‘I ask you to reserve judgement until it is published’- Gov Rankin on CoI Report
Governor Rankin; however, has pleaded with the public to “reserve judgement” until the Report is published.
In a press statement from the Office of the Governor today, April 21, 2022, which our newsroom had accurately reported was forthcoming, Governor Rankin said he has now had the opportunity to review the Report in detail.
“It covers important topics and the recommendations include issues around governance, the Constitution, and strengthening or reinforcing existing legislation,” Governor Rankin stated.
He said the CoI examined a broad range of issues which are the building blocks of any effective and successful jurisdiction and that by addressing them properly, the foundations of governance in the [British] Virgin Islands can be strengthened to meet the challenges of the future in an open, transparent and fair way.
The Commission was established in January 2021 by controversial former Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert.
Report to be published ‘as soon as possible’
According to Governor Rankin, it has been a long process to get to this point and he recognises that people want to see the Report as soon as possible in full, and for work to start on improving governance in the Territory.
“However, I intend to share it first in confidence with the Honourable Premier Fahie, and then the leaders of political parties represented in the House of Assembly, to allow for discussions to take place on a cross-party basis between them, Ministers in the UK, and myself.”
Mr Rankin said he trusts that the confidence in which the Report is shared will be respected and hopes that these discussions will take place in the third week of May.
“Thereafter, my aim will be to publish the Report as soon as possible - in June, if not before. It is essential that the handling of this Report is done in the right way and I believe by adopting this approach, we will get to an outcome that is in the best interests of the people of the British Virgin Islands.”
Beware of speculation- Gov Rankin
Governor Rankin also told the public that there may be speculation and attempts to discredit or second-guess the CoI Report and recommendations.
“I ask you to reserve judgement until it is published. I thank you for your patience, and I will provide another update in May,” Governor Rankin stated.
See related article below:
CoI Report expected to be turned over to VI Gov't this week!
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29 Responses to “‘I ask you to reserve judgement until it is published’- Gov Rankin on CoI Report”
@Uncle Tom, did you mean Sambo, not Uncle Tom. The character Uncle Tom is too often tagged as the evil, sorrow one, not Sambo. Nonetheless, the point is well taken, for there lots of Sambos still in the BVI in the 21st Century. The Sambos that ran to the r…t Governor are some sorry pieces of thrash. They threw their fellow Virgin Islanders under the bus but for what. How can they face their fellow residents, smiling in their faces. How can you live with yourselves and sell at night. Vipers to stay away from. Nothing in the BVI stays a secret for long and you will be publicly outed soon. And the H
Governor could give a rat’s a..s about your. You are a disgrace to your race.
This is not the Governor’s fault. From what I understand in private conversation some may have to step down/possible jail time. Well, this is not the first time a political figure had to serve jail time. You hear about it all the time.
First the attitude and behavior towards and control of the people in the remaining colonial remnants in the Caribbean of the once mighty but fading British Empire. Then as now, equal justice for people in the colonies was a fantasy, Arthur Hodge’s trial, conviction and hanging for murdering his slave Prosper in May 1811 notwithstanding. The Barbados Slave Code of 1661 protected the Whites and plantation owners, not the slaves (chattel property) who had no rights and legal access and protection. Legal proceedings were one way with if you were White and wealthy, you had absolute legal rights and protection. Fast forwarding to 2022, not much have changed for Caribbean OTs.
They are supposedly self-governing, yet the power lies with crown-appointed governor(s). It is an unbalanced equation, for the appointed, non-democratic elected Governor has the unilateral power to ‘nuke’ any action(s) taken by the local government. The local government(s) is accountable to the Governor with no recourse to redress issues of concern by the Governor. The arc of justice is as straight as an arrow and surely not bending towards justice. Too many democratic-deficits to call it true democracy.
Second, the slave-era conditionings and Sambo-like obsequious behaviors unashamedly persists. The legacies of slavery lingers on.
Moreover, a commission of inquiry or commission of enquiry is mechanism for reviewing actions with the aim of identifying processes and procedural weaknesses and making recommendations for strengthening them. The problem with the Hickinbottom-led CoI was the process by which it was commissioned. Governor Jaspert on his early departure out the door for the UK launched the CoI. The way it was launched tainted the CoI and signify that something may be rotten in the state of Denmark. A dark cloud hangs over the CoI because of the process and perhaps the vindictive personal spirit and intent of launching the CoI. Every organizations periodically needs to check itself through independent reviews. There are perhaps no clean hands in this sordid process. Though, it highlights the whale and fry relationship in UK-OTs arrangement—-one-sided with disadvantage for OTs.
Jaspert, sensing a void and a delay in action, pounce at the opportunity to expose the inferiority. From then until the NDP was kicked out of office, he pushed the Smith-led government around like a rag doll. It folded like a wet noodle. Already with an inflated ego and an air of racial superiority, and a desire to maintain his cherished conservatism (keep things as they were and supposed to be) belief, Guv Jaspert acted like lord of all he surveyed.
Then in Feb 2019, the VIP government led by Andrew Fahie came to power and started to push back and acted like it had spine and had some gray matter and was not willing to be pushed around like rag doll. It was acting within the limited rails afforded by the constitution, yet the Guv was not thrilled.
Consequently, this action infuriated Jaspert. The audacity of some of Black boy challenging his supposed authority (keeping it real). Thus, there was an adversarial relationship between the Fahie government and Jaspert. And apparently to get the last word and revenge, on his way out the door he gleefully trumped up some corruption concerns and launched and get one of the boys to conduct an CoI. Gus, sat on his throne for throne controlling the security forces and witness all the rampant corruption and did nothing until he was called back to UK early and was walking out the door. Really. And the cow jump over the moon. Thus, here we are. The big dog showing the lil dog who is boss. The UN is a weak and toothless institution and so is its decolonization policy.
Moreover, the governing power structure is unfair and severely lacking due process for local governments, especially those in the West Indies. The UK-appointed governors(should not the people in the colonies have a say in who is sent to represent them. But oh snap! They are representing the crown, not the people) Governors have the unilateral authority to appoint CoIs among other powers. Nevertheless, who provides oversight of the behavior of say a governor who perhaps may be ethically and morally challenged and acting in an unprofessional manner? Under the premise of the rule of law, every entity, every person, every manjack, etc is entitled to due process(the slave era styled of justice is supposedly gone). The real devious purpose for this CoI and the lack of due process taints any credibility it may have. Local governments are severely disadvantaged in the unfair and unbalanced proceedings. Is something rotten in the state of the UK(Denmark has no dog in this fight). Was this CoI performative? BVI, you (successive governments) are not off the hook. Look inward and fix thyself. The UK does not give a rat’s ass in helping you prepare for self-determination as mandated by the UN charter. If it were, it would be actively discussing free association or even integration with you. For example, Guadeloupe and Martinique, former colonies of France, are now integrated into France. France did inflict revenge on Haiti(1804) for getting uppity and out its place, losing it as a cash cow.
Back to Jaspert. He was a self-centered, egotistical, media whore who raced to a microphone or camera like a boar hog to mud. He relished his status and attention of being the top and BIG dog in a small kennel. Unleashed with no accountability and impunity for his action he was a wrecking ball and like a bull in a China shop. The NDP didn’t have the stones to push back for the BVI; the VIP push back somewhat for the BVI and that sparked his ire. He seemed to despise his actions being challenged by the local government that was led by a person of African descent. An example of his behavior with impunity was his backhand slapping/pimp slapping the BVI and its people of slave descendants with his disrespectful and insensitive response to a question from a media house on reparations for slave descendants. Instead, he double down and poured gasoline on the blazing fire by declaring that local landmarks should maintain the names of slave traders and pirates. Despite loud calls/ pleas (government and other elected members were slow off the mark demanding an apology) for an apology, he refused. The UK too refuse to apologize, confirming any doubt about the collaboration and same attitude, for apologizing to the people of a majority Black OT seems clearly beneath them. It would have readily been offered in the Falkland Islands(Las Malvinas) or Pitcairn Island or Diego Garcia. Out the door, he seemingly got revenge and the last word; he launched a CoI.