Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Jun 23, 2025

We need to learn from botched BVI Airways deal, says Governor

We need to learn from botched BVI Airways deal, says Governor

Governor Augustus Jaspert said the British Virgin Islands should learn from the controversial BVI Airways deal that occurred between the airline and the previous National Democratic Party (NDP) government. Getting back the money from the officials and others who took this $7.2 million to their pockets is important. To file a criminal charge against the officials that break the law is essential - but only for BVI people, not really for the Governor. For whatever reason the Governor believe (or wants BVI to believe) that BVI should forget and forgive the money and the wrong doing of his friends from the previous government, and only concentrate on the future, to make sure that the new government that he do not like will not enjoy from the same things...

The deal saw the NDP administration dumping $7.2 million into the airline to facilitate direct flights between the BVI and Miami, USA back in 2016.

Addressing members of the media on Tuesday, Governor Jaspert said: “On the subject of governance, you’ll all be aware of the recent BVI Airways report. I won’t discuss the details as the project is now the subject of a police investigation. However, we do need to ensure we learn lessons from it and from other similar reports.”

“I believe this and previous reports show that there are fundamental deficiencies in our systems. It’s true that we have rules and processes in place to protect against this kind of thing, but this report and others before tell us that they aren’t working as they should. We need to learn the lessons and introduce change in our systems,” he added.

The governor further said he would like this to become a priority for the local government going forward so the BVI has “the highest standards of governance that prevent it from happening again.”

And what about the past and the missing money??? $7.200,000!

This is exactly what the Governor  is trying to make you forget, and keep you busy with another ineffective regulation instead of getting the money back from his friends.

I would like to believe that the Governor is not part of this corruption, and he try to cover up the case only from innocent and ignorance. But somehow all his behavior about this specific subject doesn't smell good, in understatement.


Criminal investigation

A criminal investigation has been launched into the failed deal, but the Governor  stoped it and higher another expert that hopefully will contredict the conclusion of the first expert. And even if not - t list to delay the investigation until the new election will change this current government, or by votes or - maybe - by miscounting the votes.

The bottom line is that BVI people have no flight and no money. Despite receiving the millions in funding to commence the direct flights, BVI Airways missed all its promised dates to start these flights.

Things took a turn for the worse when the airline laid off its staff, stating that it needed more funds to fly. Following that, two of the airline’s aircraft were later reported missing and were reportedly found operating in other jurisdictions.


About The Failed Deal

The controversial deal was made between the BVI Airways and the former National Democratic Party (NDP) government in 2016.

The BVI government, headed by Dr D Orlando Smith at the time, pumped $7.2M into the airline; however, the flights never occurred. The airline missed several timelines for commencement of those flights, and it eventually laid off its staff on the basis that more funds were needed to continue its operations.

Two of the aircraft belonging to the airline were deemed to be missing by Government and were tracked operating in Australia, nearly 18,000 kilometres away.

A lawsuit has been filed in a US court from the BVI Government against its former attorney Lester Hyman who was the one who allegedly introduced the investors to then Premier Smith, but for strange reason BVI did not file a law suit to held the Smiths accountable for their fault.

At the same time, an investigation into the matter itself has been launched locally.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
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
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
×