As one of his first orders of international business since his re-election last month, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley joined world leaders in witnessing the coronation of King Charles III …
May 11, 2023
March 10, 2023
Governor stands by early-election claim
During a Friday press conference, Governor John Rankin stood by his recent claim that the Virgin Islands government could have requested early elections during the political turmoil last year following …
January 27, 2023
Throne speech promises wide-ranging reforms
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 …
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October 18, 2022
EDITORIAL: Government, governor must collaborate on reform promises
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 …
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October 13, 2022
After 20 years, public service compensation review starts
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 …
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October 6, 2022
Kudos and ‘concern’: Governor reviews reforms
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 …
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October 6, 2022
Did Rankin okay Fahie sting in VI?
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 …
September 23, 2022
Premier, governor attend Queen’s funeral
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 …
August 11, 2022
Governor: Commission of Inquiry reforms still on track
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 …
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July 19, 2022
Premier, guv tout reform progress
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 …
July 4, 2022
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 …
June 8, 2022
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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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 12, 2022
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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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 …
April 29, 2022
COI officially recommends 2-year UK takeover [FULL REPORT INCLUDED]
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 …
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April 28, 2022
COI report to be public in June, guv says
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 …
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April 13, 2022
EDITORIAL: Publish the COI report. Now.
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 …
April 8, 2022
Governor gets COI report, but public doesn’t yet
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 …
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February 9, 2022
The 3 Cs: Governor talks Covid, COI, crime
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. …
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February 4, 2022
Prison mum on alleged Covid outbreak that lawyer claims has infected a third of inmates
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, …
January 21, 2022
Speech from the Throne lays out House of Assembly agenda
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 …
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December 2, 2021
Governor John Rankin cross-examined during Commission of Inquiry hearing
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 …
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November 17, 2021
EDITORIAL: What we would ask the guv during cross-examination
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 …
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July 22, 2021
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 …
