Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Concerned citizens to pen petition for governor to release COI report

Concerned citizens to pen petition for governor to release COI report

A group of concerned citizens in the Virgin Islands have joined forces to bring a petition to Governor John Rankin to release the full Commission of Inquiry (COI) report to the public with greater immediacy.
While speaking on JTV News recently, group representative Melissa Potter said the group of residents got together and had a lengthy discussion and decided to write the document expressing their feelings on Rankin’s press release on April 4.

Potter said the area of concern for them was mainly that the Governor announced he had shared a copy of the COI report with the United Kingdom Minister of Overseas Territory, Amanda Milling, in confidence before anyone in the territory was able to view it.

“Here we have heard that the UK officials have seen our report before a single individual in this dear Virgin Islands. Then he indicated that any others with good reasons to see the report it will be shown to them before possible publication to the people. After reading that, we wanted to know why he mentioned that the report being of a possible publication to view. I am concerned as a citizen,” Potter said.

“It is our right to see the report. I am not being disrespectful, but I am speaking on behalf of myself and concerned persons on His Excellency’s choice of words and stated direction. Now, he has a right to do all of that, but it was the way it was delivered to us,” she added.

Potter highlighted that the governor had announced he must assess whether it was in the public’s interest to release the report and she noted the group of concerned citizens took an issue with that.

“How could it not be? The Commission of Inquiry was a public display for all the world to see. The public is waiting for a response after seeing such a lengthy COI. Those coded statements sound to me like a yo-yo statement. Up and down, saying one thing and then another. Now, His Excellency is the only one who will decide for us the people in a democratic society,” Potter said.

“I am not sure that reflects democracy, good, bad, and indifferent. I believe we have a right without any withholding anything from us the public, unless criminal or legally sensitive, we should be able to review all aspects of the report which was compiled on our behalf,” she continued.

She said the signed document was presented to the governor and it was on behalf of all concerned citizens in the BVI who believes it is their right to see the report and assess it for themselves.

“We are intelligent people, and we can make assessments and good judgement as well because at the end of the day, it is us who must deal with it. When governors come and governors go, we remain so we should have that public right to make those decisions and not it being withheld from us because you have a document that says you have certain reserved powers,” Potter said.

Just a week ago, Governor Rankin made another announcement that the Virgin Islands public might not have access to the extensive COI report until June.

In a press release, Rankin had mentioned it was his intention to share the report in confidence with Premier Andrew Fahie and then with the leaders of the different political parties represented in the House of Assembly.

The governor’s statements on sharing the COI report have caused a lot of controversy. Speaker of the House, Julian Willock expressed concern that he was not mentioned in the press release and also that the Governor did not indicate he would share the report with the judiciary.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×