Redaction requests force delay in COI governance hearing
A request to have redactions added to documents previously submitted to the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (COI) has contributed to the delay of a planned hearing on issues of governance, Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom said.
Members of the House of Assembly (HOA) were previously asked to submit position papers on governance to the COI, outlining where they stand on the issue.
However, according to a statement delivered by the Commissioner last Friday morning, a number of HOA members who have lodged position statements have since returned with requests to redact passages from those documents.
Sir Gary said: “In the case of the elected ministers’ position statement and its appendices, they clearly contain personal data, and the Attorney General considers, possibly, contain documents over which others may have rights of confidentiality.”
The Commissioner related that while ministers have not identified the passages that are or may be confidential, the COI team is having to make appropriate inquiries of their own to determine these.
He expressed hope that the redaction issues could be dealt with within a day and reminded that he intended to publish all of the position statements as soon as those issues have been dealt with.
“That delay inevitably means that I have had to review how and when the investigation into governance will be conducted,” Sir Gary said.
Serious allegations
According to he Commissioner, the second main issue that forced the delay was that the allegations previously made by the ministers were given without any supporting evidence and also without giving disclosing documents relevant to the issues they have raised.
Sir Gary said the ministers’ position statement makes serious allegations that the Governor and the UK Government have acted unconstitutionally, in breach of international law; and at least in the case of the latter, contrary to its own policies.
Governor and Premier stood down from appearances
Sir Gary proposed to direct that the participants — and any others against whom criticisms are made in the position statements — have an opportunity to respond to the position statements of others, and, any oral evidence heard this week.
He further stated that most of the witnesses due to be called this week can go ahead.
“But in the absence of the disclosure and clarification, to which I have referred, it would be premature, in my view, to hear from the Premier or from the Governor who may wish to respond to the ministers’ position statement once the disclosure and clarification are given,” Sir Gary stated.
He then proposed to stand down both the Premier and the Governor from appearing this week and said they will be rescheduled to future hearings when the issues of governance are concluded.
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…but were very tardy declaring their interest to the Registrar.
Now they see which way the wind is blowing and the way the COI is herding them like sheep into a pen for the slaughter , they are beginning to regret what they wrote.
no written contracts, no clue abou DBA v company, everybody “dont recall”, but suddenly now they can come up with evidence to support allegations! Cant make this sh*t up.
ROTFLMAO.
at the end of the hearings. I’ve had to file financial disclosure reports previously with my employers. So my BVI brothers and sisters don’t set yourself up for disappointment by expecting a heavy handed mind blowing change. This is not like back in day when the UK could give commands and everyone had to jump, plus everything now goes viral quickly. I assume these gentlmen from the UK don’t want the bad press that could result from an appearnce of overreaching inspite of your derelict officials and the jerk.
I watched several of the hearings from abroad over the weekend. Yes, you have a large number of political officials that disrespectful of the citizens who place them in office, but at the end of the day based on the way the hearings are going, I suspect the most you will get is a corrective action plan with recommendations.
They will look something like:
1. Redrafting of the rules and the form(s).
2. Clearer defination of who is considered immediate family members and who should be covered in preparing the report (children, spouse, stephchildren, mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, other members of immediate household, brother, sister)
3. Level of Penalties for non-compliance (suspension or monetary)
4. Recommendation for more open source contracting..i.e procuring services from other caribbean countries’ contractors to avoid conflicts of interest; too many related parties in BVI.
5. Training during orientation.
6. Financial counseling and attorney on staff o help with completing the report.
7. No exemption for statutory bodies, that a mind game,they are still part of the government.
8. Installation of an independent body to review and approve waiver requests, etc.
You all get the point, right? Unfortunately there will be no consequences for past delinquencies and sins as most are hoping for, so taper your expectation for the reality. Does this make it more difficult for the average business person in the BVI? Sure its does, but your elected officials make the rules, broke the rules, and called in the calvry. Will this lead to an overhaul in other parts of the government? Sure it will! I love my people in the BVI, but maaan we can get in our own way sometimes.
I was thinking about the likely outcome of this COI also having listen to much of the testimony and came to the same conclusion.
I dont see anyone going to jail here unless some major financial impropriety is discovered as the COI moves forward. I also have not heard anything that leads me to conclude a suspension of the constitution will occur. That will disappoint some Im sure.
What’s a more likely outcome short of some significant development is more likely what you are predicting. This situation is not like the Turks and Cayman.
Going forward the rules will definitely be quite different.
You are correct it will be the usual storm in a tea cup. Going forward the rules will be different but still ignored and the end result will be a “License to steal”