Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

CoI was public & report should be public in its entirety – Hon Penn

CoI was public & report should be public in its entirety – Hon Penn

Opposition Leader says Premier should have already had an advance copy. But, was this COI really fully public and transparent? How can the public be aware of secret meetings the members of the COI had with foreign agents, such as John Rankin, Augustus Jaspert and British ministers and officers, as well as traitorous Islander-informants? What instructions, briefings, gossips and tips did they receive over a glass of wine, and out of protocol? And this is what matters, not the anti-democratic staged presentation of an artificial "legal' proceeding.

The Opposition Leader made the comments during an Opposition press conference on April 12, 2022, alongside senior Opposition Member, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) and Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2).

His comments also come on the heels of reports that Cabinet of the Virgin Islands made a request to the Governor for a copy of the Report but was denied.

Make report public - Hon Penn


Speaking directly on the unreleased Report now with Governor Rankin, Hon Penn said the completed CoI report ought to have been public already.

“I believe the people need to see that Report, it needs to be forthcoming to the people of this territory and as well as the leaders of this country,” he said.

Hon Penn, in a message to the Premier and Governor John J. Rankin, further said if there are any advance discussions on the CoI report, the Opposition expects to be meaningfully engaged and to be a part of the process.

“At least the Leader of Government business should have had an advance report because he is the one that has to bear the brunt of the burden in terms of the discussions, but as Leader of the Opposition we are entitled to be around the table with those discussions,” he said.

Opposition must be consulted on deliberation - Hon Penn


Hon Penn reminded that the three Oppositions members present for the press conference represent three of the biggest districts and the entire territory.

“The people are asking, the people need access to that information just like they had access to all the deliberations that happened over a 15-month period with this particular investigation of the CoI,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hon Fraser said the VI has placed itself in that position regarding the unreleased CoI Report given the constitution has empowered the Governor like a ‘King’ to determine when and how the information will be released.

Governor may be withholding report from Premier - Hon Fraser


Hon Fraser said given the previous public disagreements with Ex-Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert and Premier Fahie, Governor Rankin may be withholding the Report out of fear that the Premier may release it.

“The Premier might hold it against but I don’t know… so I don’t know who to blame,” Hon Fraser added. He said, however, that the VI needs to blame itself for having a Governor in the territory in the first place.

“So let him [Governor] do what he wants to do… it’s been on your foot, but you will be talking about it because it’s a CoI Report,” Hon Fraser said.

“We need to be talking about the Governor for everything, not just that and from a long time ago,” he said while underscoring that he is ready to move on together with the people.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
×