CoI instigator Augustus J. U. Jaspert to appear before CoI tomorrow
Without the knowledge of the democratically elected Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government, with who he shared a strained relationship, and was even accused of attempting to bully, announced a Commission of Inquiry into governance in the Virgin Islands on Martin Luther King Day, on January 18, 2021.
Power grab
Shortly after arriving in the Virgin Islands, the first thing Mr Jaspert did after the Hurricanes of 2017 was to take over the VI, using the constitution to enact his state of emergency powers.
It made the then elected National Democratic Party (NDP) Government powerless and useless.
Four months after the hurricanes, when the local people showed their usual skills and resilience to clean up the islands and there were signs of things getting back to normal, the British Press called the former Governor Jaspert a “hero” for his alleged role after the storms.
Failures of ex-gov Jaspert
However, in the spirit of transparency, the British press with their spin failed to say that all subjects under the Governor’s responsibilities—police, prisons and disaster management—had failed the people.
There was widespread looting following the hurricanes; costing millions of dollars to residents and businesses, because of a breakdown in police security.
Further, all prisoners, including some accused of murder, escaped from Her Majesty’s Prison and were roaming the streets from Virgin Gorda to Jost van Dyke for weeks, placing the public at risk.
Then there was mixed information coming out from the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) on the direction of Hurricane Irma in particular and its possible impact on the islands.
However, no one was held accountable for this, as no Commission of Inquiry (CoI) was launched over these gross failures.
Not only did the former Governor Jaspert take over the Government of the NDP after the hurricanes, but it seemed he believed he was elected and started to behave like an elected official; holding press conferences, meeting with senior civil servants, and Heads of Departments, making public announcements on policies and sidelining the NDP, even after the VI was no longer in a state of emergency.
In came the VIP!
After reportedly having a handle on the NDP Government, the VIP Government of Andrew A. Fahie (R1) came into power and began to manage the territory in a more effective and purposeful way, including ensuring locals were appointed to major positions in the territory, such as Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecutions, CEO of BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) and Superintendent of Prisons.
Then came 2020 with a global COVID-19 pandemic and the former Governor Jaspert seemingly saw this as his big chance to regain the public trust and started out by allegedly undermining the efforts of the Local Government.
He reportedly wanted to declare a state of emergency but it was rejected by Cabinet since the Public Health Act of 1977 gave the local Minister for Health the power to address a pandemic.
He reportedly fought the Government almost daily and wanted to be on the stage with the public updates, and all announcements and at one time, according to a Government Information Service Officer with knowledge of the situation, he allegedly almost physically assaulted the Honourable Premier just to speak first at one of the weekly COVID-19 press conferences.
Lawless Jaspert?
Mr Jaspert was also accused of having no regard for law and order or the constitution of the VI. He reportedly continued to violate the VI Constitution as he had his own interpretation that favoured him getting more power and reportedly not respecting the Premier and Cabinet.
The perceived disrespect also affected the HoA, with the Governor failing to get reports to it on time. A senior Member of the HoA, Hon Julian Fraser (R3), even brought a motion to reprimand him.
The controversial Ex-Governor continued to have no regard for the Legislative branch and refused to assent to many bills passed by the Parliament, usually with bogus excuses as to why the bills were not signed.
The issues with bills not assented to were never raised in Cabinet, according to someone familiar with the matter.
Attack on free speech
The ex-governor found time to violate free speech by commenting negatively on an online news site cartoon that most had said they saw nothing wrong with the context, in which he had his feet on the neck of a local pastor, his number one critic.
‘Gus’ also allegedly pushed for many UK nationals to be hired with huge salaries at the local Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), some of them his friends, while locals were out of work.
Yet it seems he did not see that as corruption or lack of good governance.
Racism concerns
Mr Jaspert also left the territory without even offering an apology as demanded by the public for the hurt and insensitive words that were used in regards to slavery and reparation.
His comments about slavery and supporting that all symbols of slavery and white supremacy remain in the Territory was perceived by many as racist and had sparked outrage.
Controversial CoI
Many have said Mr Jaspert left the VI with a bogus CoI, where he coordinated and collaborated with the British press to undermine the VI, based on rumours and gossip against the VIP government.
The way in which the CoI was called, where it caught the elected government unaware, also reportedly caused the VI immense reputational harm.
Further, the UK-sponsored CoI was called during the COVID-19 pandemic even while the UK has used the pandemic as an excuse not to have a CoI into their own management of the pandemic.
This has caused many to speculate that the CoI already has a written conclusion.
Mr Jaspert is scheduled to appear before the CoI at 10:00am tomorrow.
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33 Responses to “CoI instigator Augustus J. U. Jaspert to appear before CoI tomorrow”
good to keep from??? He was one of the worse and rac***t too
The UK resisted him calling the CoI for a long time but he eventually wore them down - just before he was recalled 9 months before the end of his extended term.
Remember this is the man who lied about summoning a Navy ship that was already scheduled to arrive months before! The ship arrived as scheduled months before, stayed as scheduled months before for about 36 hours, and then left as scheduled months before. Liar, liar pants on fire!
Nasty nasty piece of work.
If the current Administration was a smart one, they would have Known that the UK was garthering information against the previous administration, and thy would have need to be much more careful about financial handling. They also should have known that former governor Jasper was sent here not only to govern, but he was also an information collected of financial mismanaging information against political corruption that has been ravishing our finances for decades.
Whether or not we agree on the conclusive outcome of the CoI findings, it is necessary for a better BVI.
Independence is bad for us without good governance for our people. The CoI probing is continuing to the it conclusion. Political leaders distractive tactics cannot alter its outcome.
Truth stands, and is a mighty warrior. Lies and aimless distraction, lie at his feet, shamefully defeated.
Always blame the victim the poor oppressed blacks
england is now back for the territory because they realize the territory is flourishing with offshore & tourism industries
The people at the governor’s office blogging not going to change facts. Gus was bad news and a known rac**t and opposed the vip government elect by the people
Is it a grown man(Gus) with power acting like a little girl, or is it the white supremacy agenda(COI)?
Seems like a concoction of many things.
It's also funny how the pot calling the kettle black, because UK seems like they think we don't see the news ABOUT THEM and their shady deals even dow to Boris and his mistress lol. Or everything they did and are doing wrong at this Moment?
SMH
It really is Cyber Warfare
God Bless and Peace be with you all.
We remember the UK media campaign when the drugs were found.
He’s the reason people of all races are still being locked up for cannabis & unable to access it therapeutically. Because he didn’t like the premier he killed his project? This being after a affirmative message from the throne about the issue of legalization.
If he had a problem with the bill be a man and say it when it’s brought for consideration.
No wonder they recalled him early it’s childish to be fighting with the elected politicians.
Childish to the maximum as he caught a last lick with this COI which he announced on Martin Luther king jr day while making his exit.
If he forgot what day it was.... a higher power seeing his petty actions as he left instead of addressing problems himself while as governor...
Caused the stars to align and let the Martin Luther King Jr door hit his already questionable reputation on the way out.
He was the first controversial governor. The others did their job in dignified silence and I don’t remember their names. Politicians looked at them as a referee not a opponent.
Moreover, it should not be a surprise that colonial countries demonstrate corrupt, extractive, exploitive tendencies. Colonialists have always a dim view of and looked down upon the enslaved in the colonies. The colonialists had an air of superiority over the enslaves, feeling that they were equal to them mentally, physically. Some still harbour the superiority beliefs. They see it as their mission to control the enslaved, for they are not mental enough to lead, manage and govern.
Thus, progress made by Blacks out in the territories is viewed with a jaundice eye. There may be a sense of jealousy. Some people living in mansions up on the hill with breathtaking views cause some to wonder how can that be when the supposed superior class are living flats in their homeland. Stop the hating.
Tell us again who instigated the coi please! Premier did when he tried to make NDP look bad. Dig one grave then you better dig 2.