COI findings: High likely serious dishonesty took place in gov’t
The report from the Commission of Inquiry (COI) has “firmly” concluded that “there is not only information that serious dishonesty in relation to officials may have taken place here in recent years, but it is highly likely to have taken place.”
Speaking at a press conference at Government House this morning, Governor John Rankin noted that, among several other things, COI Commissioner Sir Gary Hickenbottom investigated the policy adopted by the current government to revoke the entire membership of statutory boards and have them reconstituted.
“The Commissioner concludes that there was overt manipulation by the executive of institutions which are established by the legislature to perform public functions as independent bodies. He found overwhelming evidence that the independence of such boards has been “severely – and, at times, cynically and with apparent disdain – eroded,” Rankin stated.
Police force
Rankin said the Commissioner also noted the challenges in policing and law enforcement in the territory.
“Responsibility for the Virgin Island Police Force rests with me. The Commissioner notes corruption in the police force among a minority of officers but welcomes the commitment of the current Police Commissioner to tackle corrupt conduct, with full support from me,” the Governor added.
HM Customs
Although the COI did not conduct any in-depth investigations into Her Majesty’s Customs, the report did note several serious concerns expressed by individuals about its operation.
“The Commissioner concludes that in both HM Customs and the Immigration Department – but particularly in Customs – there is an environment conducive to corruption,” the Governor said.
“He recommends independent vetting of all Customs and Immigration officers and those officers appointed by the Police Commissioner investigate possible corruption in Customs,” he added.
Belongership
Governor Rankin stated that the government’s application of a 20-year wait for Belonger status is contrary to the 10 years stipulated by Virgin Islands law and, therefore, unlawful.
“He also found that in 2011 at least 224 individuals were granted Belonger status outside of the framework of the law,” Rankin added.
The Governor noted that Commissioner Hickenbottom found that at the Cabinet level, personal recommendations by Cabinet members were the main reason for granting these Belonger statuses and it was done without any due diligence or process.
“And the Commissioner addresses more recent cases in which Cabinet has appeared willing to act in a legally arbitrary manner in relation to residence and Belongership rights,” Rankin said.
Government ministers
During the press conference, Rankin also disclosed that the Commissioner found that with limited exceptions, governance in areas under the control of government ministers is, at best, very poor.
“Principles such as openness and transparency are not simply absent, but positively shunned. Proper procedures, checks and balances are absent, or patently inadequate, or ignored or bypassed,” he added.
Crown lands
The Commissioner also inquired into the disposal of Crown land by the government and in particular the granting of one lease. According to the Governor, Commissioner Hickenbottom concluded that serious dishonesty may have taken place which requires further investigation.
Locals will conduct any investigation arising from COI
In the meantime, the governor said any investigations resulting from the report would be led by locals.
“People will see [from the report] recommendations for an audit to be carried out and I hope that it will primarily be led by BVI’s Auditor General, using her resources and any further resources she would need to help her work. Let me repeat, that is a recommendation, and we wait for any decision to be made. Otherwise, I also hope — as and when criminal investigations are needed — they will be led by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force,” Rankin said.
Rankin noted that notwithstanding the report, he believes the vast majority of the public service are “good and honest people”.
Below is a copy of the COI report.
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I am sure they had some sort of involvement in the murders that are currently unsolved?
What political problem does a guy from Senegal solve ? The one owed $83,000 for his services.
Work it out.
What is your theory?
It’s “highly likely”.
Since 2007. It was clear to me as day that in order for me to get a project I wish to do in the BVI, I would have to resort to under-table deals. I recognized I was dealing with crooks in high places then and walked away from the table.
All my life I had done things the right and honest way. I have lived abroad and achieved all my successes the hard and honest way without having to engage in any under table and illegal ways. I refused to do so @ home.
The VIP is not the only political party or government who has crooked members. The former NDP is guilty as well. Some of their members need locking up as well for their wrong doings.
I hope future criminal investigations will hold them to account.
A bunch of dishonest people who place financial gain before country.
Same here. Sad part is the actions of a few has damaged the reputation of an entire country [the people], even those of us living abroad. I love the BVI, I was raised there, but the arrogance that has been developing in young and old alike has been intolerable even on short trips. When you hear young women and men there talk about their high maintenance lifestyle and you know their government salary barely puts food on the table, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the value system in the BVI has eroded, inspite of all the houses of worship. Being on the wrong side if the law has been normalized at all levels.
Conversely, and going forward leadership needs to overhaul the compensation system in the bvi so illegal acts are less tempting for most, as you will always have some greedy folks as you do in every nation. They just need to be made an example of when caught so those acts don’t become prevelant in society.
Welcome back UK!
Wow
Extremely upsetting to know our government cannot and do not provide for us. They stole, lied and cheated
We are the laughing stock of the world
Allow me to disagree. Nobody is laughing at the Virgin Islands because some of your leaders may have taken advantage of the people. I happens almost everywhere. It is unfortunate but not a matter for laughing.
Let’s not ignore what they said about the
Lebanese with Hezbollah connection. Many of us always heard rumors that guns were being smuggled in by a certain “group” in their containers of clothes. Now, sit back and think about some of the murders that happend around a certain time….the death of B•b and the one guy that was found floating down Sea Cow’s Bay,now things are starting to make sense.
Be calm. The darkness is behind us. Ahead there is light. We must rebuild with integrity and learn from our mistakes.
Hopefully we learn a bit faster this time around…the corruption, cronyism, and bad governance have been going on for years. There have been many unheeded warning signs for decades but no one wanted to rock the boat. MIssing millions, incomplete public works projects always over budget (Hospital, Pier Park, incinerator for example), plenty of unexplained wealth (how does a govt official come to afford land in Oil Nut Bay where lots start at $ 2+ million), blatant discrimination against outsiders (anyone remember when dreadlocs were not allowed in until UK stepped in?), and lots of apparently unfettered Colombian Parcel Service activity, etc. etc. Not even a years-long CoI cooled things off.
As you sow, so shall you reap.
The COI report says Skelton Cline received nearly $1 million from public funds in return for doing next to nothing.
We want it back.
I second that!
The money paid to him [minus] the appraised value he provided [plus] a non performance penalty
From Skelton Cline we want him and CARICON to have a forceful lesson
The Governor General is something else. “The general approach of the elected officials is reflected by the fact that the Attorney General (acting for the elected Ministers in this COI) has reserved her position as to whether to take steps towards prosecuting the former Registrar for her (clearly bona fide and, in my view, clearly lawful) attempts to (i) get a system established as required by the Constitution and the 2006 Act and (ii) encourage individual elected public officials to comply with their constitutional and statutory obligations to make declarations of interests. As I have described, whilst she was Registrar, Mrs Romney-Varlack’s efforts to fulfil her important governance role were treated with disdain. In all the circumstances, for the former Registrar to have even the faintest shadow of possible criminal proceedings hanging over her in her retirement is, with all respect to the Attorney General, unforgivable.”
From Skelton Cline we want him and CARICON to have a forceful lesson
A sad day for the BVI :-/ those people responsible have let down the people of the Virgin Islands
corrupt !! all locals dont trust them everyone should be investigated !! women and men!
Starting with the locals in the police force.From top to bottom make and female
Old days some places they’d tar and feather the folk that stole from the community or wronged the people.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarring_and_feathering
Being complicit when the majority of expats didn’t get a red cent of the covid relief money makes all in governing party just as guilty..time for them to go.
Thank goodness for da COI. More Belongers to water down dis place of whicked.
Clear summary.
Thanks, BVI News!
The DEA knew that were good once the Premier , Minister of Finance , and a former maths teacher took out a calculator to figure out 10% of 78,000,000. Is 7.8 million.
Stop. You are killing me. He just wanted to see the number with his own two eyes. For him it was a big number. Being a former math teacher, he just wanted to do the math. Its instinctive. 🙂
Same here. Sad part is the actions of a few has damaged the reputation of an entire country [the people], even those of us living abroad. I love the BVI, I was raised there, but the arrogance that has been developing in young and old alike has been intolerable even on short trips. When you hear young women and men there talk about their high maintenance lifestyle and you know their government salary barely puts food on the table, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the value system in the BVI has eroded, inspite of all the houses of worship. Being on the wrong side if the law has been normalized at all levels.
Conversely, and going forward leadership needs to overhaul the compensation system in the bvi so illegal acts are less tempting for most, as you will always have some greedy folks as you do in every nation. They just need to be made an example of when caught so those acts don’t become prevelant in society.
I am wondering what is the recommendation to those person lived in BVI more than fifteen years. I believe they should immediately get their status. I was told until you reached twenty years it won’t be possible and I know people lived there ten years had gotten their status, but those were in government position.it was the talk that this status thing is a privilege, a message that now show it was used to oppressed their Caribbean people.
“Governor Rankin stated that the government’s application of a 20-year wait for Belonger status is contrary to the 10 years stipulated by Virgin Islands law and, therefore, unlawful”.
You may not have liked the idea of the COI but I have now read most of the COI report and I think it describes many of the problems that must be resolved and has some suggestions as to how to proceed. If the Virgin Islands want to avoid the loss of control you must be prepared to implement most, if not all, of the proposals of the COI. That will get the Virgin Islands to a better position of having their people actually represented by their government. It won’t be easy and there will be many disagreements but you must get with it immediately. Also, keep in mind, there may still be some bad people who have not been caught yet. Value honesty!