‘Don’t blame COI for stagnation,’ Bishop tells government

Bishop John Cline

Bishop John Cline has rejected claims that the Commission of Inquiry (COI) is responsible for slowing progress in the BVI, insisting that government leaders should take responsibility for economic development.

Speaking on The Big Story programme, Cline argued that the inquiry, which was launched in 2021 to examine governance and corruption concerns, cannot be used as an excuse for the territory’s economic stagnation.

“The Commission of Inquiry, it is what it is, it was what it was. It helped to strengthen some processes, create a better structure in some areas, but it doesn’t stop you from governing. It doesn’t stop you from expanding your economy. It doesn’t stop you from looking for regional and international opportunities,” he argued.

Cline dismissed suggestions that reforms introduced after the inquiry had slowed decision-making. “That’s an excuse,” he explained, adding that the only clear impact has been in the distribution of social assistance, where funds for people in need now take longer to reach them because of centralised vetting processes.

He argued that the government had instead made policy errors that harmed growth, including dismantling the Trade Commission, which he said had been designed to support small and medium-sized businesses, attract investment, and streamline licensing procedures.

“One of the biggest mistakes of this government, I believe, is when they allowed the then minister to do away with the Trade Commission that was positioned for economic growth and expansion,” he said.

Cline, who served as deputy chair of the Trade Commission before it was disbanded, described how the body was intended to function as a one-stop shop for business. “A trade commission is an independent statutory body that is given the mandate to help the economy of the Virgin Islands grow, develop, expand, look for regional, international, and internal investments and grow it. That was the mandate in a nutshell,” he explained.

The Commission of Inquiry, led by Sir Gary Hickinbottom, was ordered by then-governor Augustus Jaspert in 2021 to investigate allegations of corruption and mismanagement. Its report, delivered in 2022, found serious failings in governance and called for sweeping reforms.

While the government has been implementing recommendations, critics like Cline say political leaders have allowed the process to overshadow efforts to expand tourism, agriculture, and other industries.

Calling for greater urgency, Cline urged residents to demand accountability and reject excuses.

“Don’t blame the COI,” he insisted, stressing that leadership must focus on real economic expansion and long-term development.