Questions have been raised surrounding disclosures made during Verna Maduro's trial where it was disclosed that the head of the Tourist Board and others used the card and also that such offenses are prevalent in the jurisdiction.

Referring to the statements which were reported in the online media on the case, last evening Wednesday July 13 on the Hot Seat, talk show host Carl Dawson said he hopes the Governor, the Premier and the people of the Territory will try and analyse and define what that means, not just for the statement but for the future of the Territory.

Ms. Maduro, who pleaded guilty and had her sentence set for this morning, July 14 in the High Court, was accused of  misappropriating $652,676 of the TB’s funds between 1998 and 2006 for personal gain while she was employed at the BVI Tourist Board as the Financial Comptroller.

During the sentencing hearing, Senior Crown Counsel Christilyn Benjamin while outlining the mitigating factors of the case, stated that the Government was a victim, no monies were repaid to the TB and it appeared that such offences are prevalent in the jurisdiction.

In addition, one of Maduro’s lawyers, Marlon Gordon also stated that the top brass of the TB used the cards, and said he will not call names. He emphasized that other persons admitted to using the cards for personal charges.

“None of these persons were brought to the court. Ms. Maduro had to bear the full weight of the case…she has taken on what has happened. The Crown knows of the other persons and have conceded that fact but the burden now lies on Ms. Maduro,” Mr. Gordon had stated.

Sir Richard Cheltenham, Attorney for Verna Maduro lashed out at the Tourist Board's credit card policy.

Mr. Dawson on the show last night questioned, “When the young people and not so young read this and understand what it means, can we have a pleasant and fun-loving society when the implications of these two statements is that injustice prevails right here among us?”

“… that is the question which I am hear knocking about on the streets … A very serious question and I hope that in order for us to have a moral and fun-loving and God Fearing community we accustom to have to prevent the deterioration which will eliminate from us looking carefully into this matter and dealing with it appropriately that this society would be spared the fallout of such behaviour,” said Mr. Dawson.

He said he hopes that the Governor, Premier and the people of this Territory will interpret the two statements and find some ways of bringing justice to the situation “that appears to be before us”.

Lawyer lashed out at TB’s credit policy

Meanwhile, following the conclusion of the trial with Maduro’s guilty plea, lead defense attorney in her case Sir Richard Cheltenham, QC from Barbados lashed out at the BVITB’s credit card policy.

Speaking exclusively to VINO on June 15, 2011, the attorney who has been practicing law for 41 years said, “The issues in this case are bigger than Verna Maduro and a credit card.”

Attorney Cheltenham told VINO that it goes to the “heart of the policies of the board, its administration and issues of good governance of the Tourist Board’s affairs.”

The seasoned Attorney said Tourism is vital to the health of the Virgin Islands, and therefore the Board should be set up in a way where there are always proper accountability and strong administrative structure in place to better manage credit cards usage.

When asked if his strong views about the BVI TB could be regarded as interference in the Virgin Islands’ domestic affairs, the Queens Counsel who has also practiced law in the VI for some 15 years told VINO, “I am not telling anyone how to run their country”.