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‘Undemocratic & secretive’ VI CoI blasted in regional media report

-CNG Media points out glaring concerns in launch of VI inquiry compared to TCI CoI
The secretively launched Virgin Islands (VI) Commission of Inquiry (CoI) announced by embattled Ex-Governor, Augustus J.U. Jaspert continues to face widespread criticism from across the region regarding how it was established. Right is CoI Commissioner Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom. Photo: VINO/File
CARICOM in a statement on February 26, 2021, said “the Heads of Government are dismayed at the manner in which the CoI was established with no consultation, or prior communication, between the UK government and the duly-elected government of the British Virgin Islands,” CARICOM said. Photo: Internet Source
CARICOM in a statement on February 26, 2021, said “the Heads of Government are dismayed at the manner in which the CoI was established with no consultation, or prior communication, between the UK government and the duly-elected government of the British Virgin Islands,” CARICOM said. Photo: Internet Source
VI Premier, Andrew A. Fahie on January 19, 2021, informed that while his administration had no objection to a transparent CoI, he said the embattled Ex-Governor Jaspert had always told local Cabinet Members, that due process must be followed ahead of any inquiry. Photo: VINO/File
VI Premier, Andrew A. Fahie on January 19, 2021, informed that while his administration had no objection to a transparent CoI, he said the embattled Ex-Governor Jaspert had always told local Cabinet Members, that due process must be followed ahead of any inquiry. Photo: VINO/File
Former TCI Premier Michael E. Misick whose government was ousted by the 2008-2009 TCI inquiry said the UK government has shown a pattern of going after black Caribbean leaders who stand up to them. He said like Premier Fahie, those leaders are usually pro-independence and want a self-determined future for their people. Photo: Internet Source
Former TCI Premier Michael E. Misick whose government was ousted by the 2008-2009 TCI inquiry said the UK government has shown a pattern of going after black Caribbean leaders who stand up to them. He said like Premier Fahie, those leaders are usually pro-independence and want a self-determined future for their people. Photo: Internet Source
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI - The secretively launched Virgin Islands (VI) Commission of Inquiry (CoI) announced by embattled Ex-Governor, Augustus J.U. Jaspert continues to face widespread criticism from across the region regarding how it was established.

CARICOM in a statement on February 26, 2021, said “the Heads of Government are dismayed at the manner in which the CoI was established with no consultation, or prior communication, between the UK government and the duly-elected government of the British Virgin Islands.”

And now, a media report out of Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) has shone the spotlight on the VI CoI as compared to the TCI, where the 2008-2009 inquiry launch there was widely supported and done in consultation with the then government, ahead of its launch, as compared to the VI inquiry.  

Caribbean News Global (CNG) a regional publication in a March 26, 2021 article entitled 'British Commission of Inquiry in BVI bears similarities to Turks and Caicos except one,' said while there are similarities between the ongoing VI CoI and the one that took place in the TCI, like Caricom, the publication pointed out glaring concerns with how the VI CoI was established.  

TCI CoI had support before launch

“The Commission of Inquiry launched in the TCI had the support of a wide cross-section of the islands business and civil society and included the opposition party, but in the BVI no local support existed for the inquiry before the announcement,” the CNG report detailed.

VI Premier, Andrew A. Fahie on January 19, 2021, informed that while his administration had no objection to a transparent CoI, he said the embattled Ex-Governor Jaspert had always told local Cabinet Members, that due process must be followed ahead of any inquiry.

He said the ex-Governor advised “that before a Commission of Inquiry can be convened, that to ensure due process, all Government institutions established to ensure accountability, transparency and Good Governance must be allowed to function and produce their reports,” however, the controversial Mr Jaspert may not have followed his recommendations.

However, the controversial Mr Jaspert did not follow his recommendations and sought to announce the CoI in a dramatic manner, allegedly in collusion with the UK press; without informing the VI government ahead of that announcement.  

No consultations in VI 

Further, the regional CNG publication also pointed out that the sole UK selected Commissioner, Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom; a UK national, was also appointed without local consultation, in a similar nature to the launch of the local inquiry.

“In TCI, the outcry and calls for a commission of inquiry were very loud and clear from all segments of society including many of The People’s National Party (PNP) supporters and former officers. Visits were made to the territory by the foreign affairs committee, which called for the inquiry into the TCI; compared to a sole governor who had a history of a tense relationship with local officials who took issue with his personality,” the report said.

UK targeting strong C’bean Leaders – Misick

The publication characterized Premier Fahie as a no-nonsense leader who is still cooperating with the CoI, understands the wishes of his people and was at the forefront in the march against British imposition of open registers of companies in the BVI.

Former TCI Premier Michael E. Misick whose government was ousted and the constitution suspended by the 2008-2009 TCI inquiry said the UK government has shown a pattern of going after black Caribbean leaders who stand up to them.

Misick in a Monday, February 15, 2021, interview with 284 Media said like Premier Fahie, the leaders who are usually targeted by the UK are pro-independence and want a self-determined future for their people.

 

 

29 Responses to “‘Undemocratic & secretive’ VI CoI blasted in regional media report”

  • Rubber Duck (27/03/2021, 16:05) Like (29) Dislike (4) Reply
    Like the UK gaf what Misick says. The innocent have nothing to fear.
    • @ rubber duck (27/03/2021, 16:47) Like (5) Dislike (24) Reply
      Get your own name you racist
    • Minding Our Business (27/03/2021, 16:58) Like (37) Dislike (8) Reply
      We could care less what other countries think of the COI when our democratic rights have been violated...let them mind their business while we handle ours by exercising our right to speak up.
      • @ mind our business (27/03/2021, 18:32) Like (12) Dislike (42) Reply
        You mind your business we not going to let them pick us off one by one we the people of the region stands with the bvi against the racist and white supremacy
        • judge dred (28/03/2021, 09:00) Like (18) Dislike (2) Reply
          What you should be really grateful for is that you have the UK looking after you. People in other Caribbean countries have been exploited by and robbed by their politicians for decades with no where to turn for help. You want to move to Haiti?
          • Rubber Duck (28/03/2021, 10:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
            Oi, stay off my moniker
          • josiah'sbay (28/03/2021, 19:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
            You sir clearly don't know the history of Haiti, You should research Haiti's history and see if you will still want to cast aspersion on them.
  • ReX FeRal (27/03/2021, 16:48) Like (11) Dislike (18) Reply

    England is a B**ch. It was sung in song over 40 years ago. Nothing has changed with John Bull.

  • fsc (27/03/2021, 18:30) Like (15) Dislike (23) Reply
    The racist mob trying to take over the bvi
  • pat (27/03/2021, 19:32) Like (11) Dislike (18) Reply
    Jump high jump low the Uk must go!!
  • @ just ASKING (28/03/2021, 06:48) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Where all these canaries suddenly appear from ? And as 007 said they own so it is their duty to know what's going on and if there is anything CLANDESTINE it should be dealt with so all the singing and jumping or other distractions ain't going to work / it is said a drowning man would grasp at a straw
    • @ @ JUST ASKING (28/03/2021, 11:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Canaries have been singing for ages but those in the wrong have tried to silence them.

      When you personally experience victimization then you would understand.
  • vex (28/03/2021, 06:55) Like (4) Dislike (13) Reply
    Look what racist Gus did to my beloved bvi
  • Common Sense (28/03/2021, 07:39) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    Suggest you all hold your judgement and opinions until the results of the COI are released, many might have to eat their words.
  • just wrong (28/03/2021, 08:06) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Reading some of these posts is wanting to make me throw up !!!
    • Citizen (28/03/2021, 09:33) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
      Good idea! Go ahead and throw up. Then hold it and swallow it. Yes! That’s a little taste of what the UK have planned for the BVI.
    • @ just wong (28/03/2021, 12:29) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      Me too, with whites and blacks supporting a fraud coi with a conclusion already written
  • @ fsc (28/03/2021, 09:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    is that your name or the name of your song ( Foolishness /Stupidness and Corruption ) ARE BIRDS of the same feather so keep on singing the same song like a broken record / hope you wake up soon
  • Undemocratic? (28/03/2021, 09:32) Like (13) Dislike (13) Reply
    There is nothing undemocratic about investigating allegations of cronyism and fraud, and it is certainly correct to keep quiet and secure the evidence before it is destroyed by those doing wrong.
    • @ undemocratic (28/03/2021, 12:27) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
      You can say al you want but you not going to rewrite history with your racist statements
  • VI-Lander (28/03/2021, 17:12) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I pray that this secretive COi exposures all the crooks that have been raping the tax payers for years..Please God..
    • @ vi lander (28/03/2021, 20:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I pray is shows us that we should reject white supremacy and racism in 2021
  • To Whom it May Concern (28/03/2021, 17:29) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Once upon a time, some money was stole from a bank in Tortola. The robber was known, but was never caught or made to give back the money. Who does the money belong to? s itreally the robber's money?

    Apply the same logic to these islands. If some people came in here years ageo, exterminated all inhabitants, then cliaim/stole their lands, and today call it theirs. Is it really theirs?

    The facts are, most sane and rational thinking people know truth and live by certain common decent human principles. Unfortunately, not all do.

    Further, given that all the orignal inhabitants were exterminated by the British and other European powers of the time, replaced by Africans who later went to beecome responsible for the wealth they own today, and who has domiciled on said lands longer than any British citizen today, it is only natural then, that the lands some still now claiming to belong to the Brirish crown actually belong to the people, the descendants of those people of the Virgin Islands.

    There is a place for such legitimate reasoning, but not in today's minds of possession, greed and denial.
  • @@just asking (28/03/2021, 20:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Am refering to these people who spewing EVERYTHING and anything to try and create a distraction from whats really going on in the country ( it's like a smoke screen
  • TWIMC (28/03/2021, 22:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If the British did as you say, which is rubbish, then they have been on the island longer than any Africans who you claim, again wrongly, are the natural descendants. If you are going to post please present a cogent argument


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