Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Local Cops, Not UK Experts Pursuing BVI Airways Criminal Probe

Local Cops, Not UK Experts Pursuing BVI Airways Criminal Probe

Despite indications that funding was approved to hire United Kingdom (UK) experts to assist the crimminal investigations into the BVI Airways fiasco, a decision was made for local investigators to go it alone.
Outgoing Police Commissioner, Michael Matthews confirmed this in a recent interview with BVI Platinum News.

"We didn't have the United Kingdom here for the BVI airways investigation....that's been handled by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF); a local detective is in charge of that investigation," Matthews indicated.

On June 9, last year, Former Governor Augustus Jaspert announced that the (RVIPF) will receive funding to hire expert investigators to help their criminal investigation of the project that cost taxpayers $7.2M.

"I am pleased to see appropriate action is being taken forward. The Commissioner of Police [Michael Matthews] has undertaken steps to launch a criminal investigation based on the contents of this report. I was pleased to support the Commissioner’s request to appoint independent financial investigation experts to set the wheels in motion for the investigation and I am grateful to members of the National Security Council for agreeing to the funding," the Governor had disclosed.

However, the Commissioner appeared to share a different view regarding the UK experts.

"It was certainly a proposal that was discussed with Government about whether we should bring in specialist investigators, but in the end, we determined that we could work with the lawyers that have been appointed here locally alongside the civil process so the actual investigation is being handled by the force itself," Matthews stated.

The Auditor General's (AG) report into the Government’s financing of BVI Airway's plans for direct flights to Miami under the then National Democratic Party (NDP) administration, has laid out damning evidence.

The Auditor-General found that payments in the amount of $7.2M to the airline were made outside of the scheduled approval by the Cabinet of the Virgin Islands.

In the recommendations, the Auditor General’s report pinpointed that former Financial Secretary, Neil Smith should be required to provide answers for his apparent excesses of authority beyond Cabinet’s authorizations, including his release of $2M in January 2017 to the operating parties which may also amount to a breach of trust.

Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon. Andrew Fahie had always questioned the airline project while as Opposition Leader.

He had revealed that the two planes that were apparently purchased with taxpayer funding in 2016 were sold twice and are now operating out of Australia. Premier Fahie revealed the probe done by Martin Kenney & Co. Solicitors, uncovered that some of the major players in the failed airline were still residing in the Territory.

According to the Premier, Pauline Jones, a United Kingdom native, residing in the Territory, owns 31 percent of shares in the company. He said, another UK native, now a BVI resident, Bradley Bogen, owns another 20 percent, while a Delaware based company holds the remaining 49 per cent.

The shareholders of the US-based company, he said is alleged to be Gerry Welby and Scott Wiseman. The pair were also directors of the company, tasked with the daily running of the airline company.

The Premier had also revealed that the other directors of the airline as of 2017 were US citizen, Bruce Bradley; former BVI Government lawyer, Lester Hyman; US native, Robert Cisella, and Ryan Geluk a Canadian citizen and resident of the Territory.

He said these directors as per the investigations were to be paid $10,000 in compensation when they were appointed, and they were also entitled to $2,500 for each meeting attended.

The matter is currently in legal proceedings in New York and Washington DC involving Hyman, the government’s former attorney.
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
×