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COVID or not! CoI team says it will be back in August!

- CoI determined to press on during VI’s COVID struggles even while UK gov’t has shunned its own CoI due to pandemic
From left: Commissioner Gary R. Hickinbottom and Secretary to the Commission, Steven Chandler. Despite the Virgin Islands going through a challenging time, where it is seeing record numbers of active COVID-19 cases and deaths, the United Kingdom (UK) sponsored Commission of Inquiry (CoI) called by the aggrieved ex-governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert days before his exit from the territory has said it will resume its work next month. Photo: VINO/File
The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) is adamant to continue knowing fully well that it has been a burden on public officers and legislators at a time when the pandemic has hit the territory head on, despite lone Commissioner Gary R. Hickinbottom claiming that he is sensitive to the VI’s COVID-19 situation. Photo: VINO/File
The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) is adamant to continue knowing fully well that it has been a burden on public officers and legislators at a time when the pandemic has hit the territory head on, despite lone Commissioner Gary R. Hickinbottom claiming that he is sensitive to the VI’s COVID-19 situation. Photo: VINO/File
Hypocritically, the United Kingdom (UK) Government of Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson aka ‘Boris’ has dodged a Commission of Inquiry into its own handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, citing it being an ill-opportune time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Getty Images
Hypocritically, the United Kingdom (UK) Government of Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson aka ‘Boris’ has dodged a Commission of Inquiry into its own handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, citing it being an ill-opportune time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Getty Images
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Despite the Virgin Islands (VI) going through a challenging time where it is seeing record numbers of active COVID-19 cases and deaths, the United Kingdom (UK) sponsored Commission of Inquiry (CoI) called by the aggrieved ex-governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert days before his exit from the territory has said it will resume its work next month.

Sensitive or insensitive?

The CoI is adamant to continue, knowing fully well that it has been a burden on public officers and legislators at a time when the pandemic has hit the territory head-on, despite lone Commissioner Gary R. Hickinbottom claiming that he is sensitive to the VI’s COVID-19 situation.

There are currently over 1600 active cases and 23 confirmed COVID-19 related deaths in the Virgin Islands.

“Whilst the Commissioner is sensitive to the fact that the current COVID-19 situation in the BVI now makes it more difficult for some Government departments, it is vital that the material outstanding be provided as soon as possible to enable focused hearings to resume,” a press release from the Commission today, July 21, 2021, stated.

It should be noted that the CoI is only on a break because it claimed that they are still awaiting documents vital to the hearings to continue.

CoI team will be back in August

In what has been criticised as disrespectful and insensitive to the Government of the Virgin Islands which has been doing all in its power to facilitate the CoI, in his statement on June 2, 2021, the Commissioner claimed that, “given the history of inadequate and incomplete disclosure of documents” and to ensure properly focused hearings, he was making requests for corporate witness statements in relation to these topics.

“These requests were largely addressed to Ministers, but the Commissioner was content for a Minister to decide if a public officer should provide the statement in his or her stead. The Commissioner expected the Inquiry Response Unit (IRU) to assist in the preparation of these statements. Despite requests having been made weeks before the recent rise in COVID-19 cases and multiple extensions of deadlines, in substantial part these statements are still awaited,” the press release stated.

“The Commissioner and his team will be returning to the UK to continue the task of preparing for the forthcoming hearings. They will return to the BVI in late August to complete the hearings,” the Commission stated.

Fair for Gov’t to take a break from CoI?

There have been calls for the government to take a break from the CoI to concentrate its energies and resources towards tackling the dire COVID-19 situation.

Hypocritically, the UK Government has dodged a CoI into its own handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, citing it being an ill-opportune time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

24 Responses to “COVID or not! CoI team says it will be back in August!”

  • Whatt (21/07/2021, 18:46) Like (13) Dislike (49) Reply

    These damn w**** rac***t the COI is who bringing in the COVID

    • calm (22/07/2021, 07:50) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
      Relax. Lie down for a while and your irrational hatred for people with different levels of melanin will pass.
      We are all one people.
  • Black life matters (21/07/2021, 18:54) Like (11) Dislike (48) Reply

    Set of ra***t oppressors who do not respect black lives the coi must go!

    • The real Oppressors (22/07/2021, 03:36) Like (28) Dislike (3) Reply
      People in power and authority just cannot do what they want, how they want, when they want especially with other people's money and when the time comes to answer, WHY? they now become victims,,, The COI is doing their job respectfully, decently,, fairly and its over due,. , Its needed.
      • Reply (22/07/2021, 07:45) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
        Blacks cannot be racist they have no history of killing, thieving and killing women and children check out whoes history of salvery is that!
        • Really (22/07/2021, 10:18) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
          Ever looked at the civil wars in Africa, Hutu versus Tutsi? Ever looked at West Africa , the starving to death of Biafra, the children killers of Liberia. Sit down and stfu.
        • Franky (22/07/2021, 19:33) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
          Where do you think black slaves came from? The whites didn’t enslave them. They bought them from their black slave masters who got them by going to war with their neighbours. Take a seat and learn some truth for a change. None of us are without sin.
  • Listen here (21/07/2021, 19:12) Like (8) Dislike (29) Reply
    okay so I will be the first to say this and please remember the country will be going into lockdown next month so they do not allow the COI from the UK an easy entry into the country.
  • Mr buttom (21/07/2021, 19:38) Like (0) Dislike (28) Reply

    Dem should de**

  • The Reaper (21/07/2021, 21:33) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    Yes come back. My tax money them Government thieving all the time.
  • Border Open (21/07/2021, 21:41) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    The borders are still open. We continue to import cases on top of what we already struggling with. So why not?
  • Nik (21/07/2021, 21:53) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
    CHICKEN BATTOM LOOK LIKE A EVIL HUMAN BEEN
    • @nik (22/07/2021, 07:53) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Really? We’re dealing with pandemics, corruption, people’s lives and all you can do is make up silly names?
  • Shame on those black skin people that pnly interestimg in the white people money and protection. (21/07/2021, 22:19) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    I am a native black skin man. I am weary of hesring and reading hateful attact om white people because of their skin colour. Hate of people be ause of skin colour is evil, as Satan is.evil.
    In the cruel battles of world war 2, many millioms of people died. By far, the greater number of those that died were white skin people. Because of their sacrificed, our lives lives have been spared. God bless white skin people. If He didn't, the covid-19 dearh number would not be 23, as of last report, many hundreds, posible thousands, in the B.V.I.
    Singer Tima Turner sung a song titlied: "What love has to do with it?" Many of you do nof know. So allow me to inform you: love has everything to do wirh it, hate doesn't. Skin colour is not our enemy. Satan and his followers are. God is love.

    Note: I am not begging for anyone approval of what I have written. What I havs written. I havs written.







  • Feral Ghost (22/07/2021, 02:45) Like (3) Dislike (9) Reply
    These men have their agenda to further ruin the Virgin Islands.
    • nope (22/07/2021, 16:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Here to save it from corruption and unfairness. For the country to prosper we cannot spend millions on an unfinished wall while our children school roof leak. SMH
  • Go (22/07/2021, 06:27) Like (1) Dislike (11) Reply

    …..they will not be back, set of rac**ts and devils…

  • Dancing in the sunshine (22/07/2021, 07:36) Like (2) Dislike (17) Reply
    The statement of the chairman of the Commission of Inquiry is tantamount of total disrespect for the people of this territory. It shows clearly that this was the attitude of the former slave master. Can anyone go England from this territory and make such statement. Such person will be arrested and banish for life. It is no wonder many countries are becoming hostile towards Britain. While we don't have the resources to respond appropriately, we can use our voices and let the message be known to them. through our voices.

    The Commissioner is showing total disregard for the emotional pains of the people are experiencing It reminds me of the torture of the slaves and telling them to obey their masters. These are modern times and we will not subjugate ourselves to the slave master's descendants. I would prefer them to leave and don't return. Civil servants should show civil resistance. to the Commissioner of Inquiry.
    • love boat (22/07/2021, 07:56) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      If you said the same things in Britain nobody would care. It’s one of the most diverse and integrated countries on Earth.
    • @dancing in the sunshine (22/07/2021, 09:24) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Any emotional pain we Virgin Islanders are in has been brought on by our own residents who only had regard for themselves and not family or friend. We chose to let our guard down and not follow all Covid protocols. We were always reminded to do the right thing because we are still in a pandemic and our borders are open and porous. We were strongly encouraged to get vaccinated, even to check with our doctor for advice before taking the vaccine...we don't live in a bubble!, cut off from the rest of the world, households or place of work. We made our personal choice which is ours and ours alone to make.

      This is why we are in the emotional state we are. Children have lost parents, parents have their children. People have lost their spouse or partner. We have lost our family member(s), friends and coworkers.

      Despite our tears and sorrow right now for those who have died and are sick, life and usinesses will continue. No more wrong and strong. No more turning a blind eye to mismanagement and misappropriation of public funds the COI will continue.
  • Rubber Duck (22/07/2021, 07:46) Like (0) Dislike (9) Reply
    Our greatest fight with this coi is racism and colonialism
    • Rubber Duck (22/07/2021, 10:20) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      Stop trying to be me you illiterate. Get back to looting the land.


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