Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

HoA court matter with CoI lawyers adjourned to Oct 26, 2021

HoA court matter with CoI lawyers adjourned to Oct 26, 2021

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) of the Virgins Islands (VI), in July 2021, had ruled that House of Assembly Speaker Hon Julian Willock and Deputy Speaker Hon Neville A. Smith (AL) had standing in the case against three Commission of Inquiry (CoI) lawyers accused of illegally practising law in the VI.

Bilal M. Rawat, Andrew King and Rhea Harrikissoon, who are currently assisting with the works of the UK-sponsored Virgin Islands (VI) Commission of Inquiry (CoI) in the Virgin Islands, have been accused of practising law in the territory and doing so while not being called to the Virgin Islands Bar, a violation of the Legal Profession Act 2015.

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) of the Virgins Islands (VI) in July 2021, had ruled that House of Assembly Speaker, Hon Julian Willock, and Deputy Speaker, Hon Neville A. Smith (AL) has standing in the case against 3 CoI lawyers accused of illegally practicing law in the VI.


Applicants assisting with conduct of CoI


The Applicants, as part of their ongoing works with the conduct of the CoI, are accused of inquiring into and reporting on, amongst other things, whether there is information that corruption, abuse of office or other serious dishonesty may have taken place in recent years amongst the public, elected, and statutory officials.

When it was revealed during the CoI hearing of June 14, 2021, that the three were not admitted to practice law in the VI, CoI Commissioner, Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom indicated that they did not need to be admitted to practice law in the Virgin Islands in order to carry out their duties; however, he directed that they take steps to be admitted anyway.

The Applicants then placed before the court three Fixed Date Claim Forms in which they sought admission to practice law in the Territory.

The Applications were made pursuant to section 68 of the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court (Virgin Islands) Act1 (“The Supreme Court Act”). Under the Act, a Judge of the High Court may, subject to certain provisions admit to practise as a barrister of the Court any member of the English, Scottish or Irish Bar.

The Applications were served on the Office of the Attorney General presumably in compliance with section 10 (2) of the Legal Profession Act 2015, where Attorney General, Hon Dawn J. Smith had indicated that she does not object to the Applications.

When it was revealed during a CoI hearing of June 14, 2021, that the three were not admitted to practice law in the VI, CoI Commissioner, Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom indicated that they did not need to be admitted to practice law in the Virgin Islands in order to carry out their duties, however, he directed that they take steps to be admitted anyway.


Speaker & Deputy made objections to the application


Following the Applications, both Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the HoA, (“the Objectors”) lodged objections to the Applications on the basis that the Applicants have been practicing law in the Virgin Islands since March 2021, in breach of the Legal Profession Act. They also objected on the ground that the three held themselves out to be Barristers and Lawyers despite not having being admitted to practice law in the territory.

Both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker have also put forward an objection to the moral character of the three individuals.

Where the Objectors will have an opportunity to submit further written evidence setting out the details of their objections and the Applicants will get an opportunity to respond by a given deadline, the matter has since been adjourned to October 26, 2021.

Both parties, however, are to lodge and exchange written expressions on or before, no less than 7 days before the hearing day, according to court documents obtained by our newsroom.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
×