‘I have nothing further to add’- 'Gus' on his claims that VI was ‘full of corruption’
“Having reviewed the further correspondence relating to the above meeting, I have nothing further to add to my points as recorded in the transcripts from page 20 of my appearance to the Commission,” the Ex-governor said through a response note to the Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom.
On page 20 of the hearing of Day 52, the discussion was on the audit of the cost overrun at the Tortola Pier Park, however, on the pages that followed, the discussions moved on to correspondence between the Premier and the Governor, including complaints the Premier made to the UK over the alleged conduct of the Governor.
The November 17, 2021 note was read by Attorney Bilal Rawat on November 24, 2021, for the record because Jaspert was not called to respond to the criticisms by the Premier.
“The letter I sent to the Premier of the Cabinet’s minutes at the time records the position factually,” he added.
Wide brush
While testifying to the CoI on Hearing Day 52, on 21st October 2021 Premier and Minister for Finance Hon. Andrew A. Fahie (R1) alleged that the former governor made the statements during a Cabinet meeting on January 9, 2020.
Attorney Mr Rawat quoted the Premier, who stated that Jaspert said, “the BVI is full of corruption, amongst others and that was something which the premier in this letter utterly rejects and he says that he and his colleagues want to express their individual and collective disgust at your conduct in this instance: that it is unacceptable that you should insult them in this way and cast aspersions on their character.”
At that time, Mr Rawat told Jaspert that the Premier described his behaviour to be a pattern that was not in standing with the principles of good governance and the modern partnership that the UK and VI shared, however, the ex-Governor said the assertions were incorrect.
“What’s alleged is effective, your behaviour in that Cabinet meeting and your behaviour towards the current elected members of the government that formed the Cabinet, was disrespectful and insulting…and you tag them all with the tag of corruption,” Mr. Rawat said pointedly.
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25 Responses to “‘I have nothing further to add’- 'Gus' on his claims that VI was ‘full of corruption’”
just a question not an aligation
long live great british
A decent and honest man would have accepted that he had no evidence of any corruption, any dishonesty or any drug running, and would withdraw the allegations. Is Gus a decent man? Let's see!
Most of you who are angry always talk about getting work permit exemption or citizenship or buying a house or land here. If this little bird sanctuary is so bad why dont u just leave and let us and the genuine ones stay and make our lives.
Some of you never thought you could live such a life in ur own countries and now u come hear to judge us? Please!!!!!
If the shoe was on the other foot I would have been behind prison walls all now.
need I say more.
NO CORRUPTION YOU SAY?
Gus was a r***t he is bad news
Moreover, allegedly, in January 2020 during a cabinet meeting, former governor Augustus JU Jaspert supposedly stated that the VI (British) was full of corruption. Presumably, on his way out the door, he commissioned a COI to investigate the issue. Surely, the decision to commission the COI must have been driven by concrete and indisputable facts. As such, the former guv should jump at any and all opportunities to provide specific details to support the alleged claims. Yet he punted when given the opportunity before the COI. Did the question catch him flatfooted? If so that is /surprising, for he commissioned the COI. Guess we will wait for the COI report.
Hope that Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom COI is fair and balance and that the outcome is not a foregone conclusion. It is not fair but real that people tend to protect their own. For example, though the evidence was clear that the Kenneth Bates Hill Wickham Cay and Anegada development project was a lose-lose, one-sided, exploitive etc agreement, the Sir Derek Garraway COI sided with Kenneth Bates Hill. The UK government had to intervene and hit pause, resulting in the deal being canned. The UK loaned the VI government the $5.6M to buy out Ken Bates’ interest.
Nonetheless, regardless of the reason for commissioning the COI, it is clear that some government functions are in need of restructuring and reform. This is an opportunity for some governmental creative destruction. The restructuring, structural adjustments, and reform wheels should already be turning. Create destruction does not mean corruption; it is part of the normal governing/administering process. Every organization, function should undergo periodic creative destruction.
The ra****t is gone.
For those persons who are naïve and are in denial about slavery and the atrocities that the Planters did to the African slaves, I am totally disappointed with their remarks and they are not wrong. I would blame it on their parents who were unable to teach them about slavery. We had a slave master here in the Territory whose name was Author Hodge. He killed so many slaves and he was eventually executed for killing one of his slaves who ate a mango that fell from a tree. (Concise history of the Virgin Islands By Vernon Pickering)
Some Governors come to the VI with a superior attitude, seeing the local government and the VI people not as equal partners but playing a subordinate role as always been their role and status. This is consistent with the Colonialism structure; the colonies were/are the help. Former Governor Augustus JU Jaspert spent three plus years in the BVI. Internal security, including the RVIPF, fell under his purview. Supposedly, the view, an assumption, was made that the BVI was corrupt. I remember a big drug in the BVI and someone(s) contact a UK newspaper declaring that the BVI was corrupt. But no such claimed when similar drug busts occurred in the UK. Silence, silence, silence! In any event after three years and as he exited the door, he used his dictatorial power to commission a commission of inquiry(COI). Was the COI legit ( well it is legal);or it was something else. COI indeed should be commissioned to investigate wrong doing but this one is suspect. This is just my rant. What do you think?
Is the BVI government perfect or does it have clean hands? No. Agree with E. Leonard that it needs restructuring and reforming. Further, E. Leonard seem to be a disciple of creative destruction and promotes and advises on its virtues. Truth be told, I was not too familiar with term. But in researching it, it seems to be credible and prudent course of action. As such, the COI findings will provide opportunities for creative destruction. It should be a normal process for government anyway. Much has been said pro and con about the COI so I will not comment on it at this time.