Governor mum on ‘Government Official 1’ investigation
Governor John Rankin has opted not to offer any insight into possible investigations into an allegedly notoriously corrupt government operative mentioned in the arrest affidavit of former Premier, Andrew Fahie.
Since the former Premier’s arrest, speculation has been rife about the identity of the person referred in the arrest document as ‘Government Official 1’, and what law enforcement officials were doing about that person.
The high-ranking official is alleged in the document to have facilitated the passage of illicit drugs through the territory’s waters and is also allegedly characterized by the former Premier as being controlled by ‘many employers’ — a thinly veiled reference to drug dealers.
Speaking at a joint press briefing yesterday, Governor Rankin said: “I am not going to comment on that particular individual. There is much speculation on the fact. I think it’s probably best we all wait for further investigations to be made before conclusions are reached on that matter.”
In the meantime, the Governor denied that he was aware of investigations being carried out in the BVI by US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials prior to the arrest of Fahie.
“No, I did not [know about their presence]. And as I made clear when I published the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report, the arrest of former Premier Fahie came as much as a shock to me as it did to everyone else here in the BVI. I recognise, indeed, the shock it caused to so many people with whom I work and meet every day but I did not have prior knowledge of that,“ the Governor stated.
When questioned about whether his predecessor, former Governor Augustus Jaspert may have had knowledge of the involvement of government officials in that criminal case, Governor Rankin said this was precisely why the COI was established.
“Sadly, the facts suggest what we all know but I must not predict the outcome of the criminal investigations and legal proceedings in the US,” Governor Rankin said.
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Government official one is a civil servant. Remember that the governor said he is not responsible for the inadequacies in the civil service that he is the head of. When the service does good it’s him. When it does bad it’s the local elected leaders. Only they have brains. We locals don’t have none.
So-called “Government Official 1” does not have to be a “civil servant”. “Government Official 1” can be an appointee, someone outside the ranks of the civil service – Yes, a government employee, but “appointed” not “hired”.
What a fool. So this person choosing to be corrupt is somehow the governor’s fault? What, next you’re going to blame the governor for Andrew selling out the BVI for drug money too? What, are BVI people too stupid and childlike to be held responsible for their own actions? I think I’ve heard that argument somewhere before, about 200 years ago…
But when a civil servant in a ministry does something wrong it’s the ministers to blame. Got you! You see how colonialism has screwed up our thinking? Reading the COI, so ministers put through transactions through the government systems?
Government Official #1 remains at large. The BVI Police are useless. How can the COI recommendations be completed with a useless police force? So much damage has been done to the BVI’s reputation and future because we have a police force that can not win cases in court owing to bad police work. Complete mess and this is why all the guilty culprits will walk away from their crimes with no penalty at all. Watch this space. The Courts in the BVI are a complete joke. Same old, same old baloney will continue, and absolutely no one will be held accountable.
Did you read what you wrote? How can you call people guilty before they are tried in court? This is exactly what is wrong with this place. Anybody could say anything about anyone and because it sounds bad we are quick to believe without any facts at all. In your infinite wisdom you have already determined that people are guilty without giving them due process. Do you think the country will get better with your approach to justice?
Some Black idiots feel when white people speak its the truth and they law. Those type of Black people should be dead.
So what you are really saying is, you don’t have an issue with UK … you have an issue with the fact that the decision-makers are white people.
Exactly. We need to redo our entire criminal justice system. The current one doesn’t work and has been abused by arbitrary actions over the years. We need Scotland Yard to come here and investigate and prosecute the COI perps. Then we need a new system to build on.
Didnt they investigate operation lucan the case with the cops and they are off scott free.
That one isnt finished.
I guess u know more than the courts to still declare it isn’t finished
There is an appeal. The true story of action that is even scarier than you imagine.
Is it possible that the US DEA has yet to release the identity of Government Official 1? They have a trial coming up, to send the alleged Fahie and the Maynard co-conspirators off to the Federal lock-up (hopefully for a long time). The DEA may be playing it close to the vest so as not to reveal too much prior to their pending victory in the courtroom.
I’m sure that when they are ready, the DEA will be more than happy to share their recordings and info with the RVIPF. They want to get the scumbags out of action and in jail as much as anyone.
Everyone knows who it is, hint hint the *** guy
you can’t say the word t a l l on bvinews, disgraceful
By now everyone believe government official #1 heads the *** department.
There is no time limit on criminal conspiracy so Gov. Official No. 1 is guilty until proven innocent along with Gov. Officials No. 2 to 3000+. The investigations are in progress and the arrests will be made in due course. Therefore ‘no comment’ will be stated many times in the next 2 years as the various BVI corruption scandals explode on the world news web sites.
Is necessary. Many local households are somehow connected to the drug trade. How many guys are limin’ on the road with no apparent job and still own a quarter of a million powerboat? Shall we keep on pretending they are all businessmen? Lets go to church on Sundays but on Monday to Saturday break every rule in the Bible..
So it is just local households in that trade? What about the charter yacht industry? You really think ‘some’ do not move some weight?
Great questions!!! But they’re not ready for that conversation! Apparently only locals and people of a certain colour/ethnicity are in the drug trade (insert rolling eyes emoji here)
They’ll be shocked to know how some of the “non-local” residents obtained their fortune!!!
Most of the people in the drug trade are Hispanics.
I doubtnpeople in the drug trade are gpi g to be using 40 foot sail boats with a maximum speed of 6 knots. Hello.
That’s why they use them, because no one suspects it.
Uuuum cause it (40ft @ 6 knots) is less discreet than a loud powerboat. Plus you have tourist masquerading as being on holiday; you do the math!
OMG, please a little research. 99% of rental charter yachts do not leave the BVI on their holiday, way too much hassle and time lost so no, it is not the charter industry.
99%, you do voodoo stats. USVI is right next door and what about moving yachts from one base to another between St. Vincent, St. Maarten, St. Lucia or sail up new ones from South Africa. Multifaceted business. 🙂
Those who promote or are involved in their businesses just as criminal.
Then there are those who build or renting big house/villas.
These same people got the biggest mouth fighting against showing source of funds and claiming people pocket watching when we just not gullible.
I think their arrest is imminent. Its just a matter of time. The powers that be are just tidying up their evidence before they make their move. Its essential they get all the evidence they need before bringing charges.
Remember the DEA sting that got the trio sitting in a Miami lockup did not happen overnight. The sting dated back to October 2021.
IMO, there is no way this person will escape the drag net that ensnarled the head coach and his alleged co-conspirators.
They certainly should not remain in the employ of the government. However, its essential that before law enforcement make their move that their evidence is solid.
When they do, the questions are:
1. Will they be extradited to the US to join the other alleged co-conspirators? and
2. Would the local courts grant such an extradition request? In the past given what happened before with another case, I would have said probably not, but with the UK watching, the outcome may be different.
Government Official #1 cannot be sleeping easy these nights because they have no idea what day the police will come knocking at 6 in the morning.
Time is longer than twine.
We should just sit back and watch this unfold. Let the investigators do their job. If what has been revealed on that infamous affidavit rings true, government official #1 goose is already cooked.
You know u all always knocking anything local that other case at both times the local court granted the extradition the problem is when it got to the Caribbean court there was a block with nonsense as the basis. You all need to stop twisting the truth or is it you cant read and understand.
No one is twisting the truth. You are the one who needs to read and understand. The extradition case in question was a long drawn out matter that started with an approval for the extradition request followed by multiple appeals that eventually favored the accused. This was all done here in the BVI.
I look back on that case and think that the accused could have been alive today in a US jail or probably not rather than being gunned down in their drive way by persons reportedly still unknown.
IMO, the courts here tried to protect from the extradition with a bogus argument, especially the High Court ruling and in the end the result was a disaster, and all the intransigence was for naught.
Prison or death are not good choices, but those are frequently the price one pays when the partake in the drug trade. Players be warned.
I agree. That person WILL be arrested. And yes we all know who he is.
We knew long time, we heard his name for years.
What’s amazing to me is the fact that he talks everybody’s business like the girl he is and yet now his business is out for all to see and smell. Wonder how he feels, his crownies, friends and companions? How do they all feel?
At the end of the day…white collar criminal is what he is
What will nail GO1 and the others is Fat Albert singing in Miami.
Yep of course investigations are still going on. The trio was the tip of the iceberg. The coi report starts with the value of the drugs circulating being like triple the islands worth. Honestly the BVI is blatantly rich of drugs and they want their cut. If I were the UK I’d wait until everyone gets rich too then take it all too. Crime doesn’t pay
Governor please don’t!!!
The US could not have come into a British territory/Country without being invited to investigate its citizens. You may not have known the full details but the British Government did or this could have caused an international incident.
Just say this is a topic you are not willing to entertain because it is an ongoing situation/investigation.
Don’t loose your credibility; to much of this will surely do that.
MI5 and the DEA will have worked it. Neither would tell a relatively low level civil servant like Rankin anything.Thas how leaks happen.
AFTER ALL THE BLOGGS I HAVE READ ,AM STILL WONDERING IF ALL THOSE WHO SAT IN THE ROAD ISN’T AWARE OF WHATS REALLY GOING ON, WHICH THEY MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED IN SOME WAY OR THE OTHER HOW DO THEY EXPECT PEOPLE TO HAVE RESPECT FOR THEM , AND HOW DO THEIR FAMILY FEELS ABOUT THEM / OR ITS JUST BIRDS OF THE SAME FEATHER ? ?
To work as an intelligence agency outside its jurisdiction (the only possible option under the sovereignty premise), the DEA needs the host government’s consent or it is guilty of engaging in illegal espionage….. yall watch ting start now.
So is the arrest of the young captain Stoutt and Mr.Lanns in Florida apart of the COI or the DEA sting?ah wonder if they part of Andrew conspiracy case…LORD.PLEASE HELP THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR GET RICH QUICK MENTALITY
The DEA did not arrest Stout and Lanns. Homeland Security did. Now research who Homeland Security is and do. This thing has gone to a another level. Containers uncheck with Hezbollah ties. Not good, not good at all.
No BVI news outlet will report that breaking news as it will make the BVI look even worse right now…lol
Had same thought. It was money laundering and fahie or Kadeem talking
my people I am coming home soon to fight the u.k and help clean up the bvi
@well well is correct. Police is a joke. Look at Frandie Martin case. They put charges on and arrest the wrong people. Scooter men driving all around no helmets or anything. Police here so less. Is a fact and will hold back positive changes.
See you in 30 years head coach or maybe earlier if you learn how to sing. You know what they say, it ain’t over until the fat lady sings.
Who does stama work for