Beautiful Virgin Islands

Sunday, Jul 20, 2025

CoI exposes longtime 'tension' between VI & UK Gov'ts

CoI exposes longtime 'tension' between VI & UK Gov'ts

Lone Commissioner in the VI Commission of Inquiry (CoI), Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom QC, was recently informed of concerns raised on the issue of tension between past and present Virgin Islands Governments and Britain and that it may have factored in the calling of the CoI by former governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert.

The issue was highlighted by Sir C. Geoffrey Cox QC, attorney for the Executive branch of the Virgin Islands Government on Day 5 of the hearings by the Commission on Thursday, May 13, 2021, at the International Arbitration Centre, 3rd Floor Ritter House, Road Town, Tortola.

'A real problem between relationship' of VI & UK


The transcript of the session became available on the Commission of Inquiry’s website on May 31, 2021, and in it, Cox raised the issue of a rocky relationship between the VI and UK governments ahead of the calling of the ongoing Commission of Inquiry.

In winding up submissions to the Commission, Sir Geoffrey, who previously served as UK Attorney General under Prime Ministers Theresa M. May and Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson aka ‘Boris’, drew attention to the fact that there is tension in the VI between the “two halves of Government”, referring to the simultaneous roles of the elected Virgin Islands Government and the UK Government in the Territory’s governance system – adding that the tension “has been for a number of years”.

“There has been a real problem between the relationship, not only with this Government, but a previous one and the British administration and the Governor's Office because that is how some perceive it [the Governor's Office] here, the British administration,” he added.

The attorney told Sir Gary he was highlighting the issue because “there is a political background tension which is relevant to your considerations, too, because it explains some decisions, policy decisions, that were taken.”

'Acute political tension' between Jaspert & elected officials


Sir Geoffrey added that it has not escaped the notice of some persons that “it is at a time of acute political tension between the former Governor [Augustus Jaspert] and the elected members that this Inquiry has been ordered.”

He went further to point out that it has also not gone unnoticed that the UK Foreign Office has “preceded suspensions of Constitution and of local institution”, which he said may have been wholly justified in those cases, “but have also resorted to other means by which to gain their objectives inside the overseas territories.”

Describing these declarations as “political facts”, Sir Geoffrey told the Commission he would not be doing his job on behalf of those whom he represents if he did not draw these facts, “as painful as they may be, to your attention.”

Perception growing about operation of CoI


While the Commissioner did not directly respond to the concerns, Sir Geoffrey made the point to Commissioner Hickinbottom as he emphasised the importance of “local public confidence in the fairness, balance and independence of your Inquiry.”

He said the importance of transparency should not be underestimated and the Commission should take note that certain perceptions have grown based on how the Inquiry has been operating.

On January 18, 2021, then embattled outgoing Governor Jaspert announced a Commission of Inquiry on allegations, to establish whether there is information that corruption, abuse of office or other serious dishonesty in relation to officials, whether statutory, elected or public may have taken place in recent years.

It was no secret that there was tension between the elected government led by Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) and Mr Jaspert, whom Premier Fahie had accused of making certain utterances to strain the relationship between the government and the electorate.

Governor Jaspert was also accused of trying to bully the government and the legislature.

Simultaneous to Jaspert’s CoI announcement locally, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic R. Raab issued a written statement to the UK Parliament also advising of the Commission of Inquiry.

It is no secret that there was tension between the elected government led by Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1), right, and then governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert, whom Premier Fahie had accused of making certain utterances to strain the relationship between the government and the electorate.

The issue of tension between the Virgin Islands and the United Kingdom governments was highlighted by Sir C. Geoffrey Cox QC, attorney for the Executive branch of the Virgin Islands Government on Day 5 of the hearings by the Commission on Thursday, May 13, 2021, at the International Arbitration Centre, 3rd Floor Ritter House, Road Town, Tortola.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
×