BVI News

We’re compliant! Gov’t submits nearly 4K documents to COI already

Premier Andrew Fahie

In an effort to fully comply with the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (COI), Premier Andrew Fahie said his government has already disclosed nearly 4,000 official documents to the investigating team led by UK judge, Sir Gary Hickinbottom.

The documents were disclosed through the Inquiry Response Unit (IRU) that the government set up to facilitate the flow of information to the COI.

Premier Fahie said the government could have held back some documents because of possible issues of confidentiality, legal professional privilege or public interest immunity.

But the Premier said his administration did not hold these documents from the COI. Instead, he said his government asked the COI to ensure that these documents were treated with much confidentiality.

Although the government has complied with nearly everything, Fahie revealed that the IRU refused to give the COI sensitive information relating to personal hardships faced by some people after the 2017 hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic.

This refusal was made after the COI requested personal details of persons who had received a grant from the government during the times of these disasters.

“The IRU, therefore, informed the Commissioner’s team that it would only provide the sensitive information of individuals if a legal justification were given. At that point, I’m glad to say the Commissioner’s team agreed — for now — to accept the IRU’s proposal and withdraw its request for the indiscriminate disclosure of the hundreds of personal and human tragedies that we know Irma and coronavirus have caused the people of the Virgin Islands,” Premier Fahie explained.

He added: “That was the first and only time when the IRU had said it would not divulge official information and only then because it so intimately affects the lives of Virgin Islanders and no adequate basis has so far been given [on why the COI believes it should get this information].”

The Premier said much work goes into satisfying the requests made by the COI. But he said this work is being managed effectively by the IRU which falls under the Office of the Attorney General.

“Indeed none of these systematic and organised efforts to which I have referred could have taken place within these very short time scales unless the government had made the commitments it had to the COI and then implemented them through the IRU,” Premier Fahie indicated.

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

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28 Comments

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  1. 4000 pages says:

    4k pages – what on earth could they contain? From your governing performance maybe just 4000 pages, with one line “help! We don’t know what we are doing” printed 1000000 times over and over.

    Time to go big boy.

    Like 20
    Dislike 5
    • Iffy Lawyer says:

      A well known technique is to flood your opponent with masses of paper so that it is difficult for him to find anything. If he complains , send him more.

      Like 6
      Dislike 1
    • Big Boy says:

      – Allegedly – took $40M of Covid funds and to gave to family and friends. Charges are apparently being prepared..

    • PUBLIC says:

      WE NEED TO SEE EVERY LAST DOCUMENT YOU SEND THEM. THE PUBLIC, WE TGE PEOPLE NEED TO SEE THESE DOCUMENTSSSSSSSSSSSS NOWWWWWWWWWWWWW

  2. Confirmation says:

    I’ll accept the content of this article upon confirmation from the COI. Thank you.

    Like 20
  3. Stimulus says:

    We want a full disclosure of how the stimulus monies was distributed. This is all we want to know

    Like 27
    Dislike 2
    • 007 says:

      Which is the very thing they don’t want to tell you.

      • Deh Watcha says:

        And he knows fully well why he does not want to tell you.

        ‘Confidentiality’ – BVI Government way of saying we will spend what we want, when we want, how we want and not have to disclose anything.

    • Opposition says:

      that is why you have the Opposition to ask questions in the question and answer session of the HOA

      • Yep says:

        Unfortunately they don’t always get the answers to the questions they ask which the public wants to also know. You are a detractor please give up the documents.

  4. Joshua says:

    Mr Premier it is about accountability. If you gave Jack rabbit 100 dollars what is wrong with saying or revealing such. Just in case it needs to be verified. Others in the ministry knows why hide it from the coi. It is because of a cry of cronyism why the former Governor called for this type of disclosure. I can say I gave hack rabbit. There might not be a Jack rabbit or Jack rabbit did not receive squat. We will be coming back for that information if it can not be verified elsewhere. No tricks sir. We already know most financial disclosed docs has been doctored. Guess what if everything don’t add up you are gone.

    Like 15
    Dislike 3
    • Really says:

      And we need to know what made Jack Rabbit deserving of help. did he own properties and investments he could have used, so was he really desperate and needy? Otherwise why would the information be privileged?

  5. Mr. Premier says:

    Today of all days, I really don’t want to hear the nonsense. What you need to do is speak on the COLD BLOODED MURDER OF THE INNOCENT LADY THAT WAS GUNNED DOWN IN HER HOME FOR NO REASON. Apply some pressure on the shooter to turn himself in.

    Like 19
  6. Resident says:

    The CoI needs these identities to make sure the people exist.

    Like 11
    Dislike 1
  7. Tell them says:

    Yes tell them how who and why ppl got money and all those who needed still need and didn’t haven’t! Can’t hide for much longer set of c***ks!

    Today is not the day Fahie, ppl are being murdered in their homes and this is the s**t you come up with today? What are you waiting for to speak up against crime in the BVI. This should be priority number 1!

    Give the COI what they’re asking for face the fire and try fix what you can. All week dumb s**t. Sick of it man!

    Like 14
    Dislike 2
  8. Huh?! says:

    Can’t disclose who you give we ppl money too? No no.
    Try and coat it with “hardship Irma crocodile tear “? Yo bear on the honey jar. This is ppl money , honey. You say where it goes or u use your own dirty dollas de man. There is a COI with a few limeys. How the hl that infringe on people privacy?They don’t know bvi ppl. And if only YOU get to narrate who they is then honey bear don’t allow COI to judge the fraud and crony crp they looking for. On behalf of the 25,000 of ppl who ain’t on gravy train. But whose hard earn $ keep circling to pay a group of politrix elit, gov staff, and they brethren.
    Seeing boss hog twisting thing like he’s pr for his future defenses likely enough for uk to pull the pitcher.

    Like 17
    Dislike 1
  9. Lb says:

    Really? Well when you sending the other 10,000 required docs? When you sending the stimulus breakdown? When you sending the reason why you selected the people on these Boards that you selected? When you sending these unqualified heads of departments that you selected?
    Come again!

    Like 6
    Dislike 1
    • Listen says:

      The people of this territory know why he selected the people to the boards so I don’t know what explanation he going give it is blatant cronyism.

  10. Really says:

    Refusing to release documents on how and where money was spent is not considered “helping” the investigation. We are looking for transparency sir. The people are demanding it, then we can move forward.

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
  11. Rubber Duck says:

    We gave them all the info they wanted except what we did with the money.

    Welcome to BVI.

    Like 6
    Dislike 1
  12. Those are important says:

    Actually, that info is really important because if the Govt paid Mr Blue $20,000 after Irma but Mr Blue didn’t actually need that money but was friends with a Minister then it is corruption. The COI is not going to spread the info so saying you are protecting people’s info is crap and you are only protecting yourselves.
    Hand over all the documents with no redactions or changes please. We want this country cleaned up. Shame the UK couldn’t just walk straight into the records dept with a bunch of auditors with no notice so we can really see which rats are eating the cheese.

  13. Be ye careful says:

    Commissioner Hickinbottom be ye careful. I love our country but we are masters at making up stories, false rumors and malicious gossip. The last governor fell for these traps. Our current Premier is a master of untruthful stories. My warning to you, do not believe a word from his mouth unless Jesus himself tells you that he is telling the truth. It may sound like a joke but it’s very serious.

  14. Justice says:

    This man is finally getting what he deserves. He has caused a lot of damage with the names of others to cover up bus deceitful ways.

  15. Be warned says:

    I hope the commission checks those documents closely and verify that what is written is truthful. This man has a history of setting up people. To take attention from himself he might fabricate things on others. Be warned.

  16. What!!! says:

    And we are supposed to believe that the government would hand over anything that might incriminate any of them. ??? We are not as stupid as Andrew thinks we are.

  17. Lies says:

    More lies

    Andrew go and sleep

  18. Anonymous says:

    These fake Christian s…covering up de devils wuk.Please don’t let these corrupt folks pull the wool over your eyes.Lots if ppl need exposing..check everything..although they are trying to hide it from coi.

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