CoI extended again! April 2022 new deadline given
The CoI called on Martin Luther King Day, January 18, 2021, by Mr Jaspert, mere days after he exited the territory, was scheduled to have finished in six months, with the lone Commissioner Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom expected to deliver his final report by July 18, 2021.
Commissioner Hickinbotton; however, requested an extension to enable further hearings to take place and outstanding information to be provided. The Commissioner concluded hearings in November to commence his review of his findings and to prepare his report for submission by December 2021.
In a press release today, January 4, 2022, from the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), Governor John J. Rankin said the CoI has received a huge amount of documentation from the Inquiry Response Unit (IRU) on behalf of the Attorney General’s office, as well as information provided by the people of the VI.
He said many of the documents are likely to be used in support of the Commissioner’s report, and his team continue to work with the IRU to ensure that any redaction applications they make (to remove or blank out information) are dealt with, so the final report is transparent and to enable its full publication.
April 2022 new CoI deadline
Governor Rankin added that both the volume of documents involved and the time taken for the redaction applications to be made and considered have had an impact on the Commissioner’s ability to finalise his report and supporting documentation within the current timeframe.
"Therefore, I have today informed the Honourable Premier that in discussion with the Commissioner, Sir Gary Hickinbottom, I have granted a further three-month extension to the CoI, to April 2022, to enable the Commissioner and his team to prepare and deliver his final report."
Mr Rankin said a new instrument confirming this extension will be issued.
"I believe it is right that this process is completed carefully and methodically and to ensure that a complete report is delivered into the areas of concern that the Commission is addressing. Good Governance is paramount to the success of any country and I remain committed to supporting the CoI in helping to achieve this for the Virgin Islands," Governor Rankin said.
Suspicious CoI
While there is no question that all Virgin Islanders support good governance, many suspect that the CoI, which alleges unsubstantiated reports of corruption and victimisation, is an old tactic of the colonial powers to hamper the VI's progress towards self-determination and for the UK to gain control of the territory.
The CoI was called by an ex-governor who was known to be at loggerheads with Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), who has been determined to prepare the people of the VI to manage its own affairs for the inevitable position of self-determination.
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24 Responses to “CoI extended again! April 2022 new deadline given”
Badmouthing the CoI probing of mismanagement of our finances by political leaders is not a wise path to to go. The more this is being done is the more the UK will see our incompetnence anti-submisive will to partner with them for better governance of the British Virgin Islands. As I now see it there is approximately 99% chance that the UK will take over the British Virgin Islands political running for better governance going forward.
Pride is the breeding ground of ignorance, and arrogance behaviours, stupidity lacks no steps behind them.
Those that know less about an issue are the most talkative ones on how it should be judged.
Support the CoI probing of mismanagement of our finances by political leaders.