The Commission of Inquiry will be recommencing its hearings from Monday September 6.
This announcement was made in a media release from the COI published on Tuesday August 24, which said the Commissioner of Inquiry and his team will be returning to the BVI during the coming week.
The release also revealed a number of changes to the Commission’s previous protocols that will be amended in light of the present COVID climate in the territory.
The release said, “In the light of the continuing COVID restrictions, the Commissioner has issued an amended protocol concerning the provision of written evidence to allow for evidence to be admitted in unsworn form, which can be found on the COI website.”
In addition, Secretary to the Commission Steven Chandler said a number of audited documents will be published to their webpage in short order.
He said, “Further to publishing reports issued by the Auditor General which were considered at hearings before the Commissioner, the COI has also, following redaction of personal data, recently published on its website nine reports issued by the Internal Auditor which were also considered at earlier hearings.”
These reports include:
1. COVID-19 Stimulus Draft Audit Report and Appendices I to III (2020)
2. Assistance Grants Programme 2006 to 2008 (2009)
3. House of Assembly – Assistance Grant Programme – Follow-Up Audit Report (2011)
4. Government Ministries – Assistance Grants Programmes Draft Audit Report (2014)
5. Her Majesty’s Customs – Courier Clearance Operations and Partial Payment Programme (2020)
6. Her Majesty’s Customs – Missing Revenue – Suspicion of Fraud – Investigation Report (2015)
7. Immigration Board: Belonger Application Process (2012)
8. Department of Immigration – Belonger Application Process – Follow-Up Audit Report (2014)
9. Petty Contract Administration (2012)
In addition, Chandler said the COI also published on its website a response from Governor John Rankin to the BVI Government Ministers’ Position Statement on Governance.