BVI News

Outcome of BVI’s COI is fixed with one UK judge — Former TCI Premier

“I have absolutely no doubt that the outcome of the Commission of Inquiry in the BVI is predetermined.” — embattled former Premier Turks & Caicos Islands Premier, Michael Misick.

Former Premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI), Michael Misick has questioned whether the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (COI) in the BVI will be fair since only a single judge was appointed to investigate allegations of government corruption in the territory.

Speaking in an interview with 284 Media on Monday, Misick also raised concerns that the BVI’s Inquiry Commissioner, Sir Gary Hickinbottom, is a British national appointed by the UK.

Misick, who was at the centre of a similar inquiry in the TCI back in 2008, said this is evidence the UK has already fixed the outcome of the BVI’s COI, for the worse.

“Any inquiry that has one judge — one person — can’t be democratic, can’t be fair because you want to be able to have a descending voice,” argued Misick.

“So, as soon as you see the British government appointing a single judge — a single British person to carry out the Commission of Inquiry — in my view, they come with their instructions. They will pretend as if they are interested, they will pretend as if they’re listening. But in my view and my experience, the outcome is predetermined. And I have absolutely no doubt that the outcome of the Commission of Inquiry in the BVI is predetermined,” Misick further said.

Recalling the circumstances of the TCI’s 2008 inquiry, Misick added: “Knowing what I know now … the British government always had the agenda. Maybe we could have had our own inquiry into some of the so-called allegations that were made. Instead of having a British government appoint a Commission of Inquiry, we could have appointed a Commission of Inquiry; appointing senior judges from the region — from the Caribbean — and not one but maybe three.”

Misick embattled

Misick, in the meantime, is one of six ex-TCI ministers who was charged after the 2008 inquiry uncovered evidence of systematic corruption. This led to the UK imposing direct rule in the TCI for nearly four years thereafter.

The former Premier reportedly fled the TCI in 2009 but was arrested years later in Brazil and extradited back to his home country where he and his ex-ministers are still being tried in court. Misick, who has been labelled as the accused mastermind behind the alleged corruption, denies any wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, the Turks & Caicos Weekly News reported last month that a former government minister under Misick’s administration, Lillian Boyce, entered a plea deal in which she admitted to ‘misconduct in public office’. She reportedly agreed to a financial settlement for the other charges that had resulted from the 2008 inquiry.

For her admission, she will not serve any prison time, the TCI publication reported.

Follow BVI New’s coverage of the 2021 Commission of Inquiry on Instagram @BVINewsOnline #TrackingTransparency at www.bvinews.com.

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66 Comments

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  1. BVIslander2 says:

    Honestly, I listened to the interview and although I appreciated the effort, it is very one sided. They interviewed an accused criminal who ran for 3 years from justice and had to be returned to TCI by an Interpol warrant. Opinions should have been gotten from some from the opposing political party about their thoughts about what happened in TCI. This man’s party also sought to remove him from office due to the corruption at the time. So be careful feeding the masses nonsense. Why did they feel they should feed a one sided story to the people this is dangerous media very bias. They failed to capture the truth that many people in TCI welcomed the COI and felt that their country was sinking under the weight of corruption

    Like 138
    Dislike 5
    • @BVIslander2 says:

      Well said, that was exactly my thought. Allowing a platform for the man alleged to be behind the corruption (who then fled to Brazil and is only now facing justice thanks to an Interpol arrest warrant) was very one sided and dangerous. At the very least have the interviewer asking probing questions, at best allow one of his opposition to respond, instead he was given free reign to rant and potentially alienate us all against the COI. Poor journalism.
      His argument about a single judge was also flawed. How many times do they have to say, this isn’t a court it’s an inquiry! Court comes later if the inquiry thinks there is evidence to charge at which point it all goes through the usual channels.

      Like 87
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    • Too True says:

      Totally agree. If you have been to TCI or know anything about it you will know how corrupt Misick’s government was.

      Like 65
      Dislike 1
    • Surface says:

      Thank you…I felt the same way and I am happy someone besides myself thought it necessary to point this out. Further to this, there was no mention as to what positives may have come out of the inquiry. Besides, the current climate and culture in BVI is different to the Turks & Caicos.

      Like 37
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      • Frankly Speaking says:

        They are all liars, crooks, and thieves. Any fool watching can see they are lying and trying to cover up their wrongdoing. Wasting the public funds and filling their pockets. When a so call minister of God can lie and show absolutely no remorse for his wrongdoing – you know we are totally in hell and need to vote them out – put them in jail and throw away the key

    • Yup says:

      And once again the Belonger would rather believe in a Caribbean crook, racist and criminal than put their trust in the UK. The Belongers deserve all of the calamities, hardships, and bad that comes their racist way. The Belonger is an evil lot that needs to be removed from not just the BVI but the planet.

      Like 10
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      • Jane says:

        @Yup well don’t you make your mother proud with talk of genocide. Woops your racism is showing.

        Like 1
        Dislike 1
      • @ Yup... Suggestion says:

        To the non-belonger that wrote this… Why don’t you solve the problem for yourself and just remove yourself from the BVI… I not gonna even go so far to say remove yourself from the planet. Calamities and hardship where you from is probably why you in BVI trying to better yourself.

        Like 3
        Dislike 3
      • @He is a criminal says:

        There has to be the presumption of innocence before guilt. What you posted were allegations and you have already called him a criminal. This is precisely the problem that must avoid with any COI. The process should be fair. Its important for the UK and also so for the territory. You can now press dislike as many times as you wish but the rule of law applies to all parties.

        Like 5
        Dislike 3
    • Mandingo says:

      Well said …But we have to give the little girl who interviewed a break. She is young and very inexperienced. Hopefully she will learn from our comments to ask more deep and probing questions and still appear to be fair to the process. Questions like: If you were so innocent in the matter why did you run to hide in Brazil? 2. Did the people of TCI view you as corrupt?…at that time?

      Like 12
      Dislike 1
  2. Smh says:

    This is so misleading.

    The purpose of the commission isn’t to pass judgment, its to investigate if any wrongdoing was done. Its in the name, commission of INQUIRY.

    You dnt need more than one judge to compile evidence. And anything brought forward by the commission will have a paper trail supporting it. That way they can justify any litigation to follow.

    This just sounds like another guilty person looking solace and sympathy.

    Like 72
    Dislike 3
    • @smh says:

      It is this thinking that is a major part of our problem. We have been so trained to think the worse about each other that we cannot see when bad things are being done to us by others. Do not invite injustice into your house because it will also affect you.
      Whether politicians are guilty or not must be placed on the side for the moment. Any process dealing with people should be fair and transparent whether we think they are wrong or right. Having an unfair process jeopardizes the very transparency that you claim to be seeking.
      One judge? How was he chosen? Who is he? Why has he left the country only after being here for a week? Why couldn’t we find a Caribbean Juris as the Judge or have a panel of judges? Why was all this PR attack done on our country in the UK and it was coordinated and deliberate. These are legitimate questions that must be answered. It looks pre-determined already.
      If people did wrong why not charge them through the police? Why put the whole country in this tail spin for the sake of a few people that the justice system could have handled individually? There is a bigger plan.

      Like 12
      Dislike 42
      • @@smh says:

        1. Th Uk sending a UK judge to investigate mismanagement in a UK DEPENDANT TERRITORY is not unfair.

        2. The process is transparent, they have even agree to publicize parts of the inquiry

        3. Yes one judge. How much Judges do you need to conduct an investigation? He’s basically compiling information and gathering evidence.

        4. There are multiple local news articles describing his qualifications.

        5. We can assume the bulk of information he received came to him, from local whistleblowers. Plus ppl can report online, no need for him to sit here for long.

        6. BECAUSE WE ARE A UK TERRITORY. Funny how ‘down island’ judges seem like the better option now.

        7. THIS IS AN INVESTIGATION… There is no need for multiple judge to head that. Save this concern for when they Charge ppl.

        8. THE PREMIER CALLED THE LAST GOVERNMENT CURRUPT. Every chance he got last election… every chance he got in the house… Since his Gov got in there has been some shady dealings as well. Nobody orchestrating a PR Attack… WE FR*G OURSELVES…

        I hope this helped you. Get out of your echo chamber. Think for yourself and stop spread propaganda.

        Like 24
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      • @ SMH says:

        “wether politicians are guilty or not must be placed on the side for a moment” lol….lolololol… like somebody out there this stupid for real? Lord help us we screwed round and round in this place. nothing wrong with the fairness of the process… he got to prove it… If he successfully prove what he saying then whatever happen after that happen!

    • Sarah says:

      Totally agree with this position…and the interview was one sided…what were the positives if any that came about as a result of the COI?
      Cayman Islands also had a COI but their constitution was not suspended, what were the differences and similarities?

      Like 19
      Dislike 2
      • Cayman COI says:

        When did cayman have a COI intiated by the governor? I have googled and can find no evidence of this. Please therefore enlighten me?

  3. Haha says:

    Even the impeachment of Trump had jurors. Nazi officers had jurors. The worst criminals have jurors but one man decides whether the BVI is corrupt.

    Like 10
    Dislike 38
    • Confused says:

      I think you are confused on the difference between a trial and a COI. A COI is not a trial. It is an investigation into the allegations to see whether or not their is enough evidence to bring charges against the person or persons being investigated. It is exactly the same thing a grand jury in the US. So the persons comment is absolutely correct.

      Like 8
      Dislike 3
    • nonsense says:

      Trump was a political process. With his friends voting on the case.

      Thats what we have here in the BVI all the time friends helping friends..

      Comparing Trump to the Nazi’s is showing your lack of understanding of history by the way.

      Like 7
      Dislike 2
    • SMH says:

      Evidence decides whether BVI is currupt or not. Why people acting like this thing is up to the judge opinion… In Turks they provided actual details of actual instances of what seem to be systematic corruption. I dont think enough of the right questions were asked during this interview considering the amount of information publicly available on this.

    • Interested says:

      There was no jury in the Nazi trials:

  4. Pandora's Box says:

    There’s a picture of honesty for you!! Seriously BVINews … this is the guy to tell us it’s premeditated? Unbelievable!! What he did to the people of TCI was a disgrace, a gross breach of trust, and outright theft from the public purse!!!

    Like 42
    Dislike 3
  5. Blog UK says:

    UK bloggers out in full force. BVI people wake the hell up. Serious mind games are being played on you.

    Like 10
    Dislike 46
    • Seriously? says:

      One judge isn’t deciding anything. We are the ones that are deciding – this is an inquiry for us. Why is everyone so against unearthing the corruption that is affecting us everyday?

      Like 12
      Dislike 2
  6. Laura says:

    And this is exactly why the COI is needed.

    When a political criminal can defend his actions by casting blame elsewhere it is never justice. It is relevant fact that you do not require more than one judge to administer a decision as relevant evidence will be duly documented, this is all just a ploy by runaway Miscik to put his name back in the media as a scapegoat by the UK. It is rather puzzling why he was even considered to be interviewed given his rather reckless history of lavishness, and bias nature toward the crown.

    Let the investigation run its course.

    Like 34
    Dislike 3
  7. Okay Then says:

    Mind you, the airing of that inteview may do us more harm than what good.

    Be careful big eyes what you see and big ears what you hear, for it may be damaging to our Territory and its people.

    Like 9
    Dislike 3
  8. Horse Trotting says:

    The people of the BVI are not one to sit down and be served any junk….we are a resilient, strong, powerful and prayerful people who will fight the UK, okay? It ain’t no white man coming in the BVI to tell black people what to do, those days are DONE.

    Like 6
    Dislike 36
    • Rubber Duck says:

      South Americans telling us what to do at the moment.

      Like 10
    • Sponge Bob says:

      Let’s see you stop it from happening.

      Although the BVI is no where close to what had occurred in TCI the COI was called for a reason.

      Many especially from the opposition don’t like the current Primier and they are hoping that his government fall. I don’t think that will happen but I do think that the UK will take some crack down on past and present politicians who committed crimes of the sort by blocking them from taking seat again.

      This is a battle of evil people who is pushing an agenda against Fahie and his government. I don’t blame the UK one bit because the islands belongs to them. They want the head of the pack gone.

      Like 2
      Dislike 6
    • Which? says:

      You rather a crooked black man steal from you than a white man come and tell you who’s the thief?
      Wha?!
      Some of ayo looking at the wrong end of the donkey, mison.

      Like 9
      Dislike 3
  9. Teacher says:

    It’s really sad to see how only a small handfull/percentage of you come onto the blogs and try your best to cast judgement on your follow country man accusing them of being guilty of everything under the sun.
    MY take from the interveiw is he share his experence with the UK Gov’t and what he is still dealing with after 11 years. Costing the people of his country over 10 millions dollars a year for for foreign lawyer to prosecute he and his fellow country men. Again thats his experence, its up to the courts in his country to find him guilty, not the bloggers in the Virgin Islands.
    Matthew 7 :: NIV. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

    Like 8
    Dislike 18
    • Reply says:

      Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you
      ————————————————-
      I want to respond to the last portion of your post not the first.

      It seems like since the beginning of my time blogging on here, which can be now counted in donkey years, I have seen post similar to yours stating that people should not judge each other.

      Let me say to you my fellow blogger:

      1. Not everyone in this world subscribe to a chritian/biblical view point, and

      2. Judgment is a fact of life. If a woman walks out of a house, and her wig is not not right, she is judged. If she sleeps with a married man, she is judged. If she has multiple kids with multiple fathers, she is judge.

      Men are equally judged. Finally, if you or I commit a crime, we are also judged either by a jury of our peers or by a singular magistrate. I we killed someone, we will also be judged. The list of judgement we face is endless.

      My point is like it or now, judgment is part of life. Quoting the bible on judgment is of no consequence. Even Christians judge others every day.

      Every man/woman faces judgment, and that judgment carries thru after death in you are a Christian. It is what it is.

      Like 4
      Dislike 2
  10. Mr.Gage says:

    Bravo, let’s hear it from the criminal’s point of view SMMH

    Like 6
    Dislike 2
    • Hush says:

      Has he been convicted of anything after 11 years? So why label him a criminal.? He has not been convicted of anything but the poor TCI tax payers paying just about $10 million a year for the cases. Any of that $10 million staying in the country?

      Keep the bias blogging to yourself – we can do our own research.

      Like 4
      Dislike 4
      • Mr.Gage says:

        Help me out here if I’m not guilty then why would I flee to another country and had to be extradited back to face the music not to mention one of his colleague already took a plea to escape a custodial sentence

        Like 1
        Dislike 1
      • Lol says:

        They didnt have to find him first after he fled the country? lol

  11. Bob says:

    We are going to listen to a corrupt government official that fled his country with his ill-gotten money to live in lavish exile in Brazil?
    The Nazi government did this at the end of world war II. Obviously it is up to COI to prove any wrong doings and everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty, and there must be proof. I will wait to hear the outcome of this inquiry before I will voice opinions.

    Like 8
    Dislike 1
  12. Truth must be told twice and more says:

    “”It is this thinking that is a major part of our problem. We have been so trained to think the worse about each other that we cannot see when bad things are being done to us by others. Do not invite injustice into your house because it will also affect you.””

    Like 4
    Dislike 3
  13. Sickening to the stomach. says:

    This whole COI investgation is a farce, and it its motivation stems from envy due race and money, and its intent is to destroy, take over and reclaim.

    How ironic that a corrupt nation can challenge the integrity of another nation, and by undemocratic means.

    Like 6
    Dislike 15
  14. hahahaha says:

    and in other news

  15. Anonymous says:

    Boss, you can’t talk. When in a glass house don’t throw stones. you the last person anyone would listen to when you wrote a letter as a private citizen to yourself the then Premier giving permission to buy land. Shameful

    Like 8
    Dislike 1
  16. The Truth says:

    While I agree we will not lie down and take bullying from the UK, Missick is not the one to talk as, if I remember correctly, he was running around spending the country’s money on Lisa Raye of all people.

    Like 8
    Dislike 1
  17. awa says:

    The bottom line here is government corruption in the territory has been going on for too long someone has to put a stop to it and the best way to do that is for the UK to take us over at least until the next election because our Premier is way out of control. Mr.Former Premier of Turks & Caicos Islands why didn’t you tell us how much better Turks & Caicos Islands was after that. If the UK took us over for a while I think it will be for the better it can’t be worse than it is now,

    Like 9
    Dislike 3
  18. Guest says:

    Yeah we will take the word of even a person whose own party wanted them removed because of certain things….?????????????????????????

  19. Reply says:

    While there is an argument that can be made that a singular judge conducting a COI is undemocratic and perhaps an unfair process from that standpoint, it’s hard for me to take the former Premier Michael Misick serious.

    Why? This is a man who apparently enriched himself while serving in his public capacity, and lived lavishly on questionable gains. I have no ears for such persons.

    In my view, when you serve the public you should do so honorably. The publics money is not your personal piggy bank. Dip your hands in it, you live with the consequence be it being investigated by a singular judge. So I do not see Mr. Misick as a sympathetic figure here or someone to offer the BVI a cautionary tale.

    If the COI in the BVI finds that there are corrupt people in government starting from the head right down to the tail, in my view, a cell in Balsum Ghut should await them.

    If a common thief can end up in Balsum Ghut, so can corrupt government officials and their cronies.

    Im surprised Mr. Misick was asked for his opinion on the COI in the BVI. Wrong messenger with an expected response.

    The yellow light for the BVI was flashing from the time those protocols for financial management were put in place. The fact that the BVI has arrived at this place should not be a surprise.

    If those being investigated hands are clean, then they have nothing to worry about. If they are not quite sure, they bets start trying to find those receipts because they are going to need those to show the judge.

    Like 7
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  20. Only Jah Know says:

    This is just a trick to force the UK not to suspend the constitution. Listen people, truth will prevail. If the corruption don’t stop , the next generation won’t have anything besides hardship. What are we loyal to, the truth or political corruption?

    It’s good to call God name, but not all who call his name will enter into the kingdom for it is a kingdom of truth. What are we the people of the country defending? UK can only move off key, if we allow them to. The problem that we are currently in is what our political leaders but us in, point blank.

    Time for us move the country forward with good governance.

    Like 10
    Dislike 2
  21. Saddened says:

    “for the UK to take us over”

    Any Black person living in BVI who thinks and writes like this is a person of low self, personal, racial, ideological and ancestral esteem. This is what the mentality of the slave looks like in words.

    Like 2
    Dislike 4
  22. On looker says:

    T&C reality dawns $75000000 for the trial so far , judge dies main prosecutor retires no convictions other than those who did deals they now regret , looking like the rest will walk!. What a farce.

  23. hmm says:

    I bet you nobody here commenting actually read the report produced by the COI done in Turks… Listening to this guy talk as if he did nothing wrong and the charges are unwarranted makes me sick.

    Like 8
    Dislike 1
  24. Angel says:

    This the same man who allegedly stole the people’s money, abused his wives, and wh**e around, coming now trying to tell our local Satan what to do? Boy go nyam $hit ah Bush.
    You’re a convict, way to try and be relevant.

    Like 2
    Dislike 1
  25. MK says:

    @Horse Trotting You sound like an ASS,

  26. My opinion says:

    In my opinion, the news source lacks a lot in journalism. The entire report was out of order.
    So you say the interviewer is young and inexperienced………do does that mean anybody young and inexperienced can do what they like with no responsibility for such? NO

    Like 2
    Dislike 1
  27. SMI says:

    @Saddened, I think that you have a very low esteem
    you prefer to see the political corruption go on.

    This is not about black and white or slaves this is about right and wrong. If you think all of this is wrong then you have no morals. We can’t go on like this and whoever thinks different needs their head examined.

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
    • @SMI says:

      Go clean your owh house first. We can clean our own, and we don’t want the creators of corruption come preaching tous. when they are quadrillian times more corrupt.

  28. Slim says:

    Michael Misick looks like a slimmer version of Andrew Fahie. Are they related?

    Like 2
    Dislike 1
  29. From T&C CofI says:

    Ring any bells?
    “
Among 
the 
contributors
 to 
this
 moral, 
governmental
 and
 financial
decline
 have
 been:

    1)
 the
 potential
 and
 encouragement
 in
 the
 system
 of
 governance
 for
 abuse
 of
 public
 office,
 concealment
 of
 conflicts
 of
 interest
 at
 all
 levels
 of
 public
 life,
 and
 consequent
 venality;

    2)
 the
 power
 of
 politics
 in
 the
 mix
 of
 public
 decision‐making
 and
 commercial
 activity,
 and
 willingness 
of 
overseas
 developers 
and
 other
investors 
to 
exploit 
that 
power
 for
 their
 own
 purposes;

    3)
 vulnerability
 of
 the
 majority
 of
 the
 Territory’s
 long‐term

    residents,
owing
to
the
precariousness
of
their
permission
to
live
and
work
here,
and 
to
 whom
 Belongership
 and,
 with
 it,
 the
 right
 to
 vote
 are
 denied;

    4)
 lack
 of
 effective
 constitutional
 checks
 and
 balances
 in
 the
 system
 of
 governance
 to
 protect
 the
 public
 purse,
the 
inefficient
 from
scrutiny,
the 
dishonest
 from
 discovery 
and 
the
 vulnerable 
from
 abuse.

  30. Kiwi says:

    The BVI’s should launch their own Commission of Inquiry into the corruption of The City of London. Here is a really good documentary on the topic. Talk about Colonial hypocrisy https://youtu.be/-zT9pa5AOuE

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