A proposal to give the governor sweeping new powers over areas including customs, immigration and financial investigations has been roundly condemned by both sides of the House of Assembly. HOA …
April 17, 2025
April 10, 2025
Security review sets stage for UK-VI spat
Claiming that corruption and organised crime have seriously undermined security in the Virgin Islands, the second volume of a scathing law-enforcement review lays out a 10-year reform plan that would …
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March 18, 2024
EDITORIAL: After Fahie guilty verdicts, a time for healing and reform
After a United States judge confirmed a jury’s guilty verdicts against Andrew Fahie on drug-conspiracy charges, the territory he once led must now come to terms with the case’s conclusion. …
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March 1, 2024
New taxi permits to be capped at 23 per year
Ongoing reforms to streamline and improve the taxi-permitting process will include capping new permits at 23 per year, according to Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer. Speaking to the House …
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May 23, 2022
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 …
May 4, 2022
HOA offers plan to avoid direct UK rule
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 …
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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July 9, 2021
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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June 24, 2021
COI calls former legislators
Besides questioning current members of the House of Assembly over the past week, the Commission of Inquiry also called former members as it sought information about elected officials’ interests. Like …
June 10, 2021
In inquiry, ex-top cop Matthews slams barge plan
During a hearing before the Commission of Inquiry last month, former Police Commissioner Michael Matthews slammed the government’s decision to rent three barges to help patrol the territory’s borders in …
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May 28, 2021
COI probes contracts, airport, barges
Recently released transcripts show that Commission of Inquiry hearings held on May 11 and May 13 focused on topics including the development of the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, the …
May 14, 2021
COI releases transcript of first hearing
Wednesday afternoon, the commission of inquiry released the transcript from the first session of its first hearing, during which it considered and ultimately approved Attorney General Dawn Smith’s application to …
May 6, 2021
Inquiry hearings under way
Sir Gary Hickinbottom started off closed hearings on May 4 to fulfil his mandate as head of the United Kingdom’s commission of inquiry into corruption in the Virgin Islands. In …
May 3, 2021
Inquiry hearings start this week
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 …
April 22, 2021
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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April 16, 2021
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 …
April 9, 2021
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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March 25, 2021
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 …
March 12, 2021
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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March 8, 2021
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 …
February 26, 2021
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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February 18, 2021
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 …
February 11, 2021
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 …
February 1, 2021
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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January 28, 2021
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 …
