Former interim president of the National Democratic Party, Bishop John I. Cline, has demanded greater transparency from the Virgin Islands Government over the investment of US$2.5 million in financial institution Delta Capital Partners Limited in Jamaica. Photo: Facebook

According to reports, the investment involved two payments US$1 million in July 2022 and US$1.5 million in November 2022. The Premier said he became aware of the investment on April 29, 2026. Photo: Internet Source/ file

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has said the investment was made without his knowledge or approval and that the required financial procedures were not followed. The transaction is currently the subject of investigations by the Financial Investigation Agency and the government’s Internal Audit Department. Photo: VINO/File

The investment into Delta Capital Partners Limited was made by former Accountant General Arnold J. Ainsley, who is no longer in the Virgin Islands. Photo: GIS

Speaking during a Facebook Live on Thursday, August 6, 2026, Cline questioned why former Accountant General Arnold J. Ainsley appeared to be bearing primary responsibility for the transaction while the Financial Secretary had not publicly addressed the matter.

“Ainsley is not here to give any statement, answer for himself, defend himself, confirm, or deny the Premier’s statement,” Cline said. “So, as far as I’m concerned, he’s the fall guy, the one who gets thrown under the bus.”

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley has said the investment was made without his knowledge or approval and that the required financial procedures were not followed. The transaction is currently the subject of investigations by the Financial Investigation Agency and the government’s Internal Audit Department. 

Two investments were made 

According to reports, the investment involved two payments: US$1 million in July 2022 and US$1.5 million in November 2022. The Premier said he became aware of the investment on April 29, 2026. 

Cline argued that the size of the investment made it difficult to accept that senior officials responsible for managing the territory’s finances had no knowledge of the transaction.

“We’re talking about $2.5 million. We’re not talking about $250,000,” he said. “Any clear-thinking, prudent, business-oriented person knows that the person in charge of the purse has to have some knowledge of $2.5 million going missing out of the Treasury.”

FS needs to explain

He called on the Financial Secretary to publicly explain what happened to the funds and rejected the Premier’s repeated assertion that he was unaware of the investment.

“It is almost insulting for the Premier to come and say to us that he doesn’t know that the money was invested,” Cline said. 

The former NDP leader also linked the Delta Capital matter to the controversy surrounding a separate US$5 million government deposit in the now-defunct Bank of Asia. He said the Premier had similarly claimed that the Bank of Asia transaction was made without his approval.

“Now, $2.5 million has gone missing to Delta Capital, and you claim that it was done without approval,” Cline said. “The Premier seems to think that because he can say, ‘I don’t know,’ we should somehow accept that $7.5 million of public money is unaccounted for.”

Questioned due diligence 

Cline further questioned whether adequate due diligence was conducted before the Delta Capital investment was approved. 

Delta Capital has been connected to Jamaica’s wider investigation into the collapse of Stocks and Securities Limited, the investment firm associated with allegations involving the accounts of several clients, including retired Jamaican sprinter Usain St Leo Bolt. 

Jamaican authorities have charged Delta Capital and other individuals and companies with alleged breaches of financial and securities laws. The allegations remain before the courts and have not been proven. 

He said the government’s financial officials had a responsibility to ensure that public funds remained liquid, that the territory’s bills were paid, and that any investment represented a sound and properly assessed risk. 

“Somebody has to do their due diligence,” Cline said. “We must look like a bunch of idiots to the Premier for him to come and say to us that he didn’t know the money was being invested.”

The government has said the investigations are intended to determine how the investment was made outside the required approval process and whether the funds can be recovered. 

Meanwhile, the matter is being investigated by the Financial Investigation Agency (FIA). The Premier has also requested that the Internal Audit Department conduct investigations.