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by pltm
(PLTM) - An audit has found that local officials have not provided a reason why an application for Belonger status was turned down for convicted rapist, George Fay, whose father is a well-known legal expert in the Virgin Islands.
The case of Fay’s application made sweeping headlines during the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) ordered by the United Kingdom-appointed Governor as local officials, particularly then Minister for Labour and Immigration, Hon. Vincent Wheatley, were repeatedly grilled.
An audit conducted on the controversial ‘Clear Path to Regularisation – Belonger and Residency Status Programme’ has shed more light on the handling of the application by Fay who is serving time in a United States jail for rape.
Based on the audit findings, Fay was one of five applications which was sent forward to Cabinet by the review team at the Department of Immigration based on directives from the Premier’s Office.
The audit further noted that the applications were sent forward although they did not meet the qualifying periods. Ultimately, they were denied or referred to the normal application process.
In the case of Fay, the audit found that the temporary file was submitted for his application.
“The information on the file does not indicate the reasons why the applicant did not qualify for belonger status. However, the applicant was found to be in prison in the United States at the time of his application,” the audit found.
Minister Wheatley had previously defended Government entertaining the application as compassionate consideration on the basis that the convict’s family were residents in the BVI.
He had objected to the term “rapist” being used at the CoI and wanted Fay to be seen as a human being who made a mistake. He said that the application was considered on humanitarian grounds which would have allowed the convicted man to serve the jail time in the BVI instead of the United States.
Hon. Wheatley would apologised for his comments following outrange from the community over the use of the term, ‘mistake’.
Cabinet Chair and Acting Governor at the time the application was brought to Cabinet, Rosalie Adams had expressed strong views, noting that the BVI should not be a dumping ground for non-law-abiding citizens.
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