"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
Reforms to governance, education, environmental protection, health care and other areas are among the government’s legislative priorities for a new House of Assembly session that started Tuesday, Governor John Rankin …
Continue reading “Throne speech promises wide-ranging reforms”
This month brought good and bad news as Governor John Rankin and Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley both reported on the first three months of the ongoing Commission of Inquiry …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Government, governor must collaborate on reform promises”
Asked to identify their primary job-related concern, 79 percent of Virgin Islands public officers who took a recent survey mentioned insufficient pay. Those concerns may soon be addressed with the …
Continue reading “After 20 years, public service compensation review starts”
Governor John Rankin on Oct. 4 published his first quarterly report on the ongoing reforms recommended by the Commission of Inquiry, guardedly praising the overall progress while also noting a …
Continue reading “Kudos and ‘concern’: Governor reviews reforms”
Nearly six months after then-Premier Andrew Fahie was arrested in Miami, new questions are arising about whether United Kingdom officials knew of the sting operation here that led to his …
The world watched this week as Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest following her death on Sept. 8, and Virgin Islands leaders joined in mourning both here and in …
Despite a few delays in recent weeks, Governor John Rankin said yesterday that he has “no major concerns” with the government’s progress toward its commitment to implement a series of …
Continue reading “Governor: Commission of Inquiry reforms still on track”
Despite a missed deadline to publish the Register of Interests by June 30, Governor John Rankin and Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said on July 1 that they are pleased …
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 …
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 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 …
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”
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 …
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”
For all the talk about transparency that has come out of the Governor’s Office in recent years, we were disappointed by Governor John Rankin’s decision not to release the Commission …
Following the broadcast of dozens of testimonies and the collection of thousands of pages of evidence, the United Kingdom-led Commission of Inquiry into possible corruption in the Virgin Islands concluded …
Continue reading “Governor gets COI report, but public doesn’t yet”
Managing the pandemic, keeping up with the Commission of Inquiry, and overseeing changes within the public service made for a busy first year in office for Governor John Rankin. Mr. …
Continue reading “The 3 Cs: Governor talks Covid, COI, crime”
While arguing for a client’s bail offer last week during a Magistrates’ Court arraignment, defence attorney Valerie Gordon said she “was reliably informed” that 36 inmates at Her Majesty’s Prison, …
About a month after the House of Assembly passed a nearly $400 million budget that members said would be used to steer the economic recovery following recent crises, a new …
Continue reading “Speech from the Throne lays out House of Assembly agenda”
When Queen’s Counsel Sir Geoffrey Cox sat before the Commission of Inquiry last week to cross-examine Governor John Rankin, he bore down on a central question explored previously by the …
Continue reading “Governor John Rankin cross-examined during Commission of Inquiry hearing”
The Commission of Inquiry is right to allow a government attorney to cross-examine Governor John Rankin and possibly his predecessor Gus Jaspert. If the attorney asks good questions, the exercise …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: What we would ask the guv during cross-examination”
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 …
Six bills designed in large part to deter financial crime took effect recently after receiving assent from Governor John Rankin. The Proliferations Financing (Prohibition) Act, 2021, passed in the House …
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 …
