No transparency for taxpayers as DPP snubs public/media on Patel’s salary!
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.
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15 Responses to “No transparency for taxpayers as DPP snubs public/media on Patel’s salary!”
If she come for them, she has every right. Why put her picture up, like she hire him and set his salary. You all just want people to ridicule her and sprew hatred.
Wherever these mzungus are, there's bound to be endless corruption, coverups, evil, wickedness, deception, lies, trickey, manipulation, gaslighting, fear mongering, etc. You name it, they are involved. They wrote the playbook. And of course, there are always the brainwashed negropeans who indulge them and accept playing along to maintain their status quo.
Corruption plays a minor role on the streets compare to them. The true corruption is in positions of those who wheel unaccountable power and authority. Their level of unaccountable abuse of power and authority is uncanning. And it's all well orchestrated across the entire fraternities of authoritative power: Judges, Lawyers, Police, Politicians, etc. There is no telling how far these creatures will go to carry out their agendas.
The illusion of freedom has only been disguised. Overlords (slave-masters for the unaware) have never relinquished their positions and power; it has been hidden in plain sight after removing the chains that were placed on our ancestors- decorated in titles, robes, and uniforms. Be Warned!
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."