Leader of the Opposition and Representative for the Third District Honourable Julian Fraser RA has expressed his regret at the news of the arrest of former Governor of the United States Virgin Islands John P. de Jongh yesterday August 18, 2015. Photo: VINO/File

Former USVI Governor John P. de Jongh. Photo: virginislandsdailynews.com

Former Governor of the United States Virgin Islands Charles W. Turnbull has opted not to respond to statements in an article on online news outlet VIConsortium.com today August 18, 2015 which allege his involvement in corruption. Photo: www.caribbeanelections.com

Former Governor of the United States Virgin Islands Charles W. Turnbull while in Tortola attending a victory reception for USVI Governor Kenneth E. Mapp in December 2014. Photo: VINO/File

According to news reports on VIConsortium.com, de Jongh Jr. and former Public Finance Authority Director Julito Francis were arrested on charges of corruption stemming from the diversion of public monies to their own use.

“It is with regret that this morning I read in an online publication apparently based in the US Virgin Islands that former governor John P. de Jongh Jr. was picked up at 6:00 a.m. this morning by officials of the United States Department of Justice,” said Honourable Fraser.

“I will not pass judgment and neither will I offer an opinion, except to say that I have admiration for the U.S. Justice system and its interest in the conduct of its politicians. However, I am also comforted by knowing that under Anglo-American Common Law, the accused is always presumed innocent in all types of proceedings; as proof is always the burden of the state,” he said.

He notes that as one would expect, “being in politics for 16 years I have met several governors from the USVI, Governor de Jongh included… all my encounters with him were professional, and as far as I am concerned he handled the affairs of the territory with regards to us fairly and cooperatively.”

Honourable Fraser said that his prayers are with the former Governor and his family for things to work out in his favour. “After all, it would serve no one's interest to see someone's career end in such disgrace,” he concluded.

Very strong case

Acting Attorney General Claude Walker in a news conference in St Croix yesterday read aloud the charges against the two men. These include two counts of embezzlement of public monies, and neglecting to pay over public monies in violation of [US] Virgin Islands criminal code.

According to VIConsortium, Walker refused to answer whether the federal government collaborated on the case, and declined to make known if it had prior knowledge of the arrests.

“What I can say is that we are capable of handling these types of cases, investigating and prosecuting them. This is not the first time we’ve had a public corruption case of significance in the territory. We know how to do it. We have an experienced staff of prosecutors and investigators,” VIConsortium quotes Walker as saying following the news conference.

Asked by VIConsortium if there would be convictions as a result of the arrests, Walker said while he believes the DOJ has a “very strong case, it’s up to the jury to decide whether to convict and we have to allow it to play out.”

See previous article published on August 18, 2015:

Fmr USVI Governor Dr Charles W. Turnbull silent on corruption allegations

- said he did not wish to respond to allegations mentioned in VIConsortium.com article today

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Former Governor of the United States Virgin Islands Dr Charles W. Turnbull has opted not to respond to statements in an article on online news outlet VIConsortium.com today August 18, 2015 which allege his involvement in corruption.

The main focus of the article was the alleged arrest of former USVI Governor John P. de Jongh who was allegedly taken into custody today.

“According to The Consortium’s source, the arrest appears to be a joint effort between the feds and the local government. Details pertaining to the arrest remain scant, but The Consortium is correctly working its sources.

“The arrest follows the unsealing of federal documents by The Virgin Islands Consortium that revealed de Jongh’s involvement in a deeply weaved government corruption culture that has plagued the territory from one administration to the next,” the article on VIConsortium said.

According to the article, the document also includes revelations about former Governor Charles W. Turnbull’s alleged involvement in corruption, who had a “bagman” during his tenure to collect and dispense monies gained illicitly.

When contacted by Virgin Islands News Online, Turnbull, who is currently in Washington DC, said that he did not wish to make any statement. “I thank you for bringing this to my attention but I do not wish to make any statement,” said former Governor Turnbull.

Turnbull, who served as USVI Governor from November 1999 to January 2007 was born in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Information on the National Governor’s Association's web page said that after completing his elementary and secondary education in the public school system of the Virgin Islands, he attended Hampton University, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1958 and a master’s degree in 1959.

According to the site, Turnbull was awarded a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Minnesota in 1976. He previously worked as an elementary and secondary school teacher, as assistant principal and principal for Charlotte Amalie High School, and as assistant commissioner and commissioner of the department of education.

It said that during Turnbull’s tenure as commissioner of education, a cultural education division was established to promote greater knowledge, awareness, and appreciation of the history and culture of the Virgin Islands and the wider Caribbean. Alternative education and school volunteerism were firmly established, new schools were built, and double sessions were eliminated.

“Most recently, Turnbull served as a professor of history at the University of the Virgin Islands, and is currently a professor emeritus of history at the University of the Virgin Islands. Turnbull has served as a member and chairman of the Virgin Islands Board of Education as well as a member of four Virgin Islands constitutional conventions. He currently serves as chairman of the Public Finance Authority and is on the board of the West Indian Company Limited. Governor Turnbull has received numerous awards and citations for his outstanding contributions to public service, education, and cultural affairs.”

The former USVI Governor Dr Charles W. Turnbull is also a Belonger, with both of his parents and grandparents being born here in the [British] Virgin Islands.

Efforts by this news site to elicit comments from Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith and Leader of the Opposition Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3), both of whom would have had interactions with Turnbull during his tenure, proved futile.