Friends & family! Privileged few in ‘political arena’ score big on grants
An audit into Public Assistance Grant programmes controlled by lawmakers and government ministries between January 2019 and May 2022 showed that there was possible abuse within those programmes and across all programmes.
According to the audit report issued by the government’s Internal Audit Department (IAD) in December 2022, evidence shows that individuals within the orbit of the political arena may have received preferential treatment in the awarding of grant assistance.
The report pointed out that the former Speaker of the House of Assembly’s son received 16 grants totalling $104,000 and also showed that immediate family members of the Private Secretary in the Premier’s Office received 10 grants totalling $178,166.
While the report found that disbursements from the programmes lacked accountability and transparency, it noted that none of the programmes – with the lone exception of the Ministry of Communications and Works – were being conducted in a manner that is financially accountable.
“Although there are requirements or a general expectation that recipients provide evidence of need and the use of funds, these requirements are seldom complied with and enforced,” the IAD report stated. “None of the programmes were found to be transparent as none have a documented and transparent approach to arriving at decisions.”
The report also disclosed that senior public officers in managerial roles received substantial assistance over the period reviewed, highlighting one instance in particular where a senior public officer and their immediate family members received grants totalling $217,900 over the period.
“While we understand that public officers and their families may experience situations where a legitimate need may exist, this discovery raises questions as to whether the officer’s position/office held played a role in the awarding of the assistance.”
The audit was commissioned in the wake of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report which found that assistance grants distributed by members of the House of Assembly were done in a legally arbitrary and unlawful manner.
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And imagine the scholarship is around $20,000 per year, $80,000 over FOUR years. Yet these people getting more than double.
So what happens next now that we determine that this whole thing was unlawful?
Now we are seeing why we cannot fix roads, school, water, sewage and the host of other unresolved issues in the Territory. We do not appear to have a money problem we have a mis-management of money problem.
and it have parents who really really need help. This is soo unfair.
This is abhorrable but sadly not unexpected. We now need to see a number of arrests, jail time for those involved in this fraud (that is what it is) as well as legal action to recoup money paid out.
WOW WOW WOW
Just speaking my own mind as someone whose received assistance for education and would most likely be on this document. I’m not particularly worried about people knowing I recieved, nor how much I’ve received. I’ve gotten exactly one cheque and it wouldn’t cover the cost of tuition alone for a single semester. I applied at the begining of one semester and received my grant 3 semesters after so I had already burned a hole in my finances and was a week into a minimum wage job by the time I received it.
What I think the concern is for other students is that there is still some ego, and not wanting people to know that you received any form of financial assistance because it makes them feel less.
I hope other students who have seen the list at least understand that a lot of folks who were definitely able to finance their own education took advantage of something they didn’t need and that if you did need the funds there is no shame in applying for the grants when needed.
Where is the chairman of the scholarship committee Sameul sector 7 taximan???
Fist covid grants leaked now student grants leaked. When does the suing start?
Nature’s little secret, there are no secrets in the VI. No professionalism either.
True crime story show a nurse & her cousin to broke into a old man’s house which resulted in his murder. She was his nurse. Her journal showed it was planned months in advance to be committed after she finished her job.
We do not know what sick people are out there to be causally releasing persons financial information for political points!
Not to mention some students are abroad & we do not know their security situation.
Public officers and all government employees were on full pay during the lock-down while the private sector was not allowed to work … anyone hanging their head in shame…?
Return the ‘arbitrary & unlawful money grants’ forthwith to the BVI Treasury or face prosecution!
This is much to do about nothing they are our children and we should not have any regrets
Has the former Speaker settled his outstanding court costs?????
I have no real problem with scholarships as long as they are accountable.
But these other grants seem sickening. A real free for all at the tax payers expense. The majority of whom have no representation as not being eligible to vote.
Anyone receiving taxpayer/goverment funds should recognize your name and amount received is subject to disclosure. It’s also shoulf be public open source data that the general public can review and alert the Audit General, of fraud anonymously.
Speaking of scholarship…some parents and students are also ripping of US taxpayers by not reporting that they have BVI scholarships, in some cases full scholarship. It’s a culture and mentality of small mindedness, selfishness and greed.
They forgot whether in BVI or US taxpayers and future generations suffer the conscience of their selfish (increased taxes, less federal funds for very needed students, funds put to better use in bvi like social development, education programs for special needed children, etc.).
Audit BVIEC to. Terrible mismanagement of funds.
Its called corruption.
Hope willock is running he has my vote he fights for his people
Is that you wiggy? Hahahaha
This is to the UK and the Governor of the British Virgin Islands, when are you going to realize as long as you don’t take over for a few years the corruption will continue, save the people of the BVI and take over for a few years.
Don’t hang ur hopes on UK to take over,don’t cry those who going cry for those who coming (remember that) uk said the samething also to turks and caicos and they was in turks and caicos for years so be careful what u wish for, read up on how bad it was when uk take over turks and caicos
Please ask yourself a simple question. Why would you put a taximan to be in charge of a Scholarship committee? There is something wrong with that picture? Not a member of the committee, but the chairman of the committee. My relative did not get any grant for one year because her Grade point average was 2.8 instead of the 3.0. But it is alleged that a student who she went into college and saw and graduated and left, is still getting grants because of connections.
I love that you mention this. The government priorities are not for the youth! Imagine the lack luster answer of not giving scholarships or extending scholarships after covid many students were not able to continue or pay off their student loans.
I am applaud at what the VIP government did withe the financial of this island. And I suspect the sir is a lot more things we don’t know about. Treat all the people right, not with favoritism for some. I will champion and challenge this government to put money towards the youth. Scrap those plans for the detention center, move 1/2 million from police and put it towards our youth. Extend the scholarships to all youth, and separate it towards, books, fees, travel etc they can get one or the other. Silliness about one family getting 200+k ,for what!
@vi,
Seems they will get exactly what they asked for. One wrong move and the governor will pull the baby string. Playing peli winkie birds out here with the people money. If the Uk take over it will be ten (10) years or more if ever before they get they hands on that money again. The people will roast this government at the poll. We waiting!
All this family support for one man son is crazy, such insanity that one persons perhaps was about to loose their life, to require that much grant. Is the only reason I see one person need that much grant.
Every time I apply for grant for my my child I was told there is no money. Then I was told it got money but only for special people, now I believe the person and so who those special people is.
Woow and all I ask for is is $2,500 so that I can help my mom in burial and funeral expence , and nothing but every time elections they at my house , I am so waiting on them…
I hope we now have an appreciation for timely audited financial statements of the Government. Go to the Govt’s website and tell us where we can find the latest audited financial statements. Governance, transparency, accountability matters. Imagine if we didn’t have a COI. Do you think anything changed since? Keep guessing and continue to hope for the best. Nobody’s looking.