WALWYN CLEARS ANOTHER HURDLE AS HIGH COURT REJECTS DPP CHALLENGE

Former Education Minister Myron V. Walwyn has prevailed in another round of legal proceedings over the Elmore Stoutt High School perimeter wall project, with the High Court dismissing a challenge mounted by the Director of Public Prosecutions and ordering the DPP to cover his legal expenses.

The DPP had sought to use judicial review to overturn a January 2025 decision by Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards, who found that Walwyn and former Ministry of Education Assistant Secretary Lorna Stevens had no case to answer on breach-of-trust charges. The court's dismissal of that challenge marks another setback for the prosecution.

According to the court's ruling, no evidence of wrongdoing was found in the matter. The full reasoning behind the judgment would need to be examined to understand the court's complete findings.

The origins of the dispute

The controversy stems from a perimeter wall project at Elmore Stoutt High School that started in December 2014 while Walwyn served as Minister of Education and Culture under the National Democratic Party. The work was meant to strengthen security at the territory's main public secondary school.

Auditor General Sonia Webster flagged problems with the project in a 2018 report, pointing to suspected cost overruns, the reliance on multiple work orders and petty contracts, and questions about whether spending complied with financial rules. By the time construction halted in 2015, more than $1.08 million had been spent, though some accounts put the total higher.

Walwyn pushed back against the criticism, contending that the financial framework in place at the time allowed the use of work orders.

Investigation and charges

The Auditor General's concerns prompted a police investigation that began in 2019. Police Commissioner Michael Matthews said in January 2020 that the inquiry had wrapped up and the file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The project also drew scrutiny from the British Virgin Islands Commission of Inquiry, chaired by Sir Gary Hickinbottom, which raised concerns about how contracts were awarded and contractors were selected.

In 2022, both Walwyn and Stevens faced charges of breach of trust by a public official. Walwyn was defended by attorney Terrence Williams, while Stevens had attorney Valston Graham representing her. The case drew significant public interest given Walwyn's status as an elected representative.

The acquittal and its aftermath

On 21 January 2025, Magistrate Richards ruled that neither defendant had a case to answer, leading to their acquittal in the Magistrates' Court. Walwyn said he remained confident in the judicial system.

The DPP's subsequent attempts to reverse that outcome, first through appeal and then through judicial review, have now run into a dead end at this stage. The distinction between findings about administrative practices and the separate question of whether criminal offences occurred remains important to understanding the case.