St. Thomas, V.I. – Atty General Denise George today released a statement expressing disappointment upon learning that the 33rd Legislature in its 2020 Budget rejected the funding proposed for the White Collar Crime and Corruption section of the VI Department of Justice, as proposed by Governor Bryan in his 2020 supplemental budget.
“I am very disappointed that the 33rd Legislature chose to reject and redirect the funding necessary to reestablish and rebuild the previously dismantled White Collar Crime and Public Corruption Section of the VIDOJ, as was proposed in Governor Bryan’s 2020 supplemental budget. As a result, the VIDOJ does not have the 2020 funding to begin rebuilding the unit in order to perform our legal responsibility of instituting “aggressive prosecution of white collar crime and corruption” as mandated by law in 3 V.I.C. 118”, said Attorney General Denise George. Governor Bryan’s proposed VIDOJ supplemental budget funded the new positions necessary to begin the rebuilding process since the original VIDOJ 2020 budget, which was submitted months before I became AG, was not sufficient to fund the new positions needed for the unit. While the Legislature controls the purse strings of this government, it was my hope that it would have chosen to fund the white collar crime and corruption unit as a priority. I believe it is unwise to let white collar crime and corruption go unchecked within our government.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2019
Sandra Goomansingh
Media Relations Director
(340) 774-5666 ext. 10105
Email: sandra.goomansingh@doj.vi.gov