BVI News

EZ Shipping owner reports Governor Rankin to UK gov’t

EZ Shipping’s Midnight Czar.

Owner of EZ Shipping, Clyde Chalwell, has submitted a formal complaint to the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs about Governor John Rankin’s conduct.

EZ Shipping is the company that the Andrew Fahie government hired to secure the territory with barges for a period during the COVID-19 pandemic. But an Auditor General report later concluded that there were several abnormalities with those contracts.

Governor Rankin also asked law enforcers to determine whether any offences were committed when EZ Shipping was contracted to secure the territory with their barges.

The letter of complaint was sent on October 13, 2023, through Chalwell’s legal representatives at Stokoe Partnership Solicitors. It brought Governor Rankin’s integrity and impartiality into question as it relates to comments he made about at a press conference in March.

According to the letter, during the press conference on March 3, 2023, Governor Rankin referred to Andrew Fahie’s refusal to allow the UK Navy ship to secure the BVI and his preference for EZ Shipping saying, “I leave others to speculate as to why the former Premier might have been so opposed to what was deployment of the more effective method for deterring activity in the waters.”

The attorneys explained that the Governor’s statement was “a deliberate attempt to insinuate misconduct on behalf of our client.” They say the phrase “I will leave others to speculate” is a common way of saying something by pretending not to say it.

Chalwell’s attorneys also argued that at the time of Rankin’s comments, former Premier Fahie had been imprisoned in the USA on drug charges. They say using such a phrase linked EZ Shipping to the former Premier’s alleged motives.

The other problematic action the attorneys pointed to was that Governor Rankin told the press conference that when he heard that barges were used to secure the territory during COVID-19, he immediately knew they’d be ineffective.

The attorneys said the Governor shouldn’t have given his opinion on the matter, especially since the audit report on the EZ Shipping contract had been sent to the police and the DPP’s Office to assess whether any offences were committed.

The letter to the UK government ends by saying the Governor’s comments were inappropriate and amounts to him descending into the arena when it wasn’t his place to do so. However, the letter doesn’t call for any strong action to be taken against Governor Rankin who is enjoying his last days in office as BVI Governor.

In the meantime, it’s unclear whether local law enforcers are preparing to release information about the status of their investigations into the $1.2 million contract that EZ Shipping signed with the Fahie administration.

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41 Comments

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  1. Wtf says:

    Why the govermor could not give his personal opinion? I believe every dead persom had an opinion on that gaff that Andrew Fahie made. Who the hell will choose stationary barges to monitor our pourous borders at the asronomical amount of momey paid over the free UK navy ships? Any reasonable sensible thinking person will conclude that there were nefarious intentions that were not meant to benefit the territory. Come on. EZ shipping proprietor should be embarrass to sensor any body who saw right through this scam and voiced their opiniom. He would have had the same opinion as the governor if the pendulum had swung to some one else. But the bounty fell in his lap. So people should turn a blind eye. Co**uption to the highest degree.

    Like 118
    Dislike 10
  2. Really says:

    Governor don’t fooled by them after all the countryban and illegal activities that took place when they were supposed to be protecting our borders and no they want to complain sir you are doing a great job thanks.

    Like 89
    Dislike 9
  3. lol says:

    Personally I don’t see no problem with what the governor said because who gets offered a navy ship for border protection and chooses to refuse it to rent cargo transport barge for 2 million instead. To me that’s something for others to speculate about for true because it don’t make sense. Something tells me the UK gonna treat this like how the UN treats the premiers complaints agains the UK.

    Like 95
    Dislike 6
  4. Pandora's Box says:

    My God! The shame I feel for my Country is running deeper by the day.

    I do not care how you spin it Sir, you, your company, and your scheming ‘associates’ were up to no good and you damn well know it!

    What you do on your own, few of us even care about, but when you start to steal the people’s money through what is obviously nefarious dealing then we have every reason to question you!

    The fact that you have the audacity to think you are even remotely close to being a victim here is really what is making me nauseous this morning!

    Like 11
  5. Coulda got says:

    Messi.
    Look who we got

    Like 10
    Dislike 3
  6. citizen says:

    so proud of ez shipping for standing up to ra**st John Ranking. Both he and Collins must go

    Like 10
    Dislike 121
    • B says:

      What I would like to know, is how he knew to illegally bid for a contract and win it that did not exist, they knew what they did was wrong, and claiming monies when they did not work.
      Why is he getting worked up about the truth that he conspired with the ex Premier.

      Like 11
  7. Hmmm says:

    Some of you blog all day under different names on this site in favor of everything the Governor says and does even when there are no facts to support. The Governor has committed a very serious legal error in this matter as well as many others. Time alone will reflect this. No one should be above the law. Not even the Governor.

    Like 10
    Dislike 83
  8. Guest says:

    Stokoe Partnership Solicitors getting their pound of flesh too.

    Like 24
    Dislike 1
  9. Razón says:

    The navy vessel have all the latest technology on board and they refuse it right there and then everyone with commonsense can see something is wrong to much corruption in this place.

    Like 85
    Dislike 6
  10. Watching on says:

    Time will tell what the real issues and facts are with what some of you in the minority are negatively opining about with this matter. No one knows for a fact if fahie refused the Navy ships like the Governor is saying as every story has 3 sides. But what I can say is there is no justice. Look at the avoidance of the Governor to deal with the email to hide evidence by the Commissioner of Police as well as other very questionable acts by him and other UK officials under the Governor’s responsibility as well as concerns over some of the Governors’ (past and present) actions. However look at the swift actions to deal with local and Caribbean persons who are public officers when any matter arises. They are suspended immediately or put on leave. Look at Najan, Carolyn, Wade, and the list goes on. This is not right. It is a clear abuse of power. It is a clear dictatorship. What they are saying is once we deem you guilty then you are guilty. And once we see you innocent then you are innocent, and the only innocent people are everyone other than the people of the BVI. Something is drastically wrong with this picture, and it needs to be addressed. The laws cannot only be for one set of people. Accountability cannot just be on one side. Also look at Frandy matter. The same thing is happening there also. This is not right. It has to stop. Like fahie or not he fought for equality and justice for all, and this seem not to have gone down well with them is all I will say as we all know what happened. I am watching on for when the other sides to all these one-sided well-organized stories come out as they eventually will.

    Like 5
    Dislike 50
    • Wtf says:

      @Watching on
      Don’t you read the news? Andrew Fahie did not make it a secret that he turned down the UK free offer of navy ships to patrol the borders and hired EZ Shipping. Where the hell were you? The two sides of the story is known to us the people of these Virgin Islands. So it appears that you aresleeping so stay in your slumber.

      Like 46
      Dislike 1
  11. FACTS says:

    The Governor has created a well crafted narrative but it cannot stand the test time. I keep hearing about these barges but what about the many private boats and helicopter the police rented from their white friends without any proper procedures before, during, and after the barges were hired during covid. They paid a pretty penny for them so how come they did not make the COI and Auditor General report nor the Governor speeches. What measuring stick he used to know their effectiveness. Also if a Governor wants to bring in a UK ship then no one can stop him not even a premier so the story does not add up. A set of biasness just to try to carry out a wicked plot against Caribbean and local residents by the Governor. It is also documented that the UK ship did come and some of the most drugs flowed through BVI waters while it was in BVI but they are trying to hide that fact. This whole narrative is wicked in nature and cannot stand the test of time.

    Dislike 22
  12. What? says:

    Clyde and fam in trouble when Fahie meks his plea deal. Also, remember when affidavit noted Maynard saying “don’t worry I can see your cargo from my window”.

    Like 33
    Dislike 4
  13. rolling my eyes says:

    But we the people knew those barges would be ineffective too, it is not only the governor’s opinion it is ours as well. How can a barge protect the borders of a country? Why are we making the world believe we are ignorant unlearned people? Where in the world do you take a knife (barge) to a gun fight (high powered vessels with many engines and guns). You all really think we are fools and the argument of those lawyers leaves me to wonder if UK has brilliant lawyers as they are making us think.

    Like 59
    Dislike 3
  14. Here goes... says:

    Good thing no one in the Chalwell family was ever done for drug dealing or similar as that might raise further suspicions…

    Like 19
    Dislike 3
  15. Ha Ha says:

    Oh Mr. Chalwell. Well done, ma man. you brought a big smile to our faces today. Your “complaint” is SO funny. Look at the replies, then smell the coffee. you think you can take on the Uk gov. sure, you gotta few boats. they have tis ting called royal navy. they got subs out there that can end everythni on this planet. so go back to ya dingies and stop ya wingeing.

    Like 47
    Dislike 3
  16. Hey says:

    They haven’t got caught yet because they allegedly have most of the official on their side the longest rope has an end.

  17. Another complaint says:

    So EZ Shipping and the Chalwell barges are at the center of this complaint against the Governor.

    So the people of the BVI would like to know why all the EZ Shipping barges are NOT registered in the BVI? It seems odd that a reportedly ‘local’ family operates barges registered in ports all over the globe but not in the BVI??

    Should we send this complaint to the FCDO as well??

    Like 41
  18. MV Midnight Czar says:

    was purchased by EZ Shipping in mid 2018 with a ship mortgage. The owners intended to transport cargo aboard this 300′ ship throughout the eastern Caribbean islands BUT the 2020 pandemic ruined that plan. So the ship was idle in 2020 but the mortgage payments continued.

    It’s plainly obvious that the disgraced Fahie government allegedly ‘bailed out’ his shipping crony with a phony ‘security’ contract from 2020 to 2022 to prevent repossession of this vessel by the mortgagee.

    Like 41
  19. LookSee says:

    Don’t know who put EZ Shipping up to this but whoever it is must be a #1 enemy of Fahie or tis issue must be one that has been determined as detrimental to Fahies” innocence” by defenders.
    Boy o boy this is a big nail in Andrew coffee. Look at the timing! This is an issue to be on another table during and scheduling public and judicial opinion
    Andre trial. WoW!!!
    My guess it is the brainchild of the Wigged demon.
    Andrew goose cooked and this is the seasoning.

    Like 14
    Dislike 1
  20. Nth% no ..ez says:

    Had no n idea that Andrew cohorts are such sna k es. The barge issue no matter how you spin, it’s a big big glaring proof of assumption with proof..
    AnDrew’s intent to continue open borders for the drug trade.
    When the UK headlines this latest BVI guffaw,inter national opInion will solidify as obvious,the truth about Fahie and his criminal activity as charged.
    Jaspert Rankin Police Commissioner,tol mundo, UK shining brighter every day and BVI dimming daily.

    Why EZ Shipping going this route by force or by graft who knows. Something smells!

    Mebbe Gov and UK got EZ Shippjng in a net not yet revealed.

    Like 20
    Dislike 1
  21. This makes says:

    the DEA’s job at lot easier for the upcoming trial.

    Like 11
    Dislike 1
  22. Nth% no ..ez says:

    Had no idea that Andrew cohorts are such snakes. The barge issue no matter how you spin, it’s a big big glaring proof of assumption with proof..
    Andrew’s intent to continue open borders for the drug trade.
    When the UK headlines this latest BVI guffaw,inter national opInion will solidify as obvious,the truth about Fahie and his criminal activity as charged.
    Jaspert,Rankin, Police Commissioner,tol mundo, UK shining brighter every day and BVI dimming daily from all angles. Domestic and International no matter the amount of Queen and Queen shows and sashaying of Asian hair.

    Why EZ Shipping going this route by force or by graft who knows. Something smells!

    Mebbe Gov and UK got EZ Shipping in a net not yet revealed. Maybe EZ Shippjng is concerned Andrew is planning to throw them under the bus.
    Whatever, this is a case of desperate people doing desperate things even jumping off a cliff.

    Like 6
    Dislike 1
  23. read says:

    at no time does he even mention EZ shipping , he is stating that the NAVY would of stopped drugs coming in bur Fahie did not want that

    Like 14
    Dislike 1
  24. NB says:

    Lord is who advise this man to take this path? smdh them say choose your battles. Uncle Chal, bwoi this is not a battle for you. You gat no ammunition

    Like 22
    Dislike 1
  25. MEHSON KLYDEE says:

    LEH SLEEPING DOG SLEEP

  26. Good Thing says:

    Ez had spare change left over to pay the solicitor

    Like 10
  27. ReX FeRaL says:

    Governor Rankin is always looking for evid ence that bvi people employed in the government is breaking the laws or being corrupt…I heard this but why his office dont investigate the removal of an inmate from the prison with out informing the manager of the prison? Soccoyant going get them sooner or later.

    Like 1
    Dislike 14
  28. Shiver me timbers says:

    It isn’t just a complaint, this is a “formal” complaint. Signed by a solicitor and all. I bet as I type this the FCDO are scrambling to re-arrange their appointments in order to deal with the owner of EZ Shipping and his “formal” complaint. L O L

    Like 7
    Dislike 1
  29. WEW says:

    Another $1.2 million wasted when UK navy could have done the job for free. But nooo, Fahie had to move drugs.

    Like 22
  30. Yow. Not Smart. says:

    This is bad advice. This amt to bullying. Two things happen. You either grossly over charge or grossly under perform..It was best to let sleeping Dog Lie. Now if you wake the Dogs and you get bite. Blame yourself and your bad advice attorney..

    Like 15
  31. One love says:

    It got video of them vg man vs westman racing up and down and all kinda confusion around a barge that’s supposed to be protecting boarders..look ting pun YouTube.They same vg boat turnup the day.

  32. EVEN THE BLIND SAW says:

    That the barges was allegedly only a front answer holding cell for clandestine drug operation / as I said before according to the coach position he had to make that move , which raised a red flag and the UK smiled because they were catching the small frys , and they knew there has to be a BIG FISH OR FISHES somewhere in the shadows and one of them revealed himself , AND GOT STUNG / SO WIGO CAN CONTINUE TO HUFF & PUFF WITH HIS USUAL RACIAL RETHORIC ON YHE UK / JASPERT / RANKIN AND FREE THE DREW , NOW HE SIDING WITH ( EZ ) FOR LEVERAGE , I HOPE HE CAN WALK ON WATER

  33. lol says:

    the only winner here will be the lawyers. there is no case here lol

  34. Digging hole says:

    The very UK soliciting firm will take your money and allow the Governor to win
    English people will laugh with you and stab you in the back
    White man go against a white man

    Beware of the March of Dimes
    This is a foolish move
    It will unearth more worms

    Like 2
    Dislike 6
  35. Rubber Duck says:

    Where is the shore based radar that could be installed for less than these ships cost?

    Does anyone in government really want to take action against the drug trade?

  36. BunDown says:

    This EZ Shipping affair is a big if not the biggest red flag against Andrew so I suppose with EZ cooperation and whatever else there is this effort to remove it from evidence.
    Andrew will get his come uppance one way or another
    He is a bad bad man even on his knees in public. Mocking God no conscience.
    How many have been murdered. Blood on his hands

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