Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mrs Tiffany R. Scatliffe-Esprit, refused to disclose public information on how taxpayers’ money is being spent to pay the King’s Counsel from the United Kingdom, Mr Sandip Patel. Photo: Internet Source

King’s Counsel from the United Kingdom, Mr Sandip Patel has been hired to go after residents and members of the media who have spoken out against injustice and double standards, most often with bogus arrests and charges following the Commission of Inquiry in the Virgin Islands. Photo: LinkedIn

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mrs Tiffany R. Scatliffe-Esprit, said her refusal to publicly disclose the salary of Mr Sandip Patel, King’s Counsel, is in keeping with upholding the rule of law in the Virgin Islands. Photo: Internet Source

For months, many in the media, social commentators and members of the public have been asking how much is paid out of the public purse for the King’s Counsel from the United Kingdom, Mr Sandip Patel.

He has been hired to go after residents and members of the media who have spoken out against injustice and double standards, most often with bogus arrests and charges following the Commission of Inquiry (CoI).

However, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mrs Tiffany R. Scatliffe-Esprit, refused to disclose public information on how taxpayers’ money is being spent to pay Mr Patel.  Instead, she claims that her action is in keeping with “upholding of the rule of law in the VI” in the matter of Mr Patel's wages.

Not your business how much he makes?

In a press release issued yesterday, Friday, May 8, 2026, the DPP opined that she “remains steadfastly committed to this mandate and continues to execute our duties with the highest regard for sound fiscal management, accountability and operational efficiency”.

DPP Scatliffe-Esprit did confirm the 2022 appointment of Mr Patel as a Special Prosecutor in accordance with section 59 (3) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007. Mr Patel is engaged to support the prosecution of various matters, many of which arise from the CoI and remain active before the courts, including appeals, which are a part of the prosecutorial process, the statement noted.

However, Mrs Scatliffe-Esprit is now claiming that his salary and contract terms, something that should be registered at the High Court and made public as is the practice, “falls in the context of sensitive materials as it relates to criminal prosecution. Sensitive materials refer to any material that if disclosed, would give a real risk of serious prejudice to an important public interest, which includes the security of the individual prosecutors involved, the security of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and by extension, National Security”.

Public interest immunity is the buzzword

She further stated, “Considering the well-established principle of Public Interest Immunity, the details surrounding Mr Patel’s remuneration and ongoing matters cannot be disclosed as requested.”  Other persons in the legal fraternity rejected her claim as “nonsense” but refused to go on record.

Both the UK-appointed Governor Daniel Pruce and the VI Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) have also repeated her position in public statements.

Many residents, the media and social commentators have accused the DPP’s Office of going after residents and using the office as a weapon to prosecute even after lower courts have said over and over again that there is no case to answer. Despite this, the DPP continues to appeal many of the frivolous cases, and even now still goes after residents despite witnesses having asked both in writing and in open court to withdraw cases.