As investigations into the $1.6M Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) wall project commissioned by former Legislator, Myron V. Walwyn continues, Commissioner of Police Mr Micheal B. Matthews has indicated that the case is now in the hands of a team of RVIPF detectives with close to 100 persons now interviewed as part of the probe into the allegedly corrupt project. Photo: VINO/File

The Auditor General (AG) Ms Sonia M. Webster in a bombshell report on the ESHS wall had said that the wall project broke financial laws, there was no value for money and persons were paid and work not completed. She also listed a tail of corruption surrounding the entire project. Photo: VINO/File

In the scandal surrounding the case Mr Myron V. Walwyn in embarrassing the then outgoing Premier, Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, tried to get a head start on the ‘spin’ by leaking the wall report to the press, however, it backfired the Governor demanded an apology since he, Hon Walwyn, had violated proper protocols and laws. Photo: VINO/File

Speaking on the Tuesday, July 24, 2019, edition of 'Honestly Speaking' on ZBVI 780 AM show, with host Claude O. Skelton-Cline, Mr Matthews also revealed that while many may think the investigation is an overnight process, it will require more time as criminal charges in the case are possible. 

Investigation is not an overnight process- CoP Matthews 

"People think that the minute something is handed to the police service that it's going to be kind of an overnight arrest, we'll have headlines of people being charged and so forth. When I'm asked those sort of questions... I have to say you've been watching too much CSI. That's not the real world of policing," he told Skelton-Cline following a line of questioning on the progress of the investigations.

Following investigations into the wall, the Auditor General (AG) Ms Sonia M. Webster in a bombshell report had said that the wall project broke financial laws, there was no value for money and persons were paid and work not completed. She also listed a trail of corruption surrounding the entire project.

Amidst controversy and a leak to the press, the report was then handed to the Governor of the Virgin Islands, Mr Augustus J.U. Jaspert who then handed it over to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) when official criminal investigations commenced. 

The top cop further commented that following receipt of the AG's Report, the police couldn't just lay charges in isolation but rather had to revisit the AG's office to start their own probe.

Potential Criminal Charges

According to CoP Matthews, "What we look for is something different to an auditor, so we had to access all that information. We were literally waving through boxes of paperwork and what started out as an officer appointed, is now a team of detectives."

Mr Matthew further noted that when the force realised there were potentially criminal offences to be investigated, those investigations intensified.

"We have probably now reached a figure of nearly a hundred people that we got to either interview or take a statement from in relation to this matter."

Commissioner Matthews said the matter will take time as it's a complex one, given the seriousness of the accusations.

"This isn't going to be an overnight investigating, nor should it be because we have to be thorough. We have to make sure that if we are going to reach a point in time where we are going to arrest and charge people, that we've done the groundwork properly."