Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Mar 30, 2023

VI taxpayers to foot Governor's $44K CoI legal bill

VI taxpayers to foot Governor's $44K CoI legal bill

Local taxpayers will have to foot a huge legal bill incurred by current United Kingdom (UK) appointed Governor John J. Rankin, CMG, when he appeared before the Commission of Inquiry on November 24, 2021.

This is according to Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) in questions answered during the May 26, 2022, 3rd Sitting of the 4th Session of the 4th House of Assembly at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom, Tortola.

Senior legislator and Opposition leader, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) in questions to the House said he noticed that the Governor, both past and present, were called as witnesses.

The legislator said he remains struck by the logic of the appearance and needs answers to a few questions.

Senior legislator and Opposition Leader, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) in questions to the House said he notice that the Governor, both past and present were called as witnesses


Senior Legislator Hon Fraiser raised question


“Madam Speaker, could the Premier and Minister of Finance please tell this Honourable House how was he able to discern: a) Whose interest was the Governor serving, given that he represents the UK while in the Territory?, b) Who paid for his legal fees? And c) How were they paid?”

While the Premier, Dr Wheatley said he does not perceive it to be his role to discern whose interest the Governor was serving, he said the conclusion will be drawn by the other legislators.

“I will leave the Member and others to come to their own conclusions about that. I believe that the Governor would have provided answers to the question raised based on his knowledge and experience. In the respective matters raised,” he added.

The Premier revealed; however, that when the Governor appeared before the CoI and faced questions posed by Sir C. Geoffrey Cox on behalf of the Attorney General, in those circumstances, the Attorney General did not legally represent him.

“Instead, private legal representation was provided in consultation with the Attorney General, with the cost to be met by the Government of the Virgin Islands.”

While the Premier, Dr the Hon Wheatley said he does not perceive it to be his role to discern whose interest the Governor was serving, he said that conclusion will be drawn by the other legislators.


VI to pay up for UK Governor


As such, according to the Premier, the cost incurred was $44,220 for taxpayers to foot after the contract is vetted ahead of payments being processed.

Meanwhile, a Special Select Committee appointed by the House of Assembly (HoA) to examine whether former Speaker Julian Willock should be indemnified of court costs has concluded that the HoA should not be held responsible for the fees incurred when the then Speaker and his Deputy filed an injunction against three Commission of Inquiry (CoI) lawyers who were deemed to be working illegally in the Virgin Islands.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
Close
0:00
0:00
Father obliterates council members following viral TikTok of biological male masturbating in women’s bathroom..
I have a dream, MLK inspiring speech
China and Brazil have signed a new deal that will allow them to trade in their own currencies, bypassing the US dollar as an intermediary
Aretha Franklin, Marvis Staples - Oh Happy Day
Elon Musk and Others Call for Pause on A.I., Citing ‘Profound Risks to Society’
BVI Freedom Song
Nashville style execution
Billy Preston - You Can't Beat God Giving (Live)
“We've had evidence prior to the pandemic that masks were largely ineffective at preventing community transmission of influenza “
VIRGIN ISLANDS REGGAE CARIBBEAN RIDDIMZ
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz:
Oh Happy Day Edwin Hawkins - Anthony Brown w FBCG Combined Choir
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz rejects being labeled a "billionaire"
'Stand by Me' performed by Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir
Jamie Dimon is being deposed over JPMorgan Chase role in Epstein lawsuits
National Anthem of the British Virgin Islands - Oh, Beautiful Virgin
This is how an electric car saves all the energy that he would have spent if he had lived 50 years longer.
Hello Dolly
Brand new security footage has just been released to the public showing the Active shooter Audrey Elizabeth Hale drove to Covenant Church School in her Honda Fit this morning, parked, and shot her way into the building
for KING & COUNTRY - Amen (Reborn) [feat. Lecrae & The WRLDFMS Tony Wi
Social Media censoring users for saying the true
Bob Marley - Get Up Stand Up
Smart Iranian fashion designer teaching dummy TV anchors lesson about reality
Yes He Can
AMERICA, 2023
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
U.S. charges FTX's Bankman-Fried with paying $40 million bribe
Unforgettable
Fallen 'Crypto King' Who Owes Millions to Investors Was Kidnapped and Tortured
Touch The Hem Of His Garment
Regulators blame social media for SVB's rapid collapse: 'Complete game changer'
The Lord's Prayer
AOC explains why she opposes banning TikTok
THE GOD MOVEMENT...BEAUTIFUL BVI
UK: Humza Yousaf replaces Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader and first minister in Scotland
Siyahamba
In a dramatic U-turn against His Government: Judicial Reform Legislation Must Be Halted, Says Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant
Ray Charles And The Voices Of Jubilaton, Oh, Happy Day
Gordon Moore, a co-founder of Intel Corporation, died at 94
Ramblin' Rose
Powell: Silicon Valley Bank was an 'outlier'
Protoje - Who Knows ft. Chronixx
Donald Trump arrested – Twitter goes wild with doctored pictures
Pressure - Virgin Islands Nice
NYPD is setting up barricades outside Manhattan Criminal Court ahead of Trump arrest.
Phil Wickham - House Of The Lord
Credit Suisse's Scandalous History Resulted in an Obvious Collapse - It's time for regulators who fail to do their job to be held accountable and serve as an example by being behind bars.
My God Is Real (Yes, God Is Real)
Home Secretary Suella Braverman tours potential migrant housing in Rwanda as asylum deal remains mired in legal challenges
The Lion King Circle of Life by LEBO M. — LIVE at the HAVASI Symphonic
Paris Rioting vs Macron anti democratic law
Louis Armstrong - When The Saints Go Marching In
'Sexual Fantasy' Assignment At US School Outrages Parents
Kanye West Sunday Service - hallelujah, salvation, and glory
Credit Suisse to borrow $54 billion from Swiss central bank
Jonathan Nelson - I Believe (Island Medley
Russian Hackers Preparing New Cyber Assault Against Ukraine
From The Virgin Islands Sqad Up
Jeremy Hunt insists his Budget will get young parents and over-50s back into work
Common, John Legend - Glory
If this was in Tehran, Moscow or Hong Kong
Anthony Evans vs. Jesse Campbell - If I Ain't Got You
Nashville police officer, and a female driver shooting one another
I have a dream, MLK inspiring speech
TRUMP: "Standing before you today, I am the only candidate who can make this promise: I will prevent World War III."
Aretha Franklin, Marvis Staples - Oh Happy Day
Mexican President Claims Mexico is Safer than the U.S.
BVI Freedom Song
A brief banking situation report
Billy Preston - You Can't Beat God Giving (Live)
Lady bites police officer and gets instantly reaction
VIRGIN ISLANDS REGGAE CARIBBEAN RIDDIMZ
We are witnessing widespread bank fails and the president just gave a 5 min speech then walked off camera.
Oh Happy Day Edwin Hawkins - Anthony Brown w FBCG Combined Choir
Donald Trump's asked by Tucker Carlson question on if the U.S. should support regime change in Russia?.
'Stand by Me' performed by Karen Gibson and The Kingdom Choir
Good news: The U.S. government is now guaranteeing all deposits, held by, Silicon Valley Bank, and the funds are available as of today
National Anthem of the British Virgin Islands - Oh, Beautiful Virgin
Silicon Valley Bank exec was Lehman Brothers CFO
Hello Dolly
In a potential last-ditch effort, HSBC is considering a rescue deal to save Silicon Valley Bank UK from insolvency
for KING & COUNTRY - Amen (Reborn) [feat. Lecrae & The WRLDFMS Tony Wi
BBC Director General, Tim Davie, has apologized, but not resigned, yet, following the disruption of sports programmes over the weekend
Bob Marley - Get Up Stand Up
A Mississippian man, who was once considered a “ticking time bomb,” has lost a whopping 165 kilograms! What motivated this incredible transformation?
Yes He Can
Elon Musk Is Planning To Build A Town In Texas For His Employees
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
The Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse effect is spreading around the world, affecting startup companies across the globe
Unforgettable
City officials in Berlin announced on Thursday that all swimmers at public pools will soon be allowed to swim topless
Touch The Hem Of His Garment
Fitness scam
The Lord's Prayer
Market Chaos as USDC Loses Peg to USD after $3.3 Billion Reserves Held by Silicon Valley Bank Closed.
THE GOD MOVEMENT...BEAUTIFUL BVI
A primitive judge in Australia sparked outrage when he told a breastfeeding woman to leave his courtroom for being “a distraction"
Siyahamba
Barcelona is feeling the heat as they face corruption charges over payments to former vice-president of Spain's referees' committee, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira
Ray Charles And The Voices Of Jubilaton, Oh, Happy Day
×