Opposition Leader Marlon Penn sought a comprehensive list of Cabinet decisions during a recent House of Assembly sitting, but Premier Andrew Fahie declined to provide it, first claiming that it …
Officials: Ministry was aware of ESHS wall overruns
The Elmore Stoutt High School perimeter wall project, which has been investigated extensively by the Commission of Inquiry in recent months, was the focus of the last two hearings the …
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LETTER — Plan to hire ‘political advisers’ for ministers draws scepticism
It has taken government ministers 70 years to realise they need help, and thus to decide to hire “ministerial political advisers.” This in effect will almost double the size of …
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Clerk: HOA was ‘overwhelmed’ with Covid applications
The Commission of Inquiry called House of Assembly Clerk Phyllis Evans to testify on July 14, asking her why incomplete applications for pandemic aid were accepted, how ministers decide who …
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COI probes Sea Cows Bay harbour project
To investigate claims of overspending, potential conflicts of interest, and a lack of oversight on the unfinished Sea Cows Bay Harbour Development Project, the Commission of Inquiry called opposition member …
Inquiry hearings on hold for now
After securing a six-month extension to submit the Commission of Inquiry’s report to Governor John Rankin, Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom announced on July 14 that his team would pause the …
Ex-auditor grilled about claims he thwarted auditor
Wendell Gaskin, a former deputy financial secretary who represented the Finance Ministry on the BVI Ports Authority Board during the time of the troubled cruise pier project said that until …
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IRU, COI square off on ‘disorganised’ evidence
The Commission of Inquiry held a directions hearing on July 8 to address what Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom called the “disorganised and unhelpful” disclosure of documents from the government’s Inquiry …
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Inquiry team reviews procurement process
The territory’s procurement rules are “lacking” in areas like accountability and transparency, but the government is working on legislative reform designed to tackle this problem, Ministry of Finance Projects Director …
Caricom backs VI government over COI
Heads of government from the Caribbean Community said last week that the organisation continues to support the Virgin Islands government as the United Kingdom-led independent Commission of Inquiry into possible …
COI interrogates former premier on belongership
The Commission of Inquiry questioned former Premier Dr. Orlando Smith last week about belongerships that Cabinet allegedly awarded improperly just before the start of his 2011- 2019 tenure as premier. …
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Financial secretaries help track the money
Acting Financial Secretary Jeremiah Frett and his predecessor Glenroy Forbes were questioned on Tuesday by the Commission of Inquiry about a topic they know well: money and how it was …
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“Partial payments” perk has cost the Customs Department more than $490,000
The Customs Department’s more-than-40-year-old Partial Payments Programme resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue between 1996 and 2019, the public learned when the Commission of Inquiry questioned …
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Complaints Commission sees sharp drop in reports
In examining the work of the Complaints Commissioner’s Office during a hearing focused largely on budgetary issues and the hurricane recovery, the Commission of Inquiry questioned current and former Complaints …
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Internal auditor says that her department’s advice is often ignored
On Tuesday, Internal Audit Department Director Dorea Corea spent more than five hours before the Commission of Inquiry answering questions about her past reports and describing how her agency’s work …
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COI probes ESHS wall project
The Commission of Inquiry called former Education and Culture Minister Myron Walwyn for a hearing on July 1 concerning an unfinished project to build a perimeter wall around Elmore Stoutt …
Governor notes issues with transparency
Although the Virgin Islands has in place measures to help ensure good governance, Governor John Rankin said they depend on officials having “full respect” for them — and during his …
Auditor general blasts farmer, fisher grants
The Premier’s Office “deliberately resisted” providing information on “excessive amounts” spent on the Covid-19 farming and fishing stimulus despite numerous requests from Auditor General Sonia Webster, she told the Commission …
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Ministers claim to ‘distrust’ United Kingdom
In a 33-page position statement to the Commission of Inquiry, Premier Andrew Fahie and his six ministers called for a “true partnership” between the Virgin Islands and the United Kingdom, …
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Ex-premier grilled on BVI Airways
Former Premier Dr. Orlando Smith told the Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday that he didn’t instruct his financial secretary to “show me the evidence” that the BVI Airways deal was …
Customs and Immigration chiefs appear before Commission of Inquiry
Customs Commissioner Wade Smith and Chief Immigration Officer Ian Penn, the heads of the territory’s two biggest border enforcement agencies, sat before the Commission of Inquiry on June 23 and …
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Top cop tells Commission of Inquiry police force lacks trust, funds, and staff
During their appearances before the Commission of Inquiry on June 23, Police Commissioner Mark Collins and Director of Public Prosecutions Tiffany Scatliffe-Esprit discussed their visions for addressing long-standing issues that …
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COMMENTARY — The VI, after the inquiry
After hurricanes Irma and Maria, the talk was all about what the Virgin Islands would look like as it recovered. Today, it appears the territory has learned very little from …
EDITORIAL: The Register of Interests is broken. No surprise there
In recent days, the Commission of Inquiry has shone a glaring spotlight on the long-standing need to reform the system through which legislators declare their interests, a task that leaders …
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During Commission of Inquiry hearings, Attorney General lists staffing and budget woes
On Tuesday, Attorney General Dawn Smith and Opposition Member Julian Fraser appeared before the Commission of Inquiry and fielded questions about the challenges to good governance in the Virgin Islands. …