Live stream hearings coming after gov’t fixes ‘disclosure deficiencies’
Head of the Commission of Inquiry (COI), Sir Gary Hickinbottom intends to have the next stage of the Inquiry’s hearings live streamed.
This was the indication given in a COI statement issued on Monday afternoon, May 17.
This next stage of hearings will commence shortly after May 31 when the government remedies what the COI termed as “deficiencies in disclosure” of documents to the Commissioner.
The Commission said it had sent letters of request to mainly Ministers and other public officials to make “voluntary disclosure to the COI”.
“The disclosure made following those requests, although purportedly full, appeared incomplete; and, after five days of hearings at which the Commissioner took evidence from a number of summonsed witnesses, it was clear that the disclosure made was substantially incomplete and in poor order. The COI has written to the Attorney General with a view to remedying these deficiencies promptly, so that the Inquiry may be efficiently progressed,” the COI said.
“Additionally, to facilitate the next stage of the COI, the Commissioner is anxious to understand the views of the Ministers and Members of the House of Assembly on governance. They have made no representations to him to date. He has, therefore, through their legal representatives, written to the Ministers, Members of the House and the Attorney General asking them to set out their position on governance by reference to a series of questions.”
Legislators have been ordered to produce these documents by month-end. According to the COI, the documents were requested previously.
Who has and will appear in COI hearings
The COI already held a series of hearings over the last two weeks. It said the primary focus of these hearings has been “the production of information and documents”.
The Commission said there are further such hearings this week.
Witnesses scheduled to appear include Premier Andrew Fahie and immediate past Police Commissioner, Michael Matthews. Persons who’ve already appeared include government consultant, Claude Skelton Cline; Customs Commissioner, Wade Smith; Chief Immigration Officer, Ian Penn; and head of the BVI Airports Authority board, Bevis Sylvester.
Two transcripts have been published on the COI website and more will follow in the coming week.
“It is the Commissioner’s wish that each hearing is made public to the fullest possible extent. He has provided the Attorney General with an opportunity to make submissions on whether she considers it necessary to black out (redact) any parts of each transcript before it is made publicly available. Once the Commissioner has received those submissions, he will publish the transcript with any redactions he considers necessary. The Commissioner is resolved to publish the transcripts as soon as possible after each hearing,” the COI has said.
It added: “In the next stage of the hearings, issues of privilege etc and redaction should not arise; and it is the Commissioner’s intention that all hearings will be live streamed.”
Below is a schedule of COI hearings (not live streamed) for the month of May.
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The Heat is on, turn it up we need answers.
It is time to balance the scales. If the UK can look into local government then the local government must have the same rights to look into the governor, police force and the UK staff that works in the Governor’s office. This will be the real essence of democracy. Until then the colonial masters will not change.
When you steal an go court you dont question the judge man!
Who stopping govt from looking into the Police? Government funds police operations and can investigate whatever they want. If there was something there they would have investigated it. Further this government cannot even get 100 people off the ferry dock without taking 5hrs and you want them to investigate others?
Government can send the auditor general or internal audit to conduct an inquiry.
You really think there is dirt on the governor or the COP, good luck with that lol
This COI is not transparent at all.
The nonsense has to stop.
I WONDER IF BEVIS IS GOING TO INVITE BUTT HEAD TO SIT WITH HIM AS A WITNESS. LMAO. LOOK JOKES. EVER SEEN THE ADULT SWIM CARTOON BEVIS AND BUTT HEAD? WITH THE EH, EH, EH GRUNTING?
The British are masters at divide and conquer. This is the same thing all over again.
If you mean that the rats will soon be singing you are dead right.
But WE are British!
Let’s get that popcorn poppin,’ it’s showtime!
WHEN YOU JOKERS START POINTING FINGERS MAKE SURE YOU ARE LOOKING IN THE MIRROR , THAT RACISM S**T AIN’T GOING TO WORK WE ALREADY KNOW THAT ITS A PART OF YOUR HYPOCRISY SO WE AINT BUYING IT / LAST DANCE IT’S ( COI ) TIME ?
Let the games begin
Racism is alive and well in the calling of this COI and its intent and how it is not being independent.
Looks like the cast list of The Usual Suspects.
Oh to have been a fly on the wall when Smith and Skelton Crime were interrogated.
It’s not clear from your post who you are ranting at. The government? The uk? Other posters?
But thanks for joining in on things.
Andrew A. Fahie :
Oh God, somebody bring me my tiny violin! Oh right, you and your buddy there, Natalio, don’t give two s**ts and nothing but unintelligible garbled bulls**t keeps emanating from your ***, *** mouths!
I’m sick of your evasiveness and pathetic favoritism, hanging the average struggling JVDer out to dry. All of your in-person promises have been nothing short of disingenuous. Times are beyond tough over here, barely tolerable, yet we have to watch and listen to your shallow, limited and shameful egotistical ideals and fluffernutter speeches. Wake up Fahie…people are really struggling, barely able to put food on the table while you and your cohorts continue to rape our treasury and spend thousands on landscaping projects.
Hell, we still live in a black mold infested dome on the side of the road with no running water or electricity…still, SINCE IRMA!!!! YOU’RE VICTIMIZING US JUST SHORT OF TORTURE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ALL THE PEOPLE YOU SO HOPE TO VOTE FOR YOU NEXT ELECTION.
You are the most *** non leader since Putin and people are pretty d**n sick and tired of you and S-C.
You both need ***!
The COI is soon coming for your blight a**es so unbuckle your seat belt and hand over those financials before you receive an ‘article of compulsion,’ FORCING YOU TO DO SO!!!!!
wellsahhh , NDP people needs to be investigate deeply almost all were corrupt including women all of them ohlocals lawyers too