Amid negative int’l press, Jaspert tries to salvage BVI’s reputation
Immediate past governor of the BVI, Augustus Jaspert made a final attempt last week to soften the negative blows the BVI has suffered since he announced a historic Commission of Inquiry (COI) into alleged political corruption in local government.
The international press coverage that ensued after the COI was announced has been deemed negative by many in the BVI and there are public concerns that it could damage the territory’s reputation and its financial services industry — the main economic pillar.
Speaking at a press conference last Friday, Jaspert spoke to international onlookers as he reiterated that the “values of integrity, honesty and respect run deep in the BVI”.
“I would like to say something about the character of the BVI, especially to those who may be watching overseas. I firmly believe the values of integrity, honesty and respect run deep in the BVI. Not only are these values set out in our constitution but I’ve seen them shine through every day without exception during my three-and-a-half years here. I’ve had the great honour of meeting some of the most talented, dedicated and honest people I’ve ever come across in my life,” the past Governor said.
Jaspert added that he wouldn’t call the COI something to “damage” the BVI but rather an opportunity for the territory to ensure it remains one of the safest and most transparent jurisdictions in the Caribbean.
“We have an excellent financial services industry that is known worldwide for its strong regulations. We are one of the safest places in the Caribbean to come and visit and live and I don’t want anything to jeopardise that … I wouldn’t say it’s ‘damage’. I would say actually this is the opportunity to ensure that we stay in that strong place, to ensure that any areas that would hold us back are looked into properly and ensure that we prosper even more in the future,” Jaspert explained.
Later on in the press conference, journalists asked Jaspert to comment on the negative headlines that emanated particularly from the United Kingdom. Jaspert said he has no control over media outlets adding that he believes in the idea of “a free press”.
“People write their own headlines as I know you all do, as I know the media in the UK do or any country in the world … Whatever is printed about, I know that we know what is the true picture of integrity of the BVI,” Jaspert said.
Jasper’s last day in office was January 23, 2021.
Follow BVI New’s coverage of the 2021 Commission of Inquiry on Instagram @BVINewsOnline #TrackingTransparency at www.bvinews.com.
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Damage done
Press Conference 7 January, 2019 (Why Are We Crying Wolf)
“Hon. Fahie referred to the Motion of No Confidence that he brought on the government and stated that none of the former government members who are currently with the PVIM supported the move. Therefore, Hon. Fahie called on the residents to remember this when they go to the polls:
While continuing to allege that both the NDP and PVIM are the same Hon. Fahie said: “The blue NDP members and the red NDP members are equally responsible for the current hardships in the society, the botched recovery efforts and the rampant corruption in the land. Based on answers to questions in the House of Assembly; based on events that are now unfolding – I can safely state that I have been fully vindicated when I proclaimed years ago that “this is the most corrupt government in the history of the Virgin Islands. I will go out on a limb to say that in my opinion, they all must be equally punished by the electorate of this Territory.”
Damage done by who? Who are the cocaine traffickers? Who are the people in charge when the govt spends money and can’t account for it (eg Pier Park), or uses it to buy overpriced goods and services from friends and familie (eg wall around school)? Would they all be outsiders? Down Islanders? UK folk? This has been a long time coming. BVI govt unable to learn the Turks and Caicos lesson. If you go too far, UK govt is going to respond.
Governor is determined to root out the corruption and graft in the BVI. Thank you for that.
It’s been 50 years of malfeasance, nepotism, and financial waste by those in power. Millions have been wasted on pet projects that have only lined the pockets of an elite few families. They have taken advantage of their power and of us. We know who they are, so tell the commission. I know I will. I’ve already submitted documents to the fact. Please BVI, make a stand for our territory and its future and do the same.
I don’t think you have submitted anything nor are you one of us as you claim to be
I absolutely have.
Documents on bidding for projects, government grants gone to family members, emails indicating intent to proceed and then pulled at the last minute. My file list is quite long.
But thank you for calling me out.
I’m not afraid to speak up. How about you?
You aren’t speaking up you’re just a coward hiding behind a screen. A bunch of words on BVINews like everybody else. Stand by your words and put your name.
But the CoI has not opened up for submissions yet – looks you are less honest than the ex Gov
At the time of your writing it most definitely was. You gone from one Gov tot he next? You all ridiculous now
Don’t be a f00L
I agree
Then state your name here talking dodo!
I will remember this governor as the ONLY person in government who stood up and took charge after Irma. Our elected leaders were silent for days – too scared, shell-shocked, or inept to rally themselves into action. Our governor rose to the occasion and took command. You do remember that? Of course you do. THAT is how I will remember this man. His actions brought us out of a very dark period.
Thank you Jaspert.
If I could love this a million times…
Jasper was 100% correct! The media writes their own headlines to drive their own financial bottomlines and agendas. This one included.
I don’t understand why we are so concerned about reputation when the people of the BVI are suffering daily from corruption and victimization.
To me the situation is like a woman that abused severely by her husband, but refuses to seek help because she wants people to think that that everything is good in their family. Eventually she will get seriously hurt or killed.
BVI people need to wake and and understand that the damage to the BVI from the ills brought on by bad politicians is far worst than any fall out from the international media.
It is disgraceful that that seemingly upstanding members of this community talking this piddle, but look hard in these cases and you will see that their motives are all based green dead US presidents
Your analogy of a woman being beaten and wanting to be silent to put up a false front is wrong.
A more appropriate analogy is an abused woman who wants to leave without causing unnecessary physical and phycological harm to herself and her children. Only an idiot stays just for appearances.
You don’t burn down the entire house to kill a few cockroaches. You get some Baygon and seek those bastards out.
We want the commission of inquiry and honesty in our government without having to kill our future in the process.
The damage was already unfortunately. The VIP gang and Claude were on top of this man day in and day out. Being totally disrespectful to the Queen’s representative. Our Premier was busy writing rude letters to the FCO for all sort of nonsense. The Premier telling lies on the British Goverrnment causing the minister for overseas territories to write him and call him out publicly for his lies about the loan guarantee. It’s soo many things. Now the VIP gang trying to say it’s the NDP caused this. These folks just don’t know when to stop. The NDP were choir boys compared to the VIP. A COI would have been called a long time ago if it was the NDP that caused this. Andrew and Claude poked the bear everyday and when it wake up they start to run. Lol
“Deemed negative” The international headlines were negative. They made us seem like early 90’s Colombia. The BVI isn’t close to the place they describe. Gus knew what he was doing. UK media had pictures of the drug scene and articles before our own media. Gus and the commissioner of police had a news conference for the same drug bust when has that ever happened before. Commission of inquiry announced then UK media almost instantaneously has the articles on the full inquiry. This isn’t a coincident. The BVI had their biggest March against the UK a few years ago, then Fahie and Gus back and forth, Govt replaces God save our Queen, voted to take back power during disasters, talks about self determination almost regularly nor the UK retaliates. There is something more to all of this and is isn’t because “the BVI is corrupt”
I don’t think that somebody who deliberately lights a fire knowing it will burn out of control gets much credit when he stands watching and says he did not really mean it to get out of control. Shame on you former Governor.
Sad to say the BVI is no different to Jamaica, Nigeria or any other regime of similar hue in terms of attitude and mentality.
The ex Governor showed great courage and bravery in announcing the COI. I can just imagine how toxic his relationship must have been with the regime. Here’s hoping the new Governor will be just as brave
you said a whole lot but you aren’t saying anything
Speaking of attitude and mentality all the places you mentioned were colonized and the people brutalized by Europeans. Sorry we dont hold the entitled devious thieving power hungry dehumanizing and ecologically destructive ways of colonizers as angelic role models
“Jaspert added that he wouldn’t call the COI something to “damage” the BVI but rather an opportunity for the territory to ensure it remains one of the safest and most transparent jurisdictions in the Caribbean.” SO GUS, YOU ARE PUTTING THE CI ON TRIAL TO PROVE WE ARE NOT CORRUPT. WHY DONT THE FCO DO THAT TO THE UK GOVERNMENT…LET THEM PROVE THEY’RE NOT CORRUPT. LAST I CHECKED IS YOU MUST PROVE YOUR CASE IF YOU BRING ALLEGATIONS. BUT JUST LIKE Y’ALL WANT TO DO WITH THE UNECPLAINED WEALTH LAW IS TO SHIFT THE BURDEN OF PROOF. YOU’VE LEFT A STAIN ON THE BVI THAT WON’T WASH OUT FOR YEARS…WE KNOW IT’S NOT ALL YOU…YOU WERE FOLLOWING ORDERS…OH WELL
We always tend to try to find someone to blame. Blame jaspert for what? Look at yourall selves and blame your greedy people in leadership and those who steer the political spaceship around here for what is in the news. Youall vex with the governor just to take your eyes off your own deficiencies. Crap
THANK YOU. THE GOVERNOR DID NOTHING WRONG. BOTH ADMINISTRATIONS VIP AND NDP GOT THEIR HANDS DIRTY. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE. AND THE THING THAT GETS ME MOST IS SOME OF THE BRAINLESS, SPINELESS PEOPLE OF THE BVI CAN’T SEE THIS. THEY ARE ALL IN NEEED OF SOME SERIOUS MENTAL ATTENTION. WHEN THE S**T REALLY HIT THE FAN BLADES AND IT WILL, ALL THAT IS INVOLVED, CAN PACK THEIR SUITCASES WITH THE COOKIE JAR MONEY THAT THEY TOOK FROM THE PEOPLE AND HIGHTAIL IT OF AND THE IDIOTS THAT IS DEFENDING THEM WILL BE LEFT BEHIND ON THE SINKING SHIP.
I think Claude’s antics and the Premiere caused this….The govorner is a man as well you cant keep going after him the way they did…I hope they can explain those two contracts that were never fulfilled….I believe in selfdetremination as well but does it have to be confrontational? Present your case and if it is fair and make sense the international community will back you…
The facts show that Jaspert is a failure despite the coonery and spin by those that hate VIP. As the person in charge of the Prison portfolio, assaults on prison officers have gone up, the prison system is a joke, police officers charged with crimes are on the rise, the police are a joke. That’s Jaspert’s portfolio and both are failures and everybody in the BVI knows it.
You will not see 30, 40, 50 60 0r more thumbs up to that fact though. Where are those white english always on here thumbin and commenting in their interest? Ha haa, no where to be seen or heard. Truth activates fear in them.
There is an obvious in yout facs, we against you, Brits agains BVIslanders trend on this comment site that issickenning to the stomach.
It is so obvious thatit a calculated organized group of white people, most likely Brits and others who spen their time commenting, posting and thumbing.
This site is now infected with that w b disease. It is so evident.
Crap.
“financial services industry — the main economic pillar”. Seriously? Financial Services is a cash cow for government and landlords, but tourism is THE main economic pillar.
Let the Chips fall wherever they may.
I believe in Democracy and understand the power of X.
I have always supported the VIP group; especially during the recent election; all 5 of my votes: Bam, Bam, Bam, Bam, Bam!
During the height of the 2019 election the NDP released a report by the “Auditor General” on the “Neighbourhood Partnership Project”; a contract for which over $500,000; some say more like 750T was awarded; but as usual, it was reported as, “not being value for money”. Immediately after the election, the first major Contract was awarded to the same individual; valued at $98,000 (for just 6 month, and I thought to myself, how can this be? after eight (8years) in the political wilderness; especially when we were barely beginning to crawl from under the Destruction and wreckage of hurricane Irma; no money in the treasury; with our mother country weighing the risk and laying the ground rules under which we could be helped, were we to accept the 300-million pounds; estimated to be our rebuilding cost..
Then there are numerous other troubling Drunken Sailor squandering like the Drag Race and Hospital School Consultancy; not to mention the more current fiasco of the pier park, the plane, hospital over run, long look sewage+++
Meanwhile there are those who instead of seeing this as a moment to stand up, dust off and use the COI as an opportunity to finally COME CLEAN, mop up and sanitize our beautiful .
We made mistakes and misjudged; we also apparently thought that the Offshore sanctuary was to good to be true and perhaps mistook it to be Oil Wells. Tourism was abandoned, while other nearby competitors grab the ball and ran with it.
Corruption must not be accepted any where, here in the BVI or anwhere else. Indeed, if our governments and local gentlemen are involved, they need to stop.
Hence, if that is true, and the current efforts are ones designed to address it, then why are there not efforts to address the greatest ongoing centuries corruption still affecting the BVI and it political generations and future?
The spectacle of the highest jobs in a Black country as set aside for white englsh men only.
That is not only job corruption, it is job discrimination, being practiced. by a country who touts democracy. what hypocrisy!
If that is not human, political and moral corruption, then what is?
THANK YOU GOVERNOR HAVE A GOOD STAY WHERE EVER YOU ARE THE BVI WILL SEE WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT LEAVE THE BVI ALONE IT WILL PAY ITS PRICE SOME DAY THE LORD KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING AND YOU WAS A GOD SENT DO NOT WORRY THE BVI WILL BE SAFE DUE TO YOU THE NEEW GOVERNOR WILL WORK OUT THE REST OF THE MATTER OR MATTERS TIME WIKK TELL
How much does one earn as a blogger?
How much are they paying those english fol for those thumb up thumb down, There sure seem to be an unusual amount of them on an specific coment relative to the governer and issues of. that ilk and white issues.They could be a group of them them that is getting paid. It is just so obvious.
What you are seeing is the good sense of BVIslanders. Only a clown would believe anyone would pay anyone for anything on here or the abysmal V***.
You could be right.
But it’s more likely they are scared of people like you who seem not to care if they are decent people or not, and only see them as a colour, and use history to justify hating them, which they don’t understand because they believe they have never done any wrong to you.
The way some people on here talk is literally dehumanising. You need to stop and think what it means to hate another human being – a person who you do not know, who’s life you know nothing about, and who does not hate you – just because of the colour of their skin.
Trust me, nothing good ever came of it.
Not intentional nor was the purpose, but at one has articulated what Black people feel daily and lived with for centuries across this glok. Maybe larma has a subtle way of speaking, even indirecttly innocent?
Fine, and actually very well understood my many white people here who are 90% anti racist, of course. Most who I know care about humans, no matter skin, hair or fingernail color. And most believe that the evils of slavery continue today in different forms and would like to help stop it – but they can’t help being born white.
Sadly that is not relevant to people fueled by racial rhetoric. See Rwanda. See Bosnia. See Myanmar. See Uganda. See Nazi Germany. See Soviet Russia. And so it goes back through time. People used by manipulative leaders feeding them specific, distorting information that makes them feel justified in … acting like monsters.
Do we want the BVI to be one of those countries?
Sorry you feel the way you do, but the bible says the children will inherit the sins of the parents.
So is that what people will say by way of apology as they strike down my spouse and innocent baby for the crime of being white or English?
Some of you need to take a look at the way your rhetoric inevitably is leading. Before you know it some of your community will be using slavery to justify murdering innocent people born just a few years ago and many others will support it.
This is how good people are turned into monsters.
Are you, your community and your God good with this?
So is that what people will say by way of apology as they strike down my spouse and innocent baby for the crime of being white or English?
Some of you need to take a look at the way your rhetoric inevitably is leading. Before you know it some of your community will be using slavery and the Bible to justify murdering innocent people born just a few years ago, and many others will support it.
This is how good people are turned into monsters.
Are you, your community and your God really good with this?
Hate to break it to y’all, but the damage was done by the BVI courts and the police force with a quarter billion dollars of cocaine. An investigation is increasing foreign confidence in the territory at this point, hopefully halting the apparent descent into a banana republic.
” I’ve had the great honour of meeting some of the most talented, dedicated and honest people I’ve ever come across in my life,” the past Governor said.
Pity none of them were in government.
God bless the white man