Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Apr 21, 2025

Final Report on CoI negotiations out! Governor in charge of territory

Final Report on CoI negotiations out! Governor in charge of territory

Despite Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) trying to put the best spin ever on the framework for implementation on the recommendations coming out of the one-man Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report, what remains clear is the Governor will run the Virgin Islands for two years, even without the suspension of the local constitution.

In what many regard as another revenge move, according to the proposal agreed by the Wheatley-led Unity Government and the UK, the Governor will order an investigation into corruption within HM Customs by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF).

Double standards?


To date, there have been no allegations of corruption within HM Customs, but the Customs Department has been holding the police force accountable for misuse of government boats and alleged human trafficking. Ironically; however, the scandal-riddled police force, which is under Governor John J. Rankin, is to lead the investigation, according to the reform proposal.

Further, according to the final document released to the public on June 8, 2022, the Governor is to appoint an independent investigator to examine whether any appointments to statutory boards made since 2019 should be revoked.

Statutory Boards are governed by their own acts, which do not include oversight by an unelected Governor.

Additionally, the Governor will oversee the Department of Human Resources’ coordination of expenditure on the training of public officers.

This is something currently under his portfolio; however, he was given a pass by Commissioner Gary R. Hickinbottom.

No need for PSC?


In an increase of the Governor’s power, he is to appoint an independent agency to conduct full vetting of all HM Customs and Immigration Department Officers, and if necessary, officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and the Prison Service.

The man now in charge of the country, the Governor, will conduct quarterly reviews over the course of the reform process. This will include consideration of: (i) implementation of the CoI Report recommendations; (ii) the written quarterly reports from all individuals leading reviews, investigations and audits arising from the CoI recommendations; (iii) other reforms enacted; and (vi) the political culture exhibited in the day-to-day running of the government.

The Governor, who has come out with all the powers, is expected to publish his quarterly reviews, according to the final framework recommendations agreed to by Premier Wheatley even without consulting the people of the Virgin Islands and published only yesterday, June 8, 2022.

The scandal-riddled Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has been identified to lead investigations into Her Majesty's Customs, which has recently been holding the RVIPF accountable.


There have been no allegations of corruption within HM Customs; however, the Governor has been given the power to instruct the distrusted and scandal-riddled Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) to investigate possible corruption with HM Customs.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Prince Andrew Joins Royal Family Attends Easter Sunday Service at Windsor Castle
Saudi Arabia Offers Max Verstappen Unprecedented Deal to Join Aston Martin
Global Pistachio Shortage Amid Rising Demand for 'Dubai Chocolate'
Trump is assembling a coalition of Western leaders aligned with the MAGA vision, strengthening a unified front for global change
IMF Predicts No Global Recession Amid Trade Tensions
Here’s a police officer with a brilliant gift for swift education
"Some complain that we put thousands in prison. In reality, we set millions free."
This is Vienna, Austria in 2025.
Boeing Jet Returns to US from China Amid Tariff War
Canadian Federal Election: Candidates' Positions on US-Canada Relations and Donald Trump
Resentencing Hearing for Menendez Brothers Who Killed Their Parents Delayed Amid Legal Disputes
Australian Woman Gives Birth To Stranger's Baby In IVF Mix-up
US Sets Deadline for Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal Brokerage
Italy Introduces 'Sex Rooms' in Prisons for Inmates
California Launches Legal Challenge Against Trump Administration's Tariffs
"Groundless": China Dismisses Zelensky's Claims It's Supplying Arms To Russia
UK Psytrance Festival Cancelled Amid Local Protests Over Noise Concerns
French Far-Right Writer Renaud Camus Denied Entry to UK
UK Police Force Updates Search Policy for Trans Individuals in Custody
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Meets with Donald Trump to Discuss EU-US Trade Tensions
Canada's Federal Party Leaders Engage in Final Debate Ahead of General Election
Ukraine and US Sign Outline of Minerals Deal
Fast Food Chain Refuses to Apologize for Online Comment About Katy Perry's Space Voyage
New York Attorney General Letitia James Faces Criminal Referral for Alleged Mortgage Fraud
Mark Cuban admits support for Trump executive order: ‘Gotta be honest’
US Senator Meets with Deported Immigrant in El Salvador Amid Custody Dispute
U.S. State Department Raises El Salvador’s Safety Ranking, Making It Safer Than France and Other European Nations
UK Government Assumes Control of British Steel's Scunthorpe Plant Amid Shutdown Threat
UK MP Wera Hobhouse Denied Entry to Hong Kong During Family Visit
Bangladesh Issues Arrest Warrant for UK MP Tulip Siddiq
China Urges United States to Cancel Tariffs Amid Escalating Trade Tensions
The Empire’s USD Pyramid Scheme Is Working Brilliantly—So Why ‘Fix’ It?
China Raises Tariffs on U.S. Goods to 125% Amid Escalating Trade Dispute
Elon Musk Reports $150 Billion in Projected Government Savings Amid Fraud Investigations
U.S. and Panama Finalize Defense Agreements Amid Canal Access and Chinese Influence Concerns
China Stands Firm Amidst Trade Disputes with the US: A Factual Analysis
U.S. Tariff Escalation Sparks Global Trade Tensions
Helicopter crashes in NYC with four people on board.
Australia Dismisses China's Suggestion to Collaborate Against US Tariffs
EU Postpones Response to US Tariffs
The Trump Administration is contemplating removing Chinese companies from U.S. stock exchanges.
Violent Incidents and Public Safety Concerns Escalate in London and County Durham
UK MP Arrested on Suspicion of Rape and Child Sex Offences
UK Gears Up to Respond to US Tariffs with Industrial Strategies and Trade Initiatives
‘Rocky’ star Dolph Lundgren and his wife Emma Krokdal bask in the Miami sunshine following the actor’s lengthy health struggles.
Spain Encounters Countrywide Protests as Housing Crisis Intensifies
Alisha Lehmann's Modeling Campaign and Public Controversy Stir Debate Ahead of UEFA Women's Euro
U.S. Firms with Major International Revenue Exposure in Light of New Tariffs
President Trump Calls on the Federal Reserve to Reduce Interest Rates in Light of New Tariffs
President Trump Prolongs TikTok Sale Deadline by 75 Days
×