CoI grills Premier on Patsy C. Lake & Claude O. Skelton-Cline
Amongst those questions were inquiries about Government consultant and radio host Claude O. Skelton-Cline and local businesswoman and Virgin Islands icon Patsy C. Lake, as well as Chairman of the BVI Airports Authority Bevis A. Sylvester.
According to the Premier, the questions were wide-ranging.
Questioning was wide-ranging - Premier
“May I say that the questions put to me by the commission were on a wide range of focus areas including but not limited to Mr Claude Skelton-Cline, EZ Shipping, Mrs Patsy Lake, Mr Bevis Sylvester and many other persons and programmes and projects,” he said.
He said, however, that the questions were all answered faithfully, truthfully, accurately, and in detail by him and that he would be happy to appear before the commission at a future date.
“I was also questioned about allegations of corruption under the last administration when I was a Member of the Opposition and also for a time as Leader of the Opposition,” he said.
The Premier said that while he was glad to answer the questions and put them into context, he affirmed the Government’s commitment to comply with the CoI.
"I have no fear of the truth," Hon Fahie said, reiterating that his administration has nothing to hide and will remain fully committed to the inquiry.
The Premier, however, called for a more robust, fair, and transparent CoI process, given some 85,000 pages of documents on the various Ministries, agencies, and the present and past administration have been submitted.
Premier gives recommendations
According to Premier Fahie, given the vast amount of information with overlapping areas, including information coming from citizens, transparency, efficiency and effectiveness of the CoI can be enhanced if persons summoned before the CoI can be advised on what subjects they will be questioned on so they can be prepared as well as have supporting documents.
‘I’m not saying that the Commission should tell the witness what the exact questions they should ask, but merely what topic they should come prepared to address given that you are talking about the 85,000 pages of information,” he said.
Hon Fahie said; however, it is up to the lone Commissioner, Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom, to ultimately decide how he will conduct his inquiry.
"It seems to me to be only fair to provide sufficient information and guidance, to ensure that witnesses are fully prepared and equipped to assist the commission in its quest for fairness and to uncovering the truth, whether the truth is good or ugly," Hon Fahie said.
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28 Responses to “CoI grills Premier on Patsy C. Lake & Claude O. Skelton-Cline”
The one man commissioner is a rac**t mob
Other than that, your post makes complete sense.
Worry about / and the guy who is controlling the ( COI ) is not one of your puppets / so you cannot dictate to him on how to perform his job ( am sure it's not his first time so relax yourself before you explode
https://bvi.public-inquiry.uk/sites/default/files/2021-05/BVI%20COI%20Press%20Notice%20-%20COI%20-%20Further%20Update%20%2821%20May%202021%29.pdf