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Frequently Asked Questions
Questions
Questions and Answers
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1.
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Q.
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What does the Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector
General do?
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A.
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The Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General serves
as the auditing arm of the Virgin Islands Government. The
Office has the responsibility of reviewing the operations
of the various departments and agencies, and making recommendations
on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations.
The Virgin Islands Inspector General's Office has also been
charged with the responsibility of detecting, investigating,
and preventing fraud, waste and abuse. Our audit and investigative
authority is generally limited to activities associated
with the operations of the Government.
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2.
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Q.
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Is the audit and investigative authority only limited
to the Executive Branch?
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A.
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No, Title 3, Chapter 40, Section 1203(a)(4) of the Virgin
Islands Code authorizes the Virgin Islands Inspector General's
Office to audit or investigate the three branches of the
Virgin Islands Government, the Executive, Legislative and
Judicial. This authority also includes all of the autonomous
and semi-autonomous instrumentalities, boards and commissions.
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3.
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Q.
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How are audits and investigations initiated?
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A.
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Some audits and investigations are initiated through requests
from department and agency heads, or other officials of
the Government. Requests also come from senators and other
elected officials. Complaints or information come from the
general public through hotline calls or anonymous letters,
and from concerned government employees and citizens. We
also review issues that may surface through press reports.
Finally, other potential issues may be identified during
the course of an audit or investigation.
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4.
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Q.
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How can the Virgin Islands Inspector General's Office
be contacted to report suspected fraud, waste or abuse?
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A.
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The Virgin Islands Inspector General's Office can be contacted
several ways: (1) mail - Office of the Virgin Islands
Inspector General; 75 Kronprindsens Gade; St. Thomas, VI
00802; (2) phone - 340-774-3388; fax - 340-774-6431;
e-mail - taskforce@viig.org;
or website - www.viig.org.
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5.
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Q.
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Who can report fraud, waste or abuse, and does the person
have to identify themself?
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A.
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Any person who suspects or has information on fraud, waste
or abuse in the Government may report the information. The
person supplying the information can remain anonymous. However,
a report without identifying information is substantially
more difficult to investigate because, experience shows,
the average person making a report does not have sufficient
background to provide all the information needed to thoroughly
look into the matter. All reports to the Virgin Islands
Inspector General's Office are confidential and every effort
is made to secure the sources of information developed from
a report or follow up on a report. It is in the interest
of the Virgin Islands Inspector General's Office to ensure
the confidentiality of the sources of information, because
people will be less likely to provide information if their
identity was a matter of public record.
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6.
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Q.
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Can the Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General
be prevented from auditing or investigating a department
or program of the Government?
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A.
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No, Title 3, Chapter 40, Section 1203 (b) and (c) of the
Virgin Islands Code gives the Virgin Islands Inspector General's
Office access to all records and documents maintained by
the selected agency. In addition, the Virgin Islands Inspector
General's Office is authorized to issue subpoenas and take
testimony relating to any ongoing audit or investigation.
The Code also prohibits anyone from preventing or attempting
to prevent an audit or investigation initiated by the Virgin
Islands Inspector General.
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7.
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Q.
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Does the Virgin Islands Inspector General serve at the
pleasure of the Governor and can the person be removed from
office?
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A.
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No, the Virgin Islands Inspector General is appointed by
the Governor, with the advise and consent of the Legislature,
and serves a fixed term of seven years. The Virgin Islands
Inspector General can be reappointed. Yes, the Virgin Islands
Inspector General can be removed from office by the Governor,
but only upon the finding of neglect of duty or malfeasance
in office.
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8.
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Q.
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Who appoints the Deputy Virgin Islands Inspector General?
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A.
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The Deputy Virgin Islands Inspector General is appointed
by the Virgin Islands Inspector General and serves a term
concurrent with that of the appointing Virgin Islands Inspector
General.
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9.
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Q.
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How is the Virgin Islands Inspector General's Office
funded?
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A.
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The Virgin Islands Inspector General is required to submit
an annual budget to the Legislature. Once a budget has been
appropriated (approved) by the Legislature, the funds are
to be allotted (released) in their entirety at the beginning
of the fiscal year. In addition, the Commissioner of Finance
is directed to establish an imprest fund of at least $100,000
for use by the Virgin Islands Inspector General as need
in carrying out the responsibilities required of the Virgin
Islands Inspector General's Office.
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10.
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Q.
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What is the relationship between the Virgin Islands
Inspector General's Office and the Inspector General's Office
for the Department of the Interior?
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A.
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Interior's Inspector General's Office provides the Federal
Government's audit presence in the Virgin Islands. They
have the authority to audit and investigate all operations
of the Virgin Islands Government in addition to the operations
of Interior offices in the Caribbean, for example the U.S.
National Park. So both the Virgin Islands and Federal offices
have very similar responsibilities. Accordingly, the Virgin
Islands Inspector General's Office and the Department of
Interior's Office of Inspector General work very closely
together. We constantly share information, consult on ongoing
or planned projects to avoid duplication of effort, and
on several occasions we have joined resources to conduct
audits and issued joint reports. Finally, over the past
several years we have jointly attended continued professional
education courses.
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