Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Repeat offender! ‘I have no excuse for ignorance of the law’ - Fraser

Repeat offender! ‘I have no excuse for ignorance of the law’ - Fraser

Found to be in breach of the territory’s Register of Interests Act, veteran legislator Julian Fraser said he has no cause to use ‘ignorance of the law’ as an excuse for his actions since he was present when the Act was passed.

A procession of lawmakers who appeared before the Commission of Inquiry (COI) this week expressed varying degrees of difficulty in interpreting the form they’re required to submit to the Register of Interests — a record kept of the financial interests of House of Assembly (HOA) members. This difficulty is was what legislators claim caused them to make their declarations to the Registrar outside of the legally required timeline.

But unlike those who complained that the submission form was unclear in several areas, Fraser, who was first elected in 1999, told the COI there was little if any ambiguity surrounding the provisions of the form.

“It says exactly what it says,” he stated.

I take my duties seriously


Fraser further told the COI that he took his position as a legislator seriously. So, to avoid any conflict of interest, he quit his practice as an architect immediately upon taking office.

According to the Third District Representative, he also took up no additional financial pursuits that might conflict with his role as a legislator.

“You may not get the same answers from others that you might get from me. But I can tell you that I walked into this with my eyes wide open … This bill was created during my tenure and I know what it’s all about. I know to stay away from these things,” Fraser said.

Despite this, it was revealed that Fraser — for several years counting — was late declaring his interests. This means he, too, was in breach of the legislation. However, he accepted responsibility during his appearance before the COI Wednesday.

“You have to bear with me in the fact that I was there when this law was made [so] I have no excuse for being ignorant of the law,” Fraser told the COI yesterday.

Fraser in breach on several occasions


Fraser did not submit his declarations despite repeated pleas from former Registrar, Victoreen Romney-Varlack who advised him on several occasions what his breaches were.

Once, in 2016, the Registrar had cause to write the legislator about his past due declarations of interest for 2014 and 2015 which she said he needed to have rectified.

In May of that year, she was again recorded to have advised him twice about his breaches in the previous years.

Another missive was sent in August and December of that year. The Registrar sent Fraser another letter in March of the following year; effectively stating she was confident that he did not mean to take a course of action that would see him being in breach Section 3 of the law that he helped to pass.

It was also pointed out by the COI that there was no obligation on the part of the Registrar to issue any letters reminding members of the House to submit their declarations.

Instead, she is only required to write a report once they have been in breach of the Act past three months after the due date for submission.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
×