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 23, 2022
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 …
July 9, 2021
Guv okays bills to deter financial crime
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 …
July 6, 2021
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 …
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 10, 2021
EDITORIAL: A memo for Governor John Rankin
We welcome Governor John Rankin, who takes office at a time when the territory’s relationship with the United Kingdom is as strained as it has been in recent memory. He …
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February 4, 2021
14th governor sworn in
Governor John Rankin first visited the Virgin Islands not on vacation, but to lend his support as leader of a fellow overseas territory in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in …