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CoI requested private, sensitive information of locals seeking Gov't's help – Premier

- said IRU was only willing to provide sensitive info of VIslanders if legal justification was given
Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) had requested private, sensitive information from locals seeking government’s assistance during their most vulnerable moments. Photo: VINO/File
Premier Fahie said documents requested by the Commission of Inquiry included medical diagnosis and other supporting documents for their application for help via the government’s hardship payments scheme, created following the 2017 hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: VINO/File
Premier Fahie said documents requested by the Commission of Inquiry included medical diagnosis and other supporting documents for their application for help via the government’s hardship payments scheme, created following the 2017 hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: VINO/File
The Commissioner of Inquiry team headed by Gary R. Hickinbottom, has agreed to accept the IRU’s proposal and 'withdraw its request for the indiscriminate disclosure of the hundreds of personal and human tragedies that we know Irma and coronavirus have caused the people of the Virgin Islands,' Premier Fahie said. Photo: VINO/File
The Commissioner of Inquiry team headed by Gary R. Hickinbottom, has agreed to accept the IRU’s proposal and 'withdraw its request for the indiscriminate disclosure of the hundreds of personal and human tragedies that we know Irma and coronavirus have caused the people of the Virgin Islands,' Premier Fahie said. Photo: VINO/File
DUFF'S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI- Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) had requested private, sensitive information from locals seeking government’s assistance during their most vulnerable moments.

Premier Fahie said these documents included medical diagnosis and other supporting documents for their application for help via the government’s hardship payments scheme, created following the 2017 hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This request appears to have been made under the misapprehension that Honourable Members were themselves paid the money for distribution to their constituents since it sought details on when and how the funds were transferred to a member. In fact, the monies were disbursed by the Ministry of Finance on the basis of a standard form written application with supporting documents and information attesting to the particular hardships suffered by individuals,” Premier Fahie said during the Seventh Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom on Tuesday, April 20, 2021.

He said, “Even where information has raised possible issues of confidentiality, legal professional privilege or public interest immunity, the government’s default position has been to waive those considerations and only to seek ffrom the commissioner clear assurances as to the future secure and confidential treatment of those documents, these it has received.”

He explained that this was the position because the assistance came from public funds. Despite this, there would be need for “proper and rigorous justifications” for the information otherwise, these sensitive information would have been revealed unnecessarily.

IRU has submitted 3,977 official documents to CoI

According to the Premier, the Inquiry Response Unit (IRU) and the Attorney General's Chamber suggested that only the names and contact details, along with the sums that the successful applicants received, should suffice.

He said the “reply was at first discouraging, but the IRU informed the Commissioner’s team that it would only provide the sensitive information of individual Virgin Islanders if a legal justification was given. At that point, I’m glad to say the Commissioner’s team agreed — for now — to accept the IRU’s proposal and withdraw its request for the indiscriminate disclosure of the hundreds of personal and human tragedies that we know Irma and coronavirus have caused the people of the Virgin Islands.”

Premier Fahie also stated that to date, 3,977 official documents consisting of 72,902 pages have been submitted by the IRU on behalf of the government to the CoI.

The IRU was established by the Cabinet of the Virgin Islands on February 5, 2021, to ensure full cooperation with the Inquiry and facilitation of the Inquiry process, while upholding the legal duties and legitimate interests of the Government.

The Commission of Inquiry was announced on January 18, 2021, by controversial former Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert to look into whether corruption, abuse of office or other serious dishonesty may have taken place amongst public, elected and statutory officials in recent years in the [British] Virgin Islands.

11 Responses to “CoI requested private, sensitive information of locals seeking Gov't's help – Premier”

  • resident (21/04/2021, 13:16) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    If they're investigating how supposed aid money may have been mis-applied, they are bound to need to review the basis of the requests for payment and who got paid. It wouldn't be much of a Commission of Inquiry if it didn't enquire into such matters. What does he expect, the CoI to ask the Govt: "did you do anything bent" and when the Govt, says "no"; the CoI to shut up shop and go back to England. Be sensible!
    • Privacy (21/04/2021, 16:57) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
      That’s confidential information which should be kept private. Accounting of the $$ is sufficient without all that detail. The Queen is the richest woman or one of the richest. Where does she get it from. The few pennies that BVI has they want to count it? This whole COI is so bloody racist, I want to puke...
      • resident (21/04/2021, 18:05) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
        No; if one of the allegations is that aid money was distributed to favour certain selected people, or withheld to punish other people; the CoI needs to look at the basis of the requests to see if they were made up or genuine; and who those people are to see if they fall into the politically connected category; or the category that needs to be punished to make a political point, albeit unlawfully.
  • coi (21/04/2021, 13:25) Like (50) Dislike (1) Reply
    WE WANT TO KNOW WHERE THE MONEY GONE AND WHO GOT IT
    • smdh (21/04/2021, 20:26) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      And What does the Premier imagine that the COI will do with this information? They will use it to Verify that that there was indeed a need.. That's it. Nothing else. They are not going to sell it for profit or publish personal details.

      This is simple. Why is the information being hidden?
  • The Process (21/04/2021, 13:41) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    Thats the process, thats how investigation works...U can encourage your people not to coorperate, then their is a legal process that force them to coorperate..Let it be. Sit be relax and pray..
  • mah (21/04/2021, 13:48) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
    Gary R. Hickinbottom, Don't play with any of them for far too long they have been doing what they want with the taxpayer's money without giving account. Its about time we see something done about it.
  • Rubber Duck (21/04/2021, 14:51) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    So basically they want to know where the money went.

    That’s what we all want to know.
  • good news (21/04/2021, 15:26) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    Makes sense,if they are making conclusions based on truth and facts.
  • down2earth (21/04/2021, 15:32) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    And I would give them!!!!
  • think (21/04/2021, 21:05) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's is the people of Tortola's money that was spent. It's not private or secret it is the public's money and the public want to know.


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