Hon Fahie wants laws to protect ‘whistleblowers’
A whistleblower is a person who exposes any kind of information or activity that is deemed illegal, unethical, or not correct within an organisation that is either private or public.
Whistleblowers continue to approach this news site over many alleged injustices and wrongdoings within Government but often have to do so piecemeal and anonymously for fear of victimisation and possible lawsuits.
Governor & NDP Gov’t to blame for Ports fiasco
During his presentation of his annual First District Report at the Capoon’s Bay Recreational Grounds on January 23, 2016, Hon Fahie highlighted the controversy surrounding the Cruise Pier Development Project and said neither Governor John S. Duncan OBE nor the NDP Government seem to have any interest in transparency and good fiscal responsibility.
“The blatant violation of the Protocol Document allowed by the Governor; The misleading statements made by Ministers; the refusal to answer questions asked by the Opposition in the House of Assembly and; the decision by the Governor not to conduct a Commission of Inquiry are some of the reasons why this project and the finances of the entire Ports Authority is where it is today,” Hon Fahie argued.
The former Minister for Education said until now the people cannot get an accurate answer on the budgeted amount for the complete development of the Cruise Project; where the funds would come from; and who would provide independent verification that the territory got value for its money.
“No transparent answer nor course of action,” Hon Fahie stated.
NDP ordered audit an insult to injury
Meanwhile, the recent announcement by Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith that he was going to hire an international team to conduct an audit on the ports project was mocked by Hon Fahie.
“To add insult to injury, the Premier is going to look grown people with common sense fully in their faces and tell us he is going to conduct a second international independent audit of himself, by himself and for himself. The report of the first audit for the same project done by CDB is still sitting on his desk and has not seen the light of day. Is this the actions of a government in the sunshine? Where is the sunshine? Come on! Let us get real.”
According to Hon Fahie, the former Auditor General, Sonia M. Webster wrote and warned about the project as did the Public Accounts Committee. He said too that a Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) report commissioned by Premier Smith wrote and warned about the project.
Recently, former developer of the Cruise Pier Development Project, Mr Hugh E. Darley alleged corruption and high-handedness by Government over the Ports Project and that Government owes him money. He also said his team was willing to deliver a better quality Ports Project for $45M but his offer was rejected.
Minister for Communications and Works Hon Mark H. Vanterpool disclosed in the House of Assembly during the Sixth Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly on January 25, 2016 that the price tag for the still incomplete project was an astronomical $82.9M.
'Whistleblowers in Gov’t being hunted'
“Hugh Darley is singing like a bird about this project. What else would be required for a complete independent review of this project? As we speak, the whistleblowers at the Port and other government departments are being hunted and this is unfair to them and the people of the Virgin Islands.”
According to Hon Fahie, laws to protect whistleblowers in the Public Service must be prepared by Government and that the Opposition will insist they be brought to the House of Assembly for debate and approval without delay.
Whistleblowing
According to research, those who become whistleblowers can choose to bring information or allegations to surface either internally or externally. Internally, a whistleblower can bring his/her accusations to the attention of other people within the accused organisation. Externally, a whistleblower can bring allegations to light by contacting a third party outside of an accused organisation. He/she can reach out to the media, government, law enforcement, or those who are concerned.
Whistleblowers also face stiff reprisal/retaliation from those who are accused or alleged of wrongdoing.
In some countries legal protection can be granted to protect whistleblowers, but that protection is subject to many stipulations. Hundreds of laws grant protection to whistleblowers, but stipulations can easily cloud that protection and leave whistleblowers vulnerable to retaliation and legal trouble.
Whistleblowers are sometimes seen as selfless martyrs for public interest and organisational accountability; others view them as "traitors" or "defectors."
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25 Responses to “Hon Fahie wants laws to protect ‘whistleblowers’”
Evidence is key,otherwise,the messenger is a fabricator with ulterior motives.
Andrew,do you have any evidence of victimization of whistle bowers? Whatever whistle is being blower,cannot the same information be found with some research,unless they are untruths,of course.The Farleys and other bottom feeders are attracted to places with a J**k D**key like yourself. You and ,Darleyy are enemy combatants of the Vi. His attempt to destroy the ViGov will fail and soon,you will be a vague nightmare to the VIP and the peoples of the VI but a people would have learned valuable lessons so thanks and farewell.
And, of course many other laws are needed such as consumer protection laws. I am tired of being ripped off by unscrupulous landlords and other so called business people.