New Integrity Commission takes shape in BVI
The Virgin Islands has officially launched its Integrity Commission, an independent body set up to promote ethical conduct and prevent corruption in public life.
Members of the Commission received their orientation on March 27 during a session attended by Governor Daniel Pruce and Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley. The Commission was formed under the Integrity in Public Life Act, 2021 which aims to strengthen good governance across the territory.
The Act provides a framework to ensure that individuals in public life adhere to high ethical standards. It includes a code of conduct, requirements for declaring income, assets, liabilities, gifts, and private interests, and penalties for misconduct and neglect of duty.
The newly appointed members of the Commission are Dancia Penn OBE, KC, who will serve as Chairperson; Reynell Frazer, Gene Creque, Rev Sandra Walters Malone, and Dr Robert Mactavious. Members of the Commission are appointed by the Governor in agreement with the Premier.
“The Integrity Commission is an independent body established under the Integrity in Public Life Act, 2021, in the Virgin Islands. Its primary role is to promote and enhance ethical conduct among individuals in public life, thereby strengthening good governance and preventing corruption within the public sector,” a government statement said.
The formation of the Integrity Commission comes after several years of discussion about the need to address public concerns over accountability. In 2022, then-Premier Andrew Fahie announced that steps were being taken to operationalise the Commission, noting its importance in supporting transparency and ethical behaviour in government.
In 2023, the Governor’s Office confirmed that it continued to receive reports of political victimisation, further highlighting the need for oversight bodies such as the Integrity Commission to receive and address complaints of wrongdoing.
As the Commission begins its work, it is expected to investigate complaints, conduct inquiries into misconduct, and support public officials in complying with ethical standards. The Commission’s presence is also intended to increase public confidence in the government’s ability to manage public affairs fairly and transparently.
The launch of the Integrity Commission marks a key milestone in the Virgin Islands’ efforts to build a culture of integrity in public service.
Copyright 2025 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Goodmorning, Mr. Premier said he will announce on the minimum wage before end of month. Did I miss it? I will be looking forward to it today.
Not sure about you but to best of my knowledge 8AM is considered the beginning of the day not the end. So Iam not sure why it is an issue unless it is not announced by EOD.
Good afternoon, it is 4:15 pm. I know its not End of Day yet but will Mr. Premier be working overtime tonight announcing?
The financial services commission not even enforcing fines and allowing these trust companies to offer them stuff in exchange for receiving a warning letter instead of fines I wonder what this commission going do!
I thought April Fool’s Day was tomorrow….
Putting a lawyer in charge means that nothing will happen very slowly.
First thing they should look into is the Labor Tribunal and the awards that the late Chairman Jamaal Smith made . Also how you have a supposed unbiased Tribunal where you have to choose your Arbitrator and then negotiate a fee with them so they will represent you. I think the Arbitrators should be paid by the Tribunal and be completely independent of the participants in the cases .
Also speed of decisions is a joke and can take a year or more from when a case is heard to getting a decision.
The whole Tribunal should be sent back to the drawing board and a fairer more equitable process, where maybe the labor dispute staff are told to do there jobs . At present the reputation of the Tribunal is that it is like buying a lottery ticket or as in one of my cases the previous Chairman told the claimant that he was making her a life changing award .
The BVI legal system seems to be set up to rob the poor and those unable to get legal representation . They will rob/steal what is legally yours without the mask and gun but instead thought the legal process.
We would think one with Integrity would have been the head?
The labour dispute team and commissioner leaking people business to the people who you complain on! I have cold hard evidence on this if a lawyer wants to go after them leave your email!
Is this tantamount to the mouse gaurding the cheese?
It is like that and worst every where. The moralist developed countries of the world never see their short comings.