Questions
- What does the Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General do?
- Is the audit and investigative authority only limited to the Executive Branch?
- How are audits and investigations initiated?
- How can the Virgin Islands Inspector General’s Office be contacted to report suspected fraud, waste or abuse?
- Who can report fraud, waste or abuse, and does the person have to identify themself?
- Can the Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General be prevented from auditing or investigating a department or program of the Government?
- Does the Virgin Islands Inspector General serve at the pleasure of the Governor and can the person be removed from office?
- Who appoints the Deputy Virgin Islands Inspector General?
- How is the Virgin Islands Inspector General’s Office funded?
- What is the relationship between the Virgin Islands Inspector General’s Office and the Inspector General’s Office for the Department of the Interior?
Questions and Answers
Q. What does the Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General do?
A. 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.
Q. Is the audit and investigative authority only limited to the Executive Branch?
A. 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.
Q. How are audits and investigations initiated?
A. 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.
Q. How can the Virgin Islands Inspector General’s Office be contacted to report suspected fraud, waste or abuse?
A. 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.
Q. Who can report fraud, waste or abuse, and does the person have to identify themself?
A. 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.
Q. Can the Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector General be prevented from auditing or investigating a department or program of the Government?
A. 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.
Q. Does the Virgin Islands Inspector General serve at the pleasure of the Governor and can the person be removed from office?
A. 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.
Q. Who appoints the Deputy Virgin Islands Inspector General?
A. 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.
Q. How is the Virgin Islands Inspector General’s Office funded?
A. 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.
Q. What is the relationship between the Virgin Islands Inspector General’s Office and the Inspector General’s Office for the Department of the Interior?
A. 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.