Residents say governor’s statement on corruption hypocritical
Members of the Virgin Islands community have accused Governor John Rankin of hypocrisy regarding his statement on corruption in the territory.
They’ve argued that he focused heavily on corruption in areas controlled by local elected government officials but glossed over the highlighted corruption in areas handled by his office.
Speaking at a community meeting at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School yesterday, local activist Amberly Crabbe said the Governor has done everything to skirt around the issue of corruption in the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force.
“On Friday, a question was posed by the media asking a question about the corruption in the police force and he eloquently explained that he is handling that, and they are cleaning up in the police force. We did not hear him say anything that he was going to get rid of the Commissioner of Police and dismantle the police. So, why are you dismantling the whole country without any just cause,” Crabbe said while receiving resounding support from residents in attendance.
Governor insulting people’s intelligence
The local activist took another jab at the governor claiming he was insulting her intelligence of her and the people of the Virgin Islands.
“I watch the governor sit on Friday that no decision has been made based on the recommendations that were presented. I need you to understand that our members of government who were hand-selected to meet with the governor and Miss [Amanda] Milling got access to this document a little over 48 hours ago and they are to decide our future in a few hours based on what was in this document,” she said.
“They have their decision made already. The decision has been made. This gathering is for us to unify and hit the streets and let them know it is not going down how they think it going,” she added to a riled-up crowd.
Elected officials have mostly been doing well
Meanwhile, one resident — speaking to an audience filled with attendees such as elected officials Shereen Flax-Charles, Alvera Maduro-Caines and Kye Rymer — said the things that the BVI elected officials have under their control have been served well for the most part.
“We are not perfect. I don’t want to say we are, but I am saying, if you ask us how we are able to manage our finances or the area that are delegated to us, they are doing a lot better than areas that have been delegated to the Governor and the Chief of Police,” he said.
“We have been asking for investigations and changes in our police system for more than 25 years. We try to ask high; we try to ask low. We say maybe you should try for a local police chief, but they said no. The system remains the same. The governor just sits there,” the resident added.
He then used a reference of a physician to highlight what he described as hypocrisy from the UK representatives in chastising the operation of the Virgin Islands.
“Can you imagine you go to a doctor and say you have something that is hurting and they sit down and they look at you and see that you have cancer, and they tell you nothing and they want you to remain like that until you reach a state where they expose you to the world that this person has stage four cancer. In what area? In the area that they are responsible for,” he said.
A female resident also highlighted how the governor’s statement regarding the police force differs from other public bodies.
She said: “When the governor was reading the COI report, he said he was willing to collaborate and work with the Chief of Police but everybody and everything else is a direct rule or he is doing a great job,” the resident said with the audience cheering in agreement.
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Get you headline straight
A Small fraction of residents related and tied to the clines met
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/18/bvi-premier-denies-islands-are-corrupt-and-praises-geoffrey-cox
There position isn’t a true representation of the majority.
That so-called psychologist need to go sit down.
These people are a set of wolves in sheep clothing.
What’s in the dark always come to light.
Why do we have to attack each other, the So Called Psychologist, ain’t currupt, if you listen clearly he said “the Uk should have an audience with the people with regards to what’s happening. He does not believe or support any corruption, from family or friend.
Some been saying the same about Fahie too.
Your experience isn’t another’s so go have a seat.
There is a 30 year history of criminal activities and narcotics trafficking supporting through all layers of BVI government including customs, police and immigration. To resolve this someone from the outside needs to clean this up thank you very much. Stop making it into a colonial issue or black and white issue, thank you & please
I got more ppl to my daughter’s birthday
party and I didn’t even offer cake.
No free food!
Is that the massive crowd?? Loooolll
The next time this group will be together in the same area but a different building, Magistrate’s Court, will be soon.
Some of us have been so devastated by the Government’s actions when it comes to abuse of authority.
For instance, none of the officials within the government body did nothing to address the gun threats issues within the Post Office Department for many years.
Can any say they have not been aware of this ongoing issue?
Instead, Andrew Fahie refuse to take even a phone call to rectify this claim.
I do not want to hear some of you because I am not the only one who made such complaints to Mrs. D at HRDepartment, and Yes we know they are all affiliated with Fahie.
His Excellency knows what he is saying when it comes to corruption throughout the BVI government, and we all have turned a blind eye, especially when our family and friends are involved.
SO I SAY COME WHAT MAY.
some of you need to shut up because when the same PS was circulating Video of my personal life, you were all a part of that circulation crew.
the guilty assemble. Cr**ks all
Served well? The schools, the roads, the sewage, the accounts, security, register of interests, disappearing money with nothing to show – go sit down
But have we not seen recently that police being investigated and arrested? They have been working on it and trying to improve it.
How come no statement on them green cloth
The five stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Let’s skip the denial stage and move towards acceptance. We will never move forward if we don’t accept what has happened. Fahie and other’s have set us back a generation or two. Let us calmly understand what has happened and agree to never let it happen again. God has given us this opportunity to focus on building a more sustainable tomorrow – one where our children’s education comes first; one where our infrastructure is improved, one where everyone regardless of the color of their skin is united in pursuing the common goal of excellence. We can do better. We must do better. We will do better.
Come on Quince put the pitchfork down no wonder I can’t get a drink round here.???
Flax woman is as bad, she either co**upt or turned a blind eye. Thes people want co**upt ministers to correct mistakes and policy. You all mad, jus crazy.
Mr Govenor we hard workin people with you all the way!!
I just want to voice my appreciation of this site for presenting images of the actual meeting. Other reporting lead me to believe this venue was tightly packed, when it appears the event was quite spacious.
Quite the crowd of riled up bandits.
Read a bit farther that the 60 mile BVI please. Your insight into world events including BVI is minuscule. No clue about the earth runnings now.
I believe that we are being misdirected by people who have a self interest. The issue is about corruption and the drug trade and the position that the Premier has put us in. To make the argument about race, colonialism is directing our focus away from the real issue. The UK in my opinion does not want to take over, they do not want our fishing waters! The UK is not perfect this is true, but it is not about the UK it is about the BVI. We need good governance, we need prosperity for all BVI people. The COI has shown that we have have weakness in our systems that allows for persons in power to manipulate and abuse that power. The BVI needs help to establish systems to make our leaders more accountable. I believe the majority of BVI people want this and I also believe that at this point in time we cannot make these changes without outside assistance. I look forward to the BVI as a proud strong state with sound leadership, excellent education systems, superb health care, and happy independent and prosperous people!
Right, because having a “local police chief” would have solved everything.
These people are not only corrupt but utterly clueless. It’s embarrassing.
I am sure there are corrupt police officers but the police force is the only public body I see doing anything about corruption. The Governor is right that other parts of the government should follow their lead and take action. Ms. Crabby Patties should psychoanalyse that.
“glossed over” -> it’s actually called White Washing
As someone who has lived in the BVI for 15+ years (because I love the BVI) I do not feel I can comment on this…which is a giant problem. Because we are 2/3 of the population.
We have a big problem here. It is not going to go away if we sweep it under the carpet again.
Let’s get on with this and fix this problem. We will be a better country after this pain.
now you all want to blame the governor on your head of the ialand action get the fact straight tortola is corrupt at this present moment you people cannot run your own island and it is proven by andrew fahie