Media criticised for ‘callous’ Bank of Asia coverage
Hosts of the Talking Points radio show have described the coverage of the Bank of Asia matter by some local media entities as “callous” and “sensational,” arguing that it is contributing to damage to the BVI’s reputation as a respected financial services jurisdiction.
The Bank of Asia issue has been receiving wide coverage from media houses and talk shows across the territory, as the public awaits answers about some five million dollars the government allegedly invested in the institution before it was announced that the bank would be shutting down.
However, some elected officials, as well as figures in the church and civil society, have cautioned sections of the media, accusing them of presenting commentary and reports that contain allegations, sensationalism, and unconfirmed information — some of which, they argue, border on slander and defamation.
Talking Points host Violet Gaul said she has noticed that much of the reporting is “laced with supposition and innuendos” that continue to spread globally.
“I would suggest that everyone step back and stop putting this territory in a bad light. It has already happened, but it is getting progressively worse,” Gaul said passionately. “If you call yourself a news medium and you live in this BVI, stop it, because we cannot allow for this territory to be labelled the way it is because of the news you are putting out.”
Co-hosts Damion Grange and Elvin Smith echoed Gaul’s concerns, urging media professionals to wait for the outcome of Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley’s internal audit before jumping to conclusions.
They also reminded the media community of the extensive work the BVI has done over the years to build and protect its financial services industry. They argued that negative and unsubstantiated reporting from local outlets reinforces the agenda of external forces seeking to damage the BVI’s image.
“There is an external force that is actively trying to undermine our [financial services] sector, and we’re not helping,” Grange explained.
Meanwhile, media owners Cindy Rosan and Floyd ‘Heritage’ Burnett, along with Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn, are among the prominent voices calling for a full-fledged investigation into the Bank of Asia matter and for accountability if wrongdoing is found.
While the government has appealed for calm, it has also been accused by some members of the public of being vague and evasive in its handling of the situation — particularly regarding the operations of the bank, which was established to facilitate transactions in the financial services sector.
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It’s not the media that’s doing damage to the territories reputation, but those who have aided and abetted the questionable events.
Totally agree with your comment. If the administration will give accountability and transparency of what is happening within the government then people would not have to rely on the media. This pompous premier needs to step down with his childish gibberish and go learn to take responsibility and accountability for the doings in his administration. He is a total disgrace to the Territory and a complete nynco***** in himself.
The typical BVI preferred way…”Sweep it under the rug.”
That show will take that position because they are pro Lorna especially … If it was something else or someone else you would have heard them with all sort of things to say. I don’t listen to that dead show because it is not objective. How could you call the reporting callous? They themselves said that they should wait for the outcome of the audit which means that they don’t know the story either. Guavaberry media said they have the evidence and if they do have it they should publish. That is what happens everywhere in the world where the journalists have information and evidence to support it.
You all expect * to speak against Lorna? … worships her so don’t look for no objectivity from .
Simply by having an independent audit & enquiry . Transparency
These ninc****ops still can’t understand that the internal audit will not be made public? This is why I don’t listen to these talk shows. Every last one of them have their favorites and their own agenda. CSC show supports his family and friends and who could help them. Talking points hosts support their close friends. If it was someone else other than Lorna Smith they would have been talking all kind of things especially the Jamaican one. Now they are comfortable to stifle transparency by accepting an internal audit report that they don’t know what the internal auditor will be asked to do and the report will not be a public document. If it was someone else who they don’t support you would have heard them saying all manner of things. They are all the same.
In other words Talking Points is saying to sweep it under the rug. It’s Lorna so let’s hide it. Don’t say anything about it. Wait on the report that will never be public and that was called for by the same person responsible for the problem we have. All of the people on that show are Lorna Smith supporters. Zero objectivity. The BVI will never get any better. Those who claim they have principles have selective principles.
we need the u.k to investigate what really happened at the bank of asia
Grange, Smith & Gaul – have you even contacted Guavaberry for copies of the documents / evidence? Or are you just sheep, toeing the Government line, because that is what you have been told to do?
If a bad thing happens and it makes us look bad we should be mad at the people who did it, not the people that show us it happened.
Where is your courage, where is your professionalism, where is your dignity? Or do you just like to hear yourselves talk and then see you names in print?
Only one crazy girl report what someone wrote for her no other credible news source is falling for her bs
Cindy is crying for help
She report it and no one called her a liar, they just started shaming her for the way she reported it.
Thats how you know what she said holds weight. but as usual we dont concern ourselves with wrongdoing until wrong is done to us.
The people she named cannot respond yet. Wait. Everything has a process. The process is not over yet. The confidentiality agreements will lift. Imagine selling something and that report is what is being published. The way she went after her enemy will have consequences. Could you imagine standing behind it is alleged… reports hitting our newsroom
Keep it under wraps…Don’t let them see or know nothing.
Apparently no fire!
Is like ayo more vex with the media more than the people that cause this mess in the first place. Investigate the matter properly and hold the persons responsible to account that’s the best way to show the world that you not tolerating no corruption or slackness in your financial services industry! Ayo Just want to sweep it under the rug like nothing happen.
You all expect Grange to talk against Lorna? Think again.
Natalio Wheatley has been advised to strike first with diplomatic etiquette by announcing an internal audit fast to prevent the governor from doing so, because diplomatic norms dictates the governor allow the subordinate or partner administration to be allowed due process. And once Wheatley gets his audit off to block the governor and the opposition he will then drag his foot stretching it to an inordinate amount of time until it will be forgotten, and the report will be much about nothing. The UK and any right thinking BVI people can see the facade been put up by premiere Wheatley to hide his irresponsible financial dealings if the country’s finance starting with parties and traveling and Vybz Kartel quarter million USD and now a $5 million USD of the tax payers money, and people posing as so call church pastors wants their indigenous entitlement clique to be exonerated, they wishing that Ronnie was opposition leader where he would be sleeping one eye shut and one open to sweep it under the carpet with Marlon pushing the broom.its a sin these pastors will have to beg the BVI people pardon for in their older years.
Look at all these comments. When will the Minister of Communication & Works get exposed?
Having worked with the FSC for years, I do NOT believe that it can be accused of corruption. The institution has managed the financial affairs of the BVI very well for years, balancing the demands of the international community while producing huge income for the territory. As a very small and powerless IFC, the BVI consistently punches above its weight, in no small part because of the skills of the FSC.
The FSC does its work largely quietly, so we do not really know what it was saying to the Bank of Asia, though it was clear to many that the bank had huge financial and practical operational difficulties. But to accuse the FSC of corruption is just ridiculous.
We do need an independent investigation into why the government paid in $5M without undertaking appropriate due diligence. That needs to be done quickly and by a trusted independent investigator.
The FSC is not small, we have one of the largest regulatory bodies per capita financial services in the world. FSC granted a banking licence to a sole trader. We understand the bank was years late in audited accounts yet no enforcement action, suspension or penalties. The relationship between a Minister, Bank Manager and Lendee is incestous. Court cases from 2019 to date were heard at BVI Court yet last year $5mil tax payer money invested. If not corruption extreme favourism or negligence
Nonsense
Who was the bank manager???? Who??? Check outside of GBM Who??? Nonesense
.. libel
You should read more carefully. I didn’t say that the FSC was small. I stated that the BVI as an International Finance Center is small. As such we need a strong FSC to ensure that – more than some bigger places – we follow the rules, to avoid being sidelined from the business.
Yes, Bank of Asia was late in submitting its audited accounts, and those previously published showed that it was losing a lot of money. So anyone who placed money with them either did so because the deposit was suspect, or they ignored basic due diligence checks before doing so. Someone in government has a lot to answer for and so an independent inquiry is needed quickly.
They are all members of the same tribe. They all in the corner, so don’t expect anything different.
well my humble opinion might ne premature but the “cornerstone” needs to step down and all those on that talk show who are supporters in her corner need to true to themselves by being objective to the reporting media. why do we always seem to want to “shoot or kill the messenger rather that the villains we have for politicians
It’s clear that GBM and BVINews are working together to take down the Government, particularly the Premier and Lorna Smith. Look at the comments that are let through, the likes etc. It’s too obvious but it will not work. Education, Health, Natural Resources, Communications and Works, all these Ministries have major issues and none of these Ministers are held accountable, no investigative reporting etc. Nextttttt……
Which one of the other ministries took 5 Million dollars of tax payers money to put in a bank that was going under? Tell us so we could blast them. But for now this problem spans two ministries – ministry of finance and the ministry of financial services which are under Natalio and Lorna. You seem to be more interested in protecting friends or family members than protecting the country.
That show has lost all credibility with me. If you are bringing information to the public it should be done in an unbiased way. These people are no different from Claude Cline’s show. Grange will defend anything that Lorna smith does but will criticize everybody else. Everybody just for themselves. Poor BVI.
So according to Grange we should help by trying to cover up what happened with tax payers 5Million.
Mr. Grange, 5M dollars of tax payers money was deposited into a bank where the owners filed bankruptcy and an asset freeze was placed on them. The taxpayers of this country will lose that 5M because of the careless or perhaps willful acts of the government and the people must keep quiet because of the financial services sector?
Are you crazy or did Lorna Smith give you something to eat?
The media should report on this story every week until we get a report from a thorough investigation and somebody head on a spike.
100% we need a full investigation. Unbelievable that no one has resigned
Excellent. But those media people are only concerned about local politics and not international relations, so they won’t wait for factual details that may hurt their local political positions. We are not ready for independence with unchecked tabloid media, an uneducated population, and politicians who don’t know how to avoid problems.
FULL OF VAMPIRES
Honorable Lorna Creque Smith is a time-tested stalwart in the financial services sector—deeply respected, highly intelligent, and committed to the highest standards of integrity. It is both unreasonable and unfair to suggest that she would ever involve herself or her family in any form of fraudulent activity. Such insinuations not only disregard her decades of dedicated service, but they undermine the credibility of those who make them.
We must be unwavering in our support of leaders like Lorna, who have consistently acted in the best interests of the Territory and should be the Premier. It is also important to recognize that some of the criticism may stem from personal disappointment where CRJ may have lost access to this leader, and may now be projecting hurt and frustration rooted in her own professional standing. Unfortunately, when one’s brand becomes divisive, the loss of trusted relationships is inevitable.
Now more than ever, we must choose discernment over drama and protect the reputations of those who have earned our trust through action and integrity.
What does this long post have to do with the price of cheese? We want to know what happened to our 5M. Why was it put in a bank that was going into liquidation which the former minister of financial services served on the board of as chairman and director. All that you wrote is irrelevant. Your post is attempt to skirt accountability to the people. You should have saved your time from writing that long ball of nothing.
Whatever you smoking you need to put it down. It got you talking out of your head. Lorna should be Premier of what and where? Premier dental?
Well it had to be somebody and somebody with authority too the 5 million dollars didn’t just pick up and move itself into a bankrupt non compliant bank that FSC should have already shut down long time but didn’t for some reason. She can be all the time-tested stalwart she want if it’s her responsible for this she need to be held accountable if it’s not her then whoever it is need to be held accountable. We not letting this one slide. I wish governor Jaspert was still here he would a sort them out.
Reporting a story and slander and libel are 2 different things. The articles are full of libel and it will be proven in time. Everyone should know that parties of the bank cannot report anything until the liquidation process is over. Imaging accusing salaries and loans that are not factual saying it’s “alleged and reported” Faking heart attacks… fictitious loans. Wait. Everything will be exposed. Be ready for the truth. The government will report but thw rest. Wait.
What is there to dislike. You all have your political agenda… no trouble to me. We all know there are 3 sides to story. The more people you include the more side. This one will not end the same as others. There are 10 sides to tell. Wait for the truth. After the truth.. then you will see who is being exposed as a liar and the libel. Ask the government your questions. But tell me what you doing publishing a company name like that. Who knows maybe she got AI documents why she is so confident… where it concerns the bank will be proven false. Time longer than twine… and we have patience over here.
You sound hurt. Dont be upset with GBM, be upset with the courts. Bring legal proceedings against them.
You go get them and get them interpreted by a lawyer… then laugh… you’ll see exactly who you’ll be laughing at
Who is saying that. Who is the hosts of Talking Points being given newpapers space?
We need a full investigation into how our 5 million dollars went into that bank when it was trouble. I agree that the Premier should have nothing with audit or investigation. This would not be good for transparency.
Internal audits go to the ministry that they are about and it stays there for corrective measures. If the hosts of this show do not know this then they should not be on the radio. They wiill be waiting on an internal audit report which they will never see.
I never listen to this boring a$& show and now make it worse since they are now playing political games to hide for friends. The little credibility of the show is shot. They had 10 viewers when they are on. It will go down to 2 viewers. Bias and one sided like CSC show “dishonestly speaking”
Who is going to investigate Cindy and her abuse of her …?
I am very concerned. One government case was just lost because they couldn’t prove the persons intent. We should learn from this. How do you prove a person’s intent?
Another concern I have is that government and private sector are different. Locals and foreigners are different.
How did she read the court documents and come up with a faked heart attack when the judge accepted the documents. Plus the man is old and travelled far. The case paused and then continued after a period of time which make sence for doctor clearance both his regular doctor and local ones. That make sense…thats how things work. How do you think he will respond to this later on?
Then the people say a local bank did the hotel. So how she come up with that. Something is off
I dont get how she conclude a loan for a hotel.
First a salary is 700k then 400k then maybe for 1 and then maybe for all staff. When I read it I see it plain for all staff. Senior manage, manager, loan officer, president vice president… which one is it? I dont get it. I am concerned for her.
Talking Points, Did you guys get paid to put out this CRAP. What’s hurting the bvi is Government hepocrresy and now you are joining them.Everyone has a lawful right to know what is happening in the place they reside or intens to do business.
Dion was the manager at some point if I’m correct.