Website Could Play Key Role In UK's Corruption Probe
From the comfort of a home or office, from anywhere in the world, a person can anonymously provide information to the Commission of Inquiry established to probe corruption and corrupt public officials in the Virgin Islands.
"The Commissioner welcomes and encourages public input into the Inquiry and therefore places great importance on the Inquiry website. Anyone with information to share is encouraged to safely and securely contact the Inquiry team using the website," the Commission has stated.
The independent Commission of Inquiry was appointed by former Governor Augustus Jaspert on January 18 to look into whether corruption, abuse of office, or other serious dishonesty may have taken place amongst public, elected, and statutory officials in recent years.
The Right Honourable Sir Gary Hickinbottom was sworn in as the sole Commissioner on January 22.
An independent and secure Inquiry website (www.bvi.public-inquiry.uk) which not only has information about the Inquiry, but has a portal by which anyone can raise queries and submit information that falls within the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference and which they consider may be helpful.
"There are extremely robust security and privacy measures in place to protect information submitted to the Inquiry team via the website, or any other means, including both the information submitted and the privacy of the individual submitting it. The website has undergone substantial penetration testing and safeguarding to ensure its security," the Commission shared.
It also stated that any data shared through the website will be stored in the UK, protected by UK GDPR laws.
"There are also robust safeguards in place to ensure only authenticated users can access the website. Security testing takes place on a regular basis to ensure the safety of the website and users, and ensure full compliance with international standards. The Inquiry team would like to reassure those who wish to make contact or submit information, via the website that they can do so in the knowledge that their personal information will be treated in absolute confidence and held securely by the Inquiry team," the Commission outined.
Further, it was pointed out that neither the information nor its source, nor anything that might indicate its source, will be made public without an individual’s express agreement.
The independent Commission of Inquiry was appointed by former Governor Augustus Jaspert on January 18 to look into whether corruption, abuse of office, or other serious dishonesty may have taken place amongst public, elected, and statutory officials in recent years.
The Right Honourable Sir Gary Hickinbottom was sworn in as the sole Commissioner on January 22.
An independent and secure Inquiry website (www.bvi.public-inquiry.uk) which not only has information about the Inquiry, but has a portal by which anyone can raise queries and submit information that falls within the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference and which they consider may be helpful.
"There are extremely robust security and privacy measures in place to protect information submitted to the Inquiry team via the website, or any other means, including both the information submitted and the privacy of the individual submitting it. The website has undergone substantial penetration testing and safeguarding to ensure its security," the Commission shared.
It also stated that any data shared through the website will be stored in the UK, protected by UK GDPR laws.
"There are also robust safeguards in place to ensure only authenticated users can access the website. Security testing takes place on a regular basis to ensure the safety of the website and users, and ensure full compliance with international standards. The Inquiry team would like to reassure those who wish to make contact or submit information, via the website that they can do so in the knowledge that their personal information will be treated in absolute confidence and held securely by the Inquiry team," the Commission outined.
Further, it was pointed out that neither the information nor its source, nor anything that might indicate its source, will be made public without an individual’s express agreement.
