Gov’t paid over $1.5M to UK King’s Counsel to support DPP’s Office
The government has paid more than $1.5 million in base contracts to two UK-based King’s Counsel (KC) between 2018 and 2026, according to documents obtained by BVI News.
Records show that a combined $1,522,352 was paid to UK attorneys Sandip Patel KC and John Black KC during that period.
The documents indicate that Patel received approximately $1.125 million through contracts signed with the Virgin Islands government between 2023 and 2026 alone.
Despite multiple request, government officials had been withholding details about payments made to a external attorneys working alongside the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in several criminal matters and appeals in the Virgin Islands.
Those matters involved cases against Lorna Stevens, Myron Walwyn, Wade Smith, Pamphil Prevost, Simon Powers, Marley Sebastian and Najan Christopher, all of which were ultimately unsuccessfully prosecuted before the courts.
According to the records, 18 contracts were signed between the Virgin Islands government and the two King’s Counsel between 2018 and 2026. Of those, 14 contracts were signed by Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, one by former Premier Dr Orlando Smith in 2018, and three by former Premier Andrew Fahie in 2021.
The documents also show that both KC Black and KC Patel listed the same UK address in their contracts with the government.
Each contract exceeds $100K
Seven contracts were signed between Black and the government between 2018 and 2023, amounting to nearly $400,000 in base fees. Patel’s contracts, signed between 2023 and 2026, totalled approximately $1.125 million. Most of Patel’s contracts exceeded $100,000 each, with three reportedly valued at $160,000 each.
According to addendums attached to the contracts, both Black and Patel were retained as legal prosecutors in court proceedings arising from police investigations including “Operation Lucan”. Other matters referenced in the contracts included “Operation Afon”, “Operation Innis”, “Operation Solent”, and “Operation Garrison”.
“Operation Garrison” reportedly involved a joint UK and local military and police deployment in the territory following Hurricane Irma in 2017. “Operation Afon” was also identified as a British military and police deployment to the Virgin Islands after the hurricane.
The base contracts did not include additional legal fees incurred during appeals in the cases that were unsuccessful.
These details about the contracts — obtained officially through the High Court Registry — come after the Governor’s Office and the DPP claimed that the information could not be made public because it constituted “sensitive material.”
DPP: KC’s salary is ‘sensitive material’ that we can’t disclose
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The Governor have no objection about that amount being paid to UK national over a witch hunt, but then again it’s in the intrest of the people and justice is what he would say.
If we had a half competent DPP, then it would not be necessary to bring in UK counsel to prosecute these cases.
Unfortunately, there is no willingness by anybody in Government to change the DPP until all the Commission of Inquiry prosecutions are resolved (i.e. have been lost by the current incompetent DPP).
Asking the current Government to change the incompetent DPP for a competent DPP is like asking turkeys to vote for Christmas.
Another self-hating product.
The recent disclosure that contracts worth more than $1.5 million were awarded to King’s Counsel between 2018 and 2026 should prompt serious debate about transparency, accountability, and leadership in the Virgin Islands government. These uses of public funds were largely kept from the public and the media on grounds of sensitivity, even though many related legal cases failed or were dismissed. Citizens have a right to know how the government spends their tax money.
The continued secrecy surrounding these contracts suggests a concerning pattern of avoiding legitimate public scrutiny, weakening the democratic principles of transparency and accountability. Efforts to block enquiries further erode public trust and create the impression that they are more focused on protecting themselves than serving the public.
The current government’s silence and lack of an independent voice on this issue are equally alarming. Leadership means addressing difficult questions and taking responsibility for decisions that affect public finances. At present, there is a growing perception that the government is not acting independently enough, while the Office of the Governor continues to dominate key decisions and public discussion.
Citizens deserve a government that is transparent and accountable. Governing is not just about holding power; it is about earning and maintaining public trust, especially during difficult economic times when demands for better leadership grow stronger. Transparency should not depend on political convenience, and accountability should apply to everyone.
In my view, Pruce’s time in the BVI should end now.
Somebody in these replies using ai to formulate a response yet preaching about transparency..
Was there proper procurement procedure followed for this? Or is this rule only for local businesses and people?
Nothing to see here! As a BVIslander to get $100K we need to jump through hoops, go through tender processes etc. The UK boys walk in and leave as millionaires whether they win the cases or not. On top of paying them their millions we pay out more millions in lawsuits as a result of incompetence. BVILOVE. This news will last a day and we will go about our business because we don’t care when expats collect the big money, we are only concerned when it’s our own people and then it’s called corruption. I hope they make another $5mil before the year is out! Hip HIP!!!!!
Everything a poppycock show. When the tide goes out you’ll see how bad things really are.
Really shocked that the same premier that reenacted noel loyd and saw what the uk did to him would sign contracts to oppress civil servants.
Hope they payed taxes for tha big money