Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

‘My Chambers should be independent of Deputy Governor’s Office’- Dawn J. Smith

‘My Chambers should be independent of Deputy Governor’s Office’- Dawn J. Smith

There has been concern during the 2022 House of Assembly’s Standing Finance Committee (SFC) hearing to examine the Budget Estimates in relation to the Attorney General’s Chambers being a constitutionally established office but still appearing under the Deputy Governor’s Office.

The Attorney General, Honourable Dawn J. Smith, raised the issue during the SFC hearing, informing that her position is that under the Constitution, the constitutionally established bodies - the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Governor, Deputy Governor, Auditor General, Complaints Commissioner, Registrar of Interests etc- attend Standing Finance on their own while the Attorney General, who appears in the constitution in a similar way, does not.

The Attorney General stated that she had also referred to Standing Finance Committee Minutes from 2009, 2010 where the case was made for the constitutionally established departments to appear in the Budget Estimates independently, “so as not to create any misunderstanding as to their independence”.

Treat me fairly- Hon Dawn J. Smith


The Honourable Attorney General stated that it was not appropriate for the “Attorney General’s Chambers to be treated differently as if it were a department of the Deputy Governor’s Office under the supervision of the Permanent Secretary and that the misrepresentation should be rectified to properly reflect the status of the office,” according to the SFC report for the 2022 estimates which has been made public.

The Chairman of SFC Honourable Julian Willock sought the input of the Ministry of Finance.

The Acting Financial Secretary Jeremiah G.A. Frett responded that without having the information in front of him some research would be needed; however, from his knowledge, he believed that this is a matter for the Governor and not for the Budget Process.

The Chairman asked Premier Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) if he could shed any light on the process. The Premier responded that the Attorney General is saying rightfully that the Attorney General’s Office should “be recognised as independent even though it (and the other offices) may fall under the Governor’s Group as the Governor will still be the one that they will report to in terms of a reporting mechanism”.

Premier Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), left, has agreed that the Attorney General's Office should be independent before the SFC. Acting Financial Secretary Jeremiah G.A. Frett, right, has said it is a matter for the Governor and not for the Budget Process.


No less independent-AG


Hon Smith emphasised that the Attorney General is no less independent than the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Auditor General, Registrar of Interest, Complaints Commissioner and noted that the Attorney General in the Virgin Islands has predated some of the other institutions. Administratively, as do the Director of Public Prosecutions, Auditor General, Complaints Commissioner, and so on, matters can be channelled through the Deputy Governor’s Office.

The Attorney General said that it is striking that the other independent offices appear in the Budget under a separate area and appear before Standing Finance on their own. The positioning of the Attorney General in the Budget feeds the narrative that the Attorney General represents one arm of Government more than the others. The Attorney General represents one indivisible Government and that should be properly reflected even in the Budget Book.

Honourable Smith noted she believes that it is a matter of changing the book around so that the Attorney General moves from where it is now to where the constitutionally established offices are.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×