BVI News

Category: Commission of Inquiry

Opposition Leader Marlon Penn.

Penn refutes having ‘disregard’ in serial delinquency to declare interests

Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has refuted suggestions that his repeated failure to address delinquent behaviour in the House of Assembly (HOA) was an indicator of a pattern of disregard for his statutory obligations. Penn had countered those suggestions concerning his […]

by / on June 18, 2021 at 8:29 AM /
Governor John Rankin

Document leak was not from Governor’s Office, Sir Gary finds

Investigations have revealed that there was no leak emanating from the Governor’s Office or the Commission of Inquiry (COI) team concerning the COI document recently leaked to an online news website. The document was a statement from government ministers who […]

by / on June 18, 2021 at 7:40 AM /
Sir Gary calls for investigation as gov’t statement to COI leaks

Sir Gary calls for investigation as gov’t statement to COI leaks

A government position statement leak published on an online news website yesterday prompted calls for an investigation from the head of the Commission of Inquiry, Sir Gary Hickinbottom. The issue was first raised by COI attorney Bilal Rawat who said […]

by / on June 17, 2021 at 7:56 AM /
Third District Representative Julian Fraser who has been a legislator for more than two decades.

Repeat offender! ‘I have no excuse for ignorance of the law’ — Fraser

Found to be in breach of the territory’s Register of Interests Act, veteran legislator Julian Fraser said he has no cause to use ‘ignorance of the law’ as an excuse for his actions since he was present when the Act […]

by / on June 17, 2021 at 7:45 AM /
Government legislator Neville 'Sheep' Smith

Smith says 2019 HOA exemption sought was to avoid corrupt label

Territorial At-Large District Representative Neville Smith told the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (COI) the voluntary disclosure he made regarding a 2019 contract between his business and a government statutory body was done to avoid being labelled as corrupt. According to […]

by / on June 17, 2021 at 7:31 AM /
Inquiry Commissioner, the Right Honourable Sir Gary Hickinbottom.

COI: System for HOA’s Register of Interests not working very well

A system currently in place for House of Assembly (HOA) members to report their financial interests has been described by the Commission of Inquiry (COI) as ‘not working very well’.  Sir Gary, the sole Commissioner in the ongoing COI, made […]

by / on June 16, 2021 at 8:41 AM /
Government legislator, Sharie de Castro

de Castro suggests need for legislative campaign-finance fixes

First-term legislator Sharie de Castro suggested that there is a need for legislative improvements in campaign-financing as well as transparency and accountability in governance. The legislator made the suggestions while giving evidence before the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (COI) Monday. […]

by / on June 15, 2021 at 9:54 AM /
VIP government legislators

Gov’t used template for Register of Interest responses to COI

Members of the government have reportedly met and agreed to coordinate their responses to the Commission of Inquiry’s (COI) questions related to the House of Assembly’s (HOA) Register of Interests. The disclosure was made during evidence given by first-term legislator, […]

by / on June 15, 2021 at 7:51 AM /
Speaker of the HOA, Julian Willock.

Willock chided for COI absence, criticises Commissioner Gary

House Speaker Julian Willock was chastised on Monday after being absent and neglecting to respond to a summons for him to appear before the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (COI). Through attorney Richard Rowe, Willock was told he was in breach […]

by / on June 15, 2021 at 7:05 AM /
Past and present HOA members to appear before COI next week

Past and present HOA members to appear before COI next week

A number of past and present members of the House of Assembly (HOA) have been summoned to appear before the Commission of Inquiry (COI) and are scheduled to give evidence throughout next week, starting Monday, June 14. Those who have […]

by / on June 11, 2021 at 7:37 AM /