Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Cabinet waives tender process for international marketing of VI

Cabinet waives tender process for international marketing of VI

The Cabinet of the Virgin Islands (VI) has waived the tender process to continue promoting and rebuilding the Virgin Islands brand in international markets in response to reputational damage from the United Kingdom-sponsored Commission of Inquiry.

This was revealed in the minutes of the Cabinet Meeting of April 13, 2022, chaired by Governor John J. Rankin, CMG and attended by all Cabinet members.

According to the minutes, Cabinet “Decided that the formal tender process be waived for the provision of integrated communications support to continue to rebuild and promote the brand and reputation of the Virgin Islands in the international market, in respect of the four (4) months extension granted to the Commission of Inquiry."

The CoI, which was called in January 2021, was scheduled for six months but exceeded that timeline and the Final Report was only handed over to Governor Rankin in early April 2022, after an extended deadline of December 2021, was missed.

Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie had said the VI would need to rebuild its reputation after the reputation damages of the CoI, noting that it takes years to build a reputation with just one second to destroy it.


Contract entered with Maitland Consultancy


Cabinet also decided that a new contract be entered into with Maitland Consultancy for a period of five (5) months with effect from 1st January to 31st May 2022 for an amount, not to exceed $750,000.00) for five (5) months.

In addition, Cabinet also decided that funding in the amount of $1,189,786.29 be approved via a Schedule of Additional Provision at the earliest Sitting of the House of Assembly to replenish the Marketing and Advertising Subhead and cover other expenses for the remainder of 2022, the minutes detailed.

Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) had said the VI would need to rebuild its reputation after the damages of the CoI, noting that it takes years to build a reputation and one second to destroy it.

The VI was blindsided by the CoI called by controversial former governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert, who secretly worked with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to unleash the CoI without warning on the territory and then exited the VI for good mere days later.

Even the UK press and other international media outlets had knowledge of the CoI before the elected government of the VI, the local press, and ordinary residents.

The international press had published damaging reports about the VI, even though the CoI was called on unsubstantiated claims by a governor who was said to be antagonistic towards the democratically elected Government. The stories were also one-sided with no apparent efforts to get the government's side.

The VI's reputation is critical to the success of its financial services and tourism.

The VI was blindsided by the CoI called by controversial former governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert, who secretly worked with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to unleash the CoI without warning on the territory in January 2021.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
×