London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 31, 2025

Governor purchases new top of the line SUV Range Rover for over $90K plus

Money came directly from taxpayers with no help from UK; VI taxpayers also maintain upkeep of Government House & pays staff to provide services to Governor

In the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic, when the average resident is without a job, can’t pay for higher education and some are still going to bed hungry, the unelected UK-appointed Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert has landed himself a brand new, fully loaded, Range Rover.

It has cost taxpayers some $90,000.00 plus, with no help from the United Kingdom. The post of Governor, like the Premier’s and the Speaker of the House of Assembly (HoA), comes with a vehicle and a driver.

Other public officers also drive Government vehicles negotiated via their employment, as well as some Ministers of Government.


Poor judgment by Governor?

Critics of Mr Jaspert; however, have said it was poor judgement to allow such a huge amount of money to be spent on a vehicle at this time when the country is ‘hurting’ and there have been little or no help from the United Kingdom.

It also confirms that the office of the unelected governor is now more a liability to the Territory than an asset, having had to go to the Consolidated Fund to make this purchase. Many sources close to the situation said “it was so bad that they had to move money around to make this purchase possible for a vehicle in these hard times.”

It should be noted that VI taxpayers also maintain the upkeep of Government House and pay staff to provide services to the Governor.

The controversial governor’s popularity has hit rock bottom following the election in 2019 of a new government. Under the former National Democratic Party (NDP) regime, he was running the country. Governor Jaspert has reportedly told many persons that he “will not be sidelined” and now holds many press conferences like an elected official.


Governor above the law?

The senior UK public officer has been under fire for alleged violation of the constitution, thinking he is above the law, his selective attention to good governance and turning a blind eye to some issues under his portfolio.

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), a subject under his remit, has been under scrutiny for using excessive force on civilians, and public internal spats within the ranks; however, the Governor has not addressed any of these vexing issues but found time to issue a statement on a cartoon, an action many said trivilised his office.


Symbol of colonialism?

Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline, a radio commentator, has been educating the public about the Governor’s role and that his office signifies that the Virgin Islands has been and continues to be colonised by the British.

When a call was made to the governor today, July 17, 2020, about his lavish spending on a vehicle, we were told that he is on a ‘Staycation’ and could not be reached.

Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3), the veteran legislator, brought a motion to the HoA in late May, 2020, to reprimand Mr Jaspert for his violation of the Audit Act, having submitted the report on the NDP Government’s Financing of BVI Airways a month late to the HoA.

Speaker of the HoA, Hon Julian Willock has also publicly sparred with the Governor over his attempts to interfere with the legislative branch.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×