Governor mum on ‘Government Official 1’ investigation
Governor John Rankin has opted not to offer any insight into possible investigations into an allegedly notoriously corrupt government operative mentioned in the arrest affidavit of former Premier, Andrew Fahie.
Since the former Premier’s arrest, speculation has been rife about the identity of the person referred in the arrest document as ‘Government Official 1’, and what law enforcement officials were doing about that person.
The high-ranking official is alleged in the document to have facilitated the passage of illicit drugs through the territory’s waters and is also allegedly characterized by the former Premier as being controlled by ‘many employers’ — a thinly veiled reference to drug dealers.
Speaking at a joint press briefing yesterday, Governor Rankin said: “I am not going to comment on that particular individual. There is much speculation on the fact. I think it’s probably best we all wait for further investigations to be made before conclusions are reached on that matter.”
In the meantime, the Governor denied that he was aware of investigations being carried out in the BVI by US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials prior to the arrest of Fahie.
“No, I did not [know about their presence]. And as I made clear when I published the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report, the arrest of former Premier Fahie came as much as a shock to me as it did to everyone else here in the BVI. I recognise, indeed, the shock it caused to so many people with whom I work and meet every day but I did not have prior knowledge of that,“ the Governor stated.
When questioned about whether his predecessor, former Governor Augustus Jaspert may have had knowledge of the involvement of government officials in that criminal case, Governor Rankin said this was precisely why the COI was established.
“Sadly, the facts suggest what we all know but I must not predict the outcome of the criminal investigations and legal proceedings in the US,” Governor Rankin said.
The high-ranking official is alleged in the document to have facilitated the passage of illicit drugs through the territory’s waters and is also allegedly characterized by the former Premier as being controlled by ‘many employers’ — a thinly veiled reference to drug dealers.
Speaking at a joint press briefing yesterday, Governor Rankin said: “I am not going to comment on that particular individual. There is much speculation on the fact. I think it’s probably best we all wait for further investigations to be made before conclusions are reached on that matter.”
In the meantime, the Governor denied that he was aware of investigations being carried out in the BVI by US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials prior to the arrest of Fahie.
“No, I did not [know about their presence]. And as I made clear when I published the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report, the arrest of former Premier Fahie came as much as a shock to me as it did to everyone else here in the BVI. I recognise, indeed, the shock it caused to so many people with whom I work and meet every day but I did not have prior knowledge of that,“ the Governor stated.
When questioned about whether his predecessor, former Governor Augustus Jaspert may have had knowledge of the involvement of government officials in that criminal case, Governor Rankin said this was precisely why the COI was established.
“Sadly, the facts suggest what we all know but I must not predict the outcome of the criminal investigations and legal proceedings in the US,” Governor Rankin said.
