Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Proposed legislation provides police protection for Whistleblower, family

Proposed legislation provides police protection for Whistleblower, family

Whistleblowers can request and be approved for protection by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) in the event they and their immediate family feel endangered or are likely to be endangered as a result of the information they gave or are planning to offer.

This is one of the perks the Virgin Islands Whistleblower Act 2021 will provide.

The bill, a campaign promise by the Virgin Islands Party Government of Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), was brought to the House of Assembly on March 4, 2021, when it received its Introduction and First Reading.

Excerpts from the proposed legislation that is presently making the rounds for public discourse states: “For the purposes of this section “family” means spouse, father, mother, child, grandchild, brother and sister.”

The Virgin Islands Whistleblower Act 2021, a campaign promise by the Virgin Islands Party Government of Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), was brought to the House of Assembly on March 4, 2021, when it received its Introduction and First Reading.


Whistleblower Reward Fund


In the meantime, the soon-to-be law makes provision for a Whistleblower Reward Fund.

The document said the funds shall consist of voluntary contributions and other monies that may be allocated by the House of Assembly to the Fund.

“The object of the Fund is to provide funds for payment of monetary rewards to whistleblowers,” however, the information from the Whistleblower’s disclosure must lead to the arrest and conviction of the accused person.

The document stated likewise: “A whistleblower whose disclosure results in the recovery of an amount of money shall be rewarded from the Fund with (a) ten per cent of the amount of money recovered, or (b) the amount of money that the Governor after consultation with Cabinet shall determine.”

Monies for the Fund shall, on the directions of Cabinet, be paid into a bank account opened for the purpose by the Accountant General with the approval of the Financial Secretary, and for the purposes of this Act, the Minister may with the approval of Cabinet give instructions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, for the management of the Fund, the Bill explained.

Additionally, the Bill said, “the disbursement of Funds shall be determined by the Minister with the approval of Cabinet and the Accountant General shall within thirty days on receipt of the submission of a claim for payment out of the Fund, approve (a) payment of a reward from the Fund; (b) the reimbursement of expenses incurred by a whistleblower whose disclosure resulted in an investigation for which that person incurred those expenses; and (c) the payment of other relevant expenses as may be determined by the Accountant General.”

Whistleblowers can request and be approved for protection by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) in the event they and their immediate family feel endangered or are likely to be endangered as a result of the information they gave or are planning to offer.


Good for Territory


Premier Fahie, speaking during the Sixth Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom, Tortola on March 4, 2021, said the Whistleblower legislation is good for the territory.

“It is time these kinds of good governance reach to us, and we have done this on our own, we have not been asked to do so, we have not been forced to do so, we have not been instructed to do so, we have not been coerced to do so. This government is doing so because of the promises it made during the campaign and since in office,” he said.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
×