Dept. of Education Walks Back Heritage Wireless Partnership, Avoids Questions About Process and Procedure

A new press release from the V.I. Department of Education purports to clarify the announcement made last Saturday, but instead raises new questions based on contradictions between the two statements.

“The VIDE does not endorse any specific company over another, nor has it entered into an agreement with any service provider,” Thursday’s press release states. Last Saturday, however, VIDE told the public that free tablets and internet services for qualifying students were made available “through a partnership with Heritage Wireless and the dedicated efforts of Senator Donna Frett-Gregory.”

In Saturday’s announcement, readers were only informed of one supplier through which the devices and internet services could be accessed - Heritage Wireless. Now, after lawmakers and Consortium journalists questioned why a government department came to be promoting and marketing the services of a company seemingly owned by a man with an extensive criminal history, VIDE admits in the new press release that “families can take advantage of the resources offered by multiple service providers by participating in this program.”