BVI News

Correspondence show that residents fear giving info to COI

Inquiry Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom (left) and Inquiry Secretary, Steven Chandler.

The correspondence received by the Commission Of Inquiry (COI) so far shows that some residents are afraid of giving information to aid the investigation.

That is the word from Secretary to the COI Steven Chandler, who BVI News asked to state whether public servants have expressed their fears about giving information.

Chandler did not identify fear specifically among public servants but revealed that there was fear within the general population.

“The Inquiry team continues to receive information from across the community of those who live and work in the British Virgin Islands. However, we know from a range of correspondence we have received that some people feel afraid about coming forward to let us know about their concerns,” Chandler told BVI News.

Yesterday, BVI News published a report from the COI which reassured public servants that information they gave would be kept confidential by authorities.

The report also explained that public servants are free to submit information directly to the COI and may bypass submission avenues set up by the local government if they wish.

Our news centre asked Chandler whether the COI has received information from public servants to date.

He said: The Inquiry team can’t comment on who has provided information to the Commissioner.”

However, the Secretary said residents who have fears “have the right to be heard which is why the Commission has set up a rigorous system for honouring and ensuring confidentiality and why the Commissioner continues to reassure anyone who wants to contact him and the Inquiry team, including public officers, that they can do so directly via the various safe and secure methods detailed on the Commission’s website.”

When past Governor Augustus Jaspert first announced the COI, he revealed that his office was overrun by a litany of complaints including reports that the Fahie administration was intimidating some public servants.

Despite the alleged reports, some sections of the public have expressed doubts about the confidentiality of COI, saying they fear their identity will be revealed.

In the meantime, the local government has expressed that it is in full support of the COI and will do all it can to aid the investigations.

Follow BVI New’s coverage of the 2021 Commission of Inquiry on Instagram @BVINewsOnline #TrackingTransparency at www.bvinews.com.

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36 Comments

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  1. BS says:

    This is just one load of B$. Smoke and mirrors. UK claiming failure to collect evidence is evidence.

    Like 12
    Dislike 38
    • @BS says:

      Aren’t you getting in your paid political blogging early?

      To everyone who have information that you think can help the commission, please share the information with the COI. This is about our children’s future as the BVI is heading down a path that is of grave concern.

      Like 45
      Dislike 3
      • Stupps says:

        Our children what….you are in the payroll of the COI. You guys are out in full force hiding behind computer screens and blogging

        Like 5
        Dislike 24
        • @stupps says:

          May be you are right, to say “our children what…” for if you are a parent and blogging this level of nonsense the future of our children is certainly in trouble. If you are a young person then we are definitely in trouble.

          As a reminder, the COI only has two staff members. I am not one of them. As a matter of fact, I am BVIslander who gave the VIP a chance but now realising that I made a horrific mistake.

          Like 9
          Dislike 3
          • @ @stupps says:

            Well, that’s on you. The VIP have it’s issues, but they have not lost my vote, but you continue to support the white man’s agenda. See if his children won’t but yours on the unemployment line, in their own country. You think you all would have learned by now?

            Like 1
            Dislike 8
      • @ @BS says:

        Please, we don’t need the white man’s witch-hunt form of correction. He himself need much more of what he so like to dish out.

        Like 2
        Dislike 7
  2. Haha says:

    B.S., a lot of people don’t have any facts or direct personal info about anything nefarious, What they have is political bias, misinformation and even fairy tales about the magical being mamacita.

    Like 31
    Dislike 18
  3. burning spear says:

    “DONT SELL OUT”

    Like 6
    Dislike 22
  4. Resident says:

    Victimisation is a very real issue in BVI and has been for years. It’s one of the by products of the non transparent work permit system. That’s in addition to the scope for political manipulation of the public service, and jobs/promotions etc. With the influx of serious organized crime since Irma you now have to worry about worse than job victimization too. the CoI is absolutely correct to worry about this. It’s one of the indicators of a failed state.

    Like 33
    Dislike 5
    • @Resident says:

      That is BS propaganda. All designed to influence the take over of the BVI and put the pale skin back in control of the money. That is the fundament reason all the BS is being spouted in these times.

      Like 7
      Dislike 34
    • @ Resident says:

      Wrong as it may be, Victimization is a global phenomena. The UK is one of the worst system of this behavior. So my question is… who judges their nation for its evils? This is why we must become independent!

      Like 4
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      • Resident says:

        Phenomenon is the singular noun which follows the indefinite article “a”, I think you will find. Some victimization does occur worldwide including in UK; BUT it is not Government policy and it is hard to sustain because in UK, as in most participative democracies, taxpayers get to vote and there are other institutions like effective trades Union and NGOs which stops an unrepresentative cabal exercising power with impunity.

  5. tired ah dem says:

    wHAT A BUCH AH HYPOCRITICAL PIG DOO DOO. IT WILL BE A WONDERFUL DAY WHEN THE PALE SKIN NO LONGER DOMINATES THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING IN IT. just SEEING MAKES YOUR STOMACH SICK NOW.

    Like 7
    Dislike 33
  6. Joshua says:

    This admittance seems to be a positive in the arsenal of this administration. But don’t be fooled any information coming from aadditional sources is just a plus in the COI arsenal. We already have enough info to take over. What do you think we were doing for the last 3 years. We were gathering info. All those persons who already spoke to the governor including the opposition that info has already been documented. Any additional info will only put the final coat of paint on what we already know. Do you think we are coming in with an empty basket. We have everything we need to take over. And take over we will. Past and present administrations has proven to be one of popularity instead of competence. We vote for people we like and not for ability. When you have certain individuals holding ministries it tells of the territory lack of qualified human resources. A government with no previous experience beside the Premier. This time in history is not the time for persons with training wheels we need experience men and women. Hoping that in the next 20 years we can have a mature set of educated mature politicians. This is not to say we dont have some educated few but the majority is lacking. Can we survive as a territory with brain drained politicians.

    Like 13
    Dislike 9
    • @Joshua says:

      You contradicting your own self with your words. You want people with experience meaning you want the same old BS that was there and you want VIP with out.

      Unfortunately you speak for yourself and you have that right but you talking about “we” coming in to take over just goes to show that you are an NDP supporter and VIP hater who wants back those NDP crooks back in power so you can get back on their nipples to milk out the people tax paying dollars.

      Like 5
      Dislike 5
      • Joshua says:

        No sir, you are so wrong. Was a strong VIP supporter. Who believed that Andrew would have been Premier for a long time. Wanted the ndp out with a passion. The country gave him goodwill on a platter. He turned out to be a God speaking, bible thumping v*****tive person. His ministers are in**t, especially labor. Do you know how this Premier has hurt the VIP. After Britain take control of her piece of rock whenever elections are held again there will be no hope for this party in years to come. Do you really know how many VIP supporters has turned their backs on this party. The writing is on the wall.

        Like 13
        Dislike 2
      • @@Joshua says:

        Your assumption could be wrong. Has nothing to do with NDP or VIP, trust that. Don’t let your political allegiance control and blind you.

        See, the BVI has become rich. It has the natural potential to continue making big money into the future.

        The British, who now has recognized this, due to their insatiable lust and greed for money, and their untruthful assertion that these lands are theirs, and because Black people now controls that wealth, that has them sick as it goes against their view of what a Black man should. Hence, it they that Joshua is referring to who he wants to come back and take over.

        Of course they can come back and take over, but it will be easy. It will be the beginning of prolonged revolution. As, there are some minds today that will not submit to subjugation and third class human treatment and or existence, period!

        Like 2
        Dislike 8
        • Joshua says:

          People is stuck on color. Competence, transparency honesty fair play integrity is colorless. For the good of country and people Joshua don’t care who is power. The color of the money is green. Money answerth all things. I can’t go to the supermarket and say I black, the white suppressed me give me some groceries. Neither can I say I am tolan so I deserve food without the green. I am for good governance whether black or white, tolan or otherwise. A time comes we have to look beyond partisan and desire progress whichever corner of the world it might come from. If you own a business would you say I will give you the job because you are from tortola even though you are not a competent fit. No you wouldn’t. But the taxpayers money is not yours so any oig brain can control it and say you love your country. Bvi deserves the best, whoever can give it I will support. Even if it us Britain.

          Like 6
          Dislike 1
  7. @Joshua says:

    The pale skin continue to show who and what he is, a merciless slimly snake.

    Like 6
    Dislike 28
    • Pandora's Box says:

      BVI News – Why do you give this sort of unproductive and extreme rhetoric a platform?

      This is not about race, this is about having our Government maintain transparency and good governance so us, ‘as one people’, know that our taxes, and those we elect to represent us are held accountable and responsible to the people of this Country! I fail to see where such actions can be deemed racist and you cannot deny that there has been something very wrong with the finances of our Country for quite some time now! To deny that would show willful ignorance.

      Like 31
      Dislike 5
  8. Soothsayer says:

    Apparently, you can use Zoom and put the Cat Filter on.

  9. Black Nationalist says:

    Be FRED HAMPTON please don’t be WILLIAM O’NEAL. Like Hoover did O’Neal same way those Englishmen will sell you out. Watch your own eat you alive.

    Like 4
    Dislike 3
  10. @Black Nationalist says:

    Good to see you. Didn’t think there were any of us left here but this warrior.

    You know, what we have today walking on two legs with an empty skull, relative to Black people authentic issues and subsiquent suvival, are all William O’Neal’s, unfortunately.

  11. Despondent says:

    “We are the inheritors of the intelligentsia of the Ancient African Cultures and the African Diasporas in the Americas and the World”! ~Paul S Hickman.

    It is only the more reason why so many feel so despondent upon seeing the mental condition of our people still.

  12. Wake up bvi says:

    Good to see the people of thr bvi waking up and seeing that this commissuonnof inquiry is the uks plan at dividing an xonquering the bvi…. but jokes in them we to conscious for them to fool us we ail falling for the trickery!

    Like 2
    Dislike 6
  13. Musa says:

    Look like col is forcing the people for information

    Like 1
    Dislike 2
  14. Listen says:

    These people and there interest ain’t change from the time we fought for our country and free. Dont sell out…weather vip or NDP we like any other got our own issues and this is our affairs that we yourself have to and will address together as a nation for our people it ain’t about any party it about we handling our own situation weather it up or down there interest is not wat we would want of our leaders and us … be careful wrong cant correct sin

    Like 2
    Dislike 1
    • @Listen says:

      You sound so stupid. Are you saying that if there are indeed corruption in government that government should be the one to address the situation.

      Whoever are paying you to blog needs to send you packing. Pointless contribution.

      Like 1
      Dislike 1
  15. Bull shit says:

    This just about the same dam intent of those wen we were in chain. JOSHUA U EITHER BLIND AND STUPID EDUCATED @$$ OR U AN BLANT ENEMY OF THAT SAME AGENDA…THIS IS ABOUT BLACK AND WHITE RICH AND POIR SLAVE AND MASTER …WE SICK OF THESES BLACK THAT BLINDED TO THE BIGGER PICTURE..HOW STUPID CAN ONE RACE OF PEOPLE BE ..MY LORD ..U SAY OH GOD AFTER ME TRUST NO ONE ….WHY IS IT WE BLACK PEOPLE ALWAYS FEEL UR REDEMPTION IS GOING COME FROM THE ONE THAT COULD NEVER SEE US AS A SIMPLE HUMAN BEING..

    Like 4
    Dislike 6
  16. Novae says:

    You are Damn right people are afraid to communicate with the commission. We have to live here when they leave.

    Like 2
    Dislike 1
  17. Hehe says:

    Blame it on the white manReallly ? … Did the white man contracted out the wall ? Did the white man stop the Grant of 69 million from England to help the BVI ? Did the white man stop giving Press Conferences to the media ? Did the white man give 20 thousand to each church to “ influence vote “ for next election? Did the white man take 40 million from SS and give who they want? Did the white man use millions for private body guard ? Did the white man cause the Charting Industry to be taken from the BVI to the USVI and the list can go on … WHO TO BLAME ask Lashing Dogs ??????

    • Black Nationalist says:

      So you trying to put blame on a administration that been in power bout 2 years versus 8 totally corrupt NDP years? Naw son.

      Most our leaders in the not so distant pass and present learned the ANglo Saxon way of politics. Deceit, greed and callousness.

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