Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2025

Health Minister rebukes ‘blunt instrument’ of CoI

Health Minister rebukes ‘blunt instrument’ of CoI

Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Carvin Malone (AL) has blasted the ongoing Commission of Inquiry called by controversial ex-governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert, saying that a review of governance would have been better served.

Honourable Malone expressed his sentiments during his opening statement to the Commission of Inquiry on June 21, 2021.

The Health Minister noted that while the ultimate goal of the CoI is to fulfil the Terms of Reference, as outlined in the appointment letter, it is by contrast, his ultimate goal to fulfill his duty as a democratically elected representative of the Virgin Islands, “part of which is to educate, protect and defend the political, economic and social advances gained by present and past leaders of the Virgin Islands, our fathers and our forefathers and to fulfil the needs and aspiration of the People of the Virgin Islands, generations past, present and future.”

Many in the Virgin Islands see the Commission of Inquiry as an imperialist move to possibly impose direct rule and set back the territory's constitutional advancement, as has been seen in other Overseas Territories. The takeover is usually initiated with a CoI called under allegations of corruption and then a suspension of the territory's constitution as was the case in the Turks and Caicos Islands.


A slap in the face?


Ironically, the CoI was called just a month after the Virgin Islands House of Assembly (HoA) met in honour of the 70th anniversary of the restoration of the legislature in the Virgin Islands and the same day recognised by the United States and some in the Virgin Islands as Martin Luther King Jr Day- January 18, 2021.

Hon Malone added it is predicted that, though not originally envisaged, the final Commission of Inquiry Report would serve as a blueprint for the UK’s discharge of its obligation to prepare the Virgin Islands for future political advancement.

Is UK committed to UN declarations?


“As with all other Administrating Powers, this is what the United Kingdom committed to and is obligated to provide under Resolution 66(1) of Chapter XI of the Charter of the United Nations.”

Under Chapter XI of the Charter of the United Nations, the Non-Self-Governing Territories are defined as "territories whose people have not yet attained a full measure of self-government”.

The General Assembly, on February 9, 1946, approved a resolution on Non-Self-Governing Peoples.

Among other things, members of the United Nations are to develop self-government, to take due account of the political aspirations of the peoples, and to assist them in the progressive development of their free political institutions, according to the particular circumstances of each territory and its peoples and their varying stages of advancement.

Members are also to transmit regularly to the Secretary-General for information purposes, subject to such limitation as security and constitutional considerations may require, statistical and other information of a technical nature relating to economic, social, and educational conditions in the territories for which they are respectively responsible for.

'Blunt instrument'


“This, I contend, would have been better served in a review of governance in the Virgin Islands as opposed to this blunt instrument of a Commission of Inquiry being conducted without disclosure of the specifics represented to United Kingdom officials by Governor Jaspert, upon which it relies,” Hon Malone stated.

“These allegations were however issued in a statement in the House of Commons by the Secretary of State, Dominic Raab on January 18, 2021 and carried widely in British Press,” Hon Malone added.

There have also been concerns and speculations as to why Mr Jaspert is not part of the CoI or has not been called to give evidence.

Political pundits said the absence of such a critical element as Mr Jaspert further undermines the credibility of the CoI.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
Elon Musk Retakes Lead as World’s Richest After Brief Ellison Surge
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
London Daily Podcast: London Massive Pro Democracy Rally, Musk Support, UK Economic Data and Premier League Results Mark Eventful Weekend
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Musk calls for new UK government at huge pro-democracy rally in London, but Britons have been brainwashed to obey instead of fighting for their human rights
Elon Musk responds to post calling for the murder of Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk: 'Either we fight back or they will kill us'
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
USA: Office Depot Employees Refused to Print Poster in Memory of Charlie Kirk – and Were Fired
Proposed U.S. Bill Would Allow Civil Suits Against Judges Who Release Repeat Violent Offenders
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
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.
×