets
The National Unity Government is on track to meet most of the deadlines stipulated by its agreement with the United Kingdom for implementing the Commission of Inquiry recommendations and avoiding …
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‘Unfettered discretion’ out the door for grants
Assistance grants that were formerly disbursed at elected officials’ discretion will now be administered by the Social Development Department after the Commission of Inquiry blasted the existing system for a …
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EDITORIAL: Coming reports and audits must be published quickly
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 …
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Reform plan a first for OTs
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 …
EDITORIAL: Virgin Islands democracy has dodged a bullet — for now
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 …
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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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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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EDITORIAL: Funding the reforms
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 …
COI: Fahie deployed radar barges unilaterally
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 …
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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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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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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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COI: Halt assistance grants straightaway
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 …
EDITORIAL: Are local arrests next?
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 …
$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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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 …
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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EDITORIAL: Now is the time for transparency
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 …
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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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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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Government sends proposal to UK, but it’s not public
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 …
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