BVI News

Over $8M spent on govt’s COI defence

The toll on taxpayers for the Commission of Inquiry (COI) has been assessed to be more than eight million dollars so far.

This is inclusive of public relations, security and legal defence costs to the government.

The COI which started in January 2021 was initially mandated for six months, but was given two further extensions before hearings finally came to an end in November last year.

A report from the COI was submitted to the governor and released to the public at the end of April this year.

Legislators were told in the House of Assembly (HOA) yesterday that the great majority of that sum expended by taxpayers covered legal expenses provided by the Withers LLP law firm.

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, who said the cost to taxpayers has not yet been fully assessed, noted that initial costs for the first six months to taxpayers was approximately $2,689,742.82.

He said legal fees to the Withers law firm were initially pegged at $2,437,751.50 but the firm was later paid a further sum of $4,689,531.52 in legal fees for the latter three-month extended period of the COI.

There was also a payment of $251,991.25 made to cover COI costs during the first six months, the Premier said.

Premier Wheatley said costs for the last three-month period amounted to $5,367,740.98. Of that amount, security costs were reportedly $2,128.92 while public relations costs were $676,080.54.

However, none of that amount took into consideration legal defense funds for HOA members which was provided by Silk Legal, a locally-based law firm that has reportedly not been paid as yet.

The Premier said more bills arising from the COI are expected and stated that he would be in a better position to give an update at a later sitting of the HOA.

Former Premier Andrew Fahie had initially stated that legal fees would be capped at $5 million but a post-Cabinet briefing released earlier this year noted that government injected a further $1.2 million into its legal defence.

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27 Comments

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  1. Blimey says:

    They may not of yet spent quite enough on public relations.

  2. wow says:

    and we still lost the case

    • Rubber Duck says:

      It wasn’t a “ case “ , it was an enquiry. There was absolutely no need to have that bunch of bozos sitting there contributing nothing. Embarrassing themselves when they did speak. And the pompous oaf from the UK achieved absolutely nothing.

      But the governments doesnt care because it’s only the taxpayers money.

      Like 15
  3. god bless fraser says:

    If it wasn’t for him we would’ve never known

    Like 4
    Dislike 10
    • @god bless fraser says:

      No. if it wasn’t for the UK breathing down their necks to reform we would never have known.

      Like 20
      Dislike 2
  4. Withers says:

    Thank you BVI taxpayers. We remain at your service and please call us again anytime your colonial government needs representation in any adversarial conflict either foreign or domestic.

    Like 17
    Dislike 1
  5. BVI lawyer says:

    What is particularly upsetting is that if you read the COI report, the Commissioner criticises the government’s lawyers as basically working to protect the individual ministers rather than acting for the government more widely.

    So the BVI taxpayer has to pay a small fortune so that ministers could try (and fail) to avoid behind held accountable for years and years of misdeeds.

    Like 49
  6. Anonymous says:

    Why does that one word ‘security’ keep coming up, over and over again through teh last few years? Now needed at the dump to stop those pesky fire starting thieves, security for the the COI, the Premier, just about everywhere these security contracts seem to pop up. To who’s benefit? 😉

    That aside – why is there no transparency shown as to his list of costs? Show us where our $8 mil went. Why the secrets? Surely you want us all to know, that’s why you are talking, right?

    Like 17
  7. Comeuppance says:

    Time longer than twine: the culprit who never had any respect for taxpayers was judged by a higher power and now languishes in a Miami Jail – natural justice

    Like 14
    Dislike 1
  8. Taxpayer says:

    I as citizen and taxpayer never agreed to spending money on lawyers. They have an Accountant General and Government employed lawyers, use them.

    Like 26
  9. Lilly says:

    If they had cooperated with the COI, the process would have been shorter thus cheaper.

    Like 22
  10. Mad Max says:

    So – Tax payers are screwed twice;

    1. By the government giving tax dollars to their cronies and via corrupt means.

    2. By the government hiring lawyers to try to hide their nasty little secrets away.

    Get rid of all associated with this and past Governments and start again.

    Like 37
  11. @ MAD MAX says:

    YOU SAID IT RIGHT BRO (1 & 2 ) WE SHOULD NEVER THROW DIAMONDS TO PIGS , WHEN POWER GOES TO THE HEAD THEY BECOMES DICTATORS , ANDY HAD THE PLEASURE OF TAKING THIS COUNTRY TO A HIGHER LEVEL BUT HE DIDN’T RESPECT THE ? (COUNTRY OR HIS
    PEOPLE

  12. Silent majority says:

    Governor this is too much. We cant wait much longer. Save us Dont listen to the nonsence.

    Like 8
    Dislike 1
    • @ silent majority says:

      Never will i be satisfied or happy with being degraded to a third or fourth class non human. Never!!!!

      Warning to all colonialist and oppressive minded people: No one that seeks to take away what i now have will be safe.

    • Unconscionable!!! says:

      The governor added his own bill to the taxpayers’ burden. That I strongly disagree with. He represents the UK so the UK should have covered his bill. As a matter fact, why did he even need a lawyer? Taxpayers have been screwed from all directions. SMH!!!

  13. 1st district original says:

    We need to get the finances on dem 7 bank books back in the government treasury

  14. UK says:

    But why spend all these monies on defense, this was not a trial, this was just an enquiry, why the defense in the first place? dont you think hat 8 million could go to something much worthy?.

  15. rastarite says:

    Thank God for all the International Business Corporations that deal with tax avoidance and money laundering. Without their annual fees going to government the BVI would sink.

  16. Unity Government says:

    You sat there agreeing to this madness Premier Wheatley and then turned around begging for money to build the school?

  17. Leaches says:

    Only the GUILTY and or EVIL need(s) a LAWYER (LIAR)

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