Reports in the media are inconsistent with facts as it relates to the Members of the HoA’s cooperation, a press release from the Office of the House of Assembly today, June 4, 2021, stated.

Speaker of the House of Assembly Hon Julian Willock said from the onset the entire House of Assembly has 'pledged to cooperate' with the Commission of Inquiry.

'HoA has pledged to cooperate'

Honourable Julian Willock said from the onset the entire HoA has “pledged to cooperate”.

It is documented that the Legislators voted to amend the Register of Interests Act to allow the Commission of Inquiry to have access.

“This was historic as we made the law retroactive,” Honourable Willock said, while underscoring that correspondence received by Honourable Members from the CoI was responded to.

In a demonstration of cooperation, at least three Members of the House of Assembly, including the Premier, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) and the Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), appeared before the Commissioner to answer questions.

“Anyone saying otherwise is not being truthful,” the Speaker said.

The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) in the Virgin Islands was called by the controversial ex governor, Augustus J. U. Jaspert, who was accused of trying to bully the Government and Legislature.

'Members will cooperate as far as practical- Hon Willock

Speaker Willock said other Members of the HoA have been recently summoned to appear before the Commissioner, and “I am sure Members will cooperate as far as practical”.

Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie reaffirmed his Administration’s commitment to cooperating with a fair and transparent CoI.

His Government has supplied over eighty-five thousand (85,000) documents to the CoI.

The Executive Branch of Government is being represented before the CoI by Withers LLP from the UK and the Legislative Branch is represented by Silk Legal, a local law firm.