Beautiful Virgin Islands

Sunday, Sep 14, 2025

0:00
0:00

AG decries scapegoating and rushed lawmaking by government

Attorney General Dawn Smith has raised concerns about a recurring pattern of government members using her position as a scapegoat whenever issues in governance are highlighted to the public. This came in response to the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) blaming her predecessor, Baba Aziz, for a massive error that led to illegitimate Belongership status being awarded to 688 persons back in 2019/2020.
Smith raised the concern in response to the Dr Natalio Wheatley-led Virgin Islands Party (VIP) blaming former AG, Baba Aziz, for the massive error that led to 688 persons being illegitimately awarded Belongership status back in 2019/2020, and for the House of Assembly (HOA) being recalled days before the general election to correct the blunder.

“The Attorney General was under the bus bad, bad, bad, bad during the Commission of Inquiry. The Attorney General under the bus again,” AG Smith while expressing disconcertion about the practise.

“It is no comfort to me that my predecessor is the one being accused and accosted this time because ‘today for him, tomorrow for me’. I cannot tell anybody what happened in 2019 because I was not there. But given my own experiences as Attorney General, I can only imagine. But what I will say is that I have always my known my predecessor to be a careful and good lawyer and very professional,” she added.

The AG also called on other attorneys in chambers to take careful note of yesterday’s HOA proceedings, take their time in performing their duties, and stand their ground.

Gov’t passes laws slapdash

Smith also hit back at the government for seemingly always passing legislations in an uncoordinated and slapdash way.

The Attorney General further noted that she has always cautioned against this approach and has continuously urged the government to have proper public consultation on every draft legislation; for Cabinet to only approve well-thought-out, researched, and sound policy; for draft legislation to be scrutinised by policymakers to ensure that it reflects policy objectives; and for lawmakers to be given “ample time between when I bill is laid in the House and when it goes to committee so that representatives can engage with their stakeholders and come back to the House to debate intelligently and bring issues that have been raised from their interactions with their constituents.”

“In my tenure, I’ve never seen it done,” AG Smith expressed. “What I know is if we had done [those things], we would not be here today.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
On the Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Death: Prince Harry Returns to Britain
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Murdoch Family Finalises $3.3 Billion Succession Pact, Ensuring Eldest Son’s Leadership
Big Oil Slashes Jobs and Investments Amid Prolonged Low Crude Prices
Court Staff Cover Up Banksy Image of Judge Beating a Protester
Social Media Access Curtailed in Turkey After CHP Calls for Rallies Following Police Blockade of Istanbul Headquarters
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
Elon Musk Poised to Become First Trillionaire Under Ambitious Tesla Pay Plan
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
Burning the Minister’s House Helped Protesters to Win Justice: Prabowo Fires Finance Minister in Wake of Indonesia Protests
Brazil Braces for Fallout from Bolsonaro Trial by corrupted judge
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
Nearly 40 Years Later: Nike Changes the Legendary Slogan Just Do It
×