Local News
BVI Awaits Governor’s Response to EZ Shipping’s Complaint Over Press Conference Statements
Residents of the British Virgin Islands are anticipating Governor John Rankin’s response to a complaint filed by local businessman Clyde Chalwell with the United Kingdom (UK) Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs Office pertaining to statements made during a press conference in March.
Less than two months before his departure in December from the position of governor, Rankin found himself the subject of an official complaint filed by the owner of EZ Shipping through Stokoe Partnership Solicitors.
In the October 13 letter to the United Kingdom (UK) Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs Office James Cleverly, Chalwell’s legal team highlighted two troubling statements made by Rankin when questioned by the media about the territory’s Covid-19 security measures during a March 3.
“I leave others to speculate as to why the former Premier might have been so opposed to what was the deployment of the more effective method for deterring activity in the waters,” the Governor said regarding the former Premier Andrew Fahie choosing EZ Shipping over the UK Navy ship to secure the territory’s waters.
Chalwell’s legal firm highlighted that “this statement is a deliberate attempt to insinuate misconduct on behalf of our client” given the fact that former Premier Fahie had been arrested by United States federal agents and charged with money laundering and drug trafficking.
The company was paid $1.2 million by the government, and according to Chalwell attorneys, the EZ Shipping report had been sent to the DPP and Police “to assess whether any offences were committed according to the contracts.
Additionally, on the effectiveness of the barges provided by EZ Shipping as a security defence, the Governor Rankin said: “I was frankly immediately unconvinced as to their effectiveness.”
“This comment amounts to the Governor giving evidence of his opinion in a press conference when the subject matter he opines has been referred to the relevant authorities for investigation into potential civil recovery proceedings and/or criminal; prosecution,” highlights Chalwell’s legal firm.
The attorneys stressed that “this comment was entirely inappropriate and represented the Governor descending into the arena when it was not his place to do so.”
Following the publication of the letter’s contents by the local press this week, Governor Rankin has refrained from providing an official comment on the allegations.
Concluding his term as the territory’s Governor, which began in January 2021, the seasoned diplomat plans to retire from diplomatic service in December.
He has spent his tenure diligently supervising the government’s implementation of the recommendations arising from the Commission of Inquiry, initiated in January 2021 by former Governor Gus Jaspert.
On April 4, 2022, Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom submitted his comprehensive 946-page findings from the CoI, revealing instances of corruption in government, abuse of office, and other serious dishonesty within public office in recent years.
Following the arrest and subsequent resignation of Premier Fahie, party and independent politicians united to form a coalition government, preventing the UK from suspending the BVI’s constitution for two years.
This arrangement also provided residents with the opportunity to rebuild their trust in the government before the 2023 general elections, leading to the reappointment of Natalio Whealtkey as premier.
Rankin will be succeeded as the Governor by Daniel Pruce, who will assume the position in January 2024.
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Local News
British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission Welcomes New Leadership
The British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (BVIFSC) has announced new appointments to its governing board, with Mr. Gerard St Clair Farara KC stepping in as Chairman and Ms. Patlian Johnson as Commissioner. The appointments, confirmed by the Ministry of Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, mark a new chapter for the commission as it seeks to strengthen the territory’s financial services sector.
Mr. Gerard St Clair Farara KC has been appointed to a three-year term as Chairman, effective August 1, 2024. A seasoned legal expert with a distinguished career, Farara currently serves as a Commercial Court Judge for the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and leads the litigation team at the BVI office of COLLAS CRILL, formerly Farara Kerins. Farara’s prominence in the legal community is further highlighted by his appointment as Queen’s Counsel in 1996, cementing his standing as a leading figure in the Virgin Islands Bar and the broader Eastern Caribbean.
Ms. Patlian Johnson will serve a one-year term as Commissioner, also beginning on August 1, 2024. Johnson, a Strategy and Policy Advisor with extensive experience, currently holds the position of National Coordinator for the UNDP Project Office. She brings an impressive academic background, including a Master of Science in Economics and Finance from the University of Bristol and a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Accounting with First Class Honours from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.
The pair will replace outgoing Chairman Mr. Robin F. Gaul and Commissioner Mr. Melvin A. Turnbull, whose terms have concluded. Minister of Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, Honourable Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL), praised the new appointments, stating, “I am delighted to welcome Mr. Farara and Ms. Johnson to the BVIFSC Board of Commissioners. Their combined expertise will be invaluable as we continue to navigate the challenges and opportunities facing the financial services sector.”
Smith also expressed gratitude to the departing board members for their significant contributions to the growth and stability of the territory’s financial services industry. According to the Government Information Service (GIS), these appointments underscore the Virgin Islands’ commitment to maintaining a well-regulated and competitive financial services sector.
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