Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Mar 14, 2026

Submit All Documents  – CoI Issues Ultimatum To Top Gov't Officials

Submit All Documents – CoI Issues Ultimatum To Top Gov't Officials

The Rt. Hon Sir Gary Hickinbottom Commissioner of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) has ordered three top government employees to submit certain critical documents to the CoI that were not provided despite earlier requests to do so.
The orders said these documents became critical following the appearances of Attorney General Dawn Smith, Financial Secretary Jeremiah Frett and Dr Carolyn O’Neal-Morton, the Permanent Secretary of the Premier’s Office, to be questioned by the Commissioner and his team.

The First Order, number 8 was for Dr. O’Neal-Morton.

It states that after she was summoned and upon “hearing the oral evidence of Dr O’Neal-Morton it is directed that Dr O’Neal-Morton shall, by 4 pm on Tuesday, May 25 2021: 1. Review the Letter of Request dated March 8 2021, addressed to the Premier and provide copies of all documentation/information/correspondence that has not yet been provided, including all appendices to those documents 2. All documentation/information/correspondence should be provided in native form and in correct order.”

The Second Order, number 9, was issued to Jeremiah Frett, the Financial Secretary.

His order states that upon hearing the oral evidence of Mr Jeremiah Frett it is directed Mr Frett shall, by 4 pm on Tuesday, May 25 2021: review the Letter of Request dated March 5 2021, addressed to the Minister of Finance and provide copies of all documentation/information/correspondence that has not yet been provided, including all appendices to those documents.

Further, the CoI order states that all documentation/information/correspondence should be provided in native form and in correct order.”

The Third Order, number 10 was issued to the AG

The AG had made a written submission dated May 19, 2021 on the role of the IRU, Cabinet minutes, the state of disclosure, Legal Professional Privilege and Public Interest Immunity applied for an adjournment of the directions hearing.

The AG's application for an adjournment of the directions hearing was refused. The Commissioner has directed by 4 pm on Monday, May 31 2021, all recipients of a Letter of Request to make an affidavit as to the completeness of the response to the Commission of Inquiry.

The AG was further ordered that by 4 pm on Monday, May 31, 2021, as the person instructed on behalf of the Government Ministers and departments, offices and other Government bodies for which they are all responsible as set out in the schedule to Order No.2, make an affidavit confirming whether or not she has satisfied herself that all reasonable efforts have been made to comply with the Letters of Request issued by the COI to Government Ministers and public officers whose interests she represents in the CoI and, if so, whether she is so satisfied

The AG has also up until 4 pm today, May 25, 2021, to confirm whether she intends to maintain Legal Professional Privilege and/or Public Interest Immunity with respect to any specified class of document which falls to be disclosed to the CoI and to identify that class or classes of document.”

Premier and Minister for Finance Hon. Andrew Fahie has said recently that the IRU has submitted over 85,000 documents to the UK-backed CoI to date. While the Premier has called for the hearing to be live-streamed, the CoI has indicated that it is the AG who represents the Premier and the Government that has requested that testimonies be held private. In addition, some transcripts which are posted on the CoI website are redacted.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Weak Growth Signals UK Economy Was Faltering Even Before Middle East Energy Shock
Marks & Spencer Tops UK Fashion Retail Rankings as Most Considered Brand
United States Launches Trade Investigation Into Allies Over Forced Labour Practices
United States Launches Trade Investigation Into Allies Over Forced Labour Practices
Russia Accuses Britain Over Storm Shadow Strike as London Reaffirms Ukraine’s Right to Self-Defence
Russia Accuses Britain Over Storm Shadow Strike as London Reaffirms Ukraine’s Right to Self-Defence
Royal Navy to Acquire Twenty Uncrewed Surface Vessels for Autonomous Warfare Testing
Russia Summons British and French Envoys After Ukrainian Storm Shadow Strike on Strategic Facility
Starmer Confirms Britain Will Maintain Sanctions on Russia Despite U.S. Policy Shift
UK Moves to Refine AI Definition in Investment Security Reform
UK Economy Stalls in January as Growth Unexpectedly Falls to Zero
Asian Energy Security Tested as Strait of Hormuz Disruption Threatens Oil Supplies
Iran Sets Three Conditions for Ending Regional War as Diplomatic Efforts Intensify
Tesla Secures Approval to Supply Electricity Directly to Homes Across Britain
Prince William Delivers Tribute to Australia’s Naval Alliance Amid Renewed Royal Spotlight on the Country
UK Foreign Secretary Travels to Saudi Arabia to Reinforce Support for Regional Allies
Putin’s ‘Hidden Hand’ May Be Assisting Iran in Conflict With Trump, UK Defence Secretary Warns
UK Sets April Deadline for Tech Platforms to Strengthen Online Protections for Children
Elon Musk Moves Into Britain’s Energy Market as Tesla Wins Licence to Supply Power
UK Watchdog Warns Fuel Retailers Against Profiteering Amid Iran War Price Surge
Report Claims Iran Used UK Charity Network to Expand Influence
United States and United Kingdom Establish Joint Standards for Counter-Drone Technology
Iran May Be Laying Naval Mines in Strait of Hormuz, UK Warns Amid Escalating Gulf Tensions
US Deploys Bunker-Buster Bombs to UK Airbase as Iran Conflict Intensifies
British Troops in Iraq Intercept Iranian Drones Targeting Coalition Base
Release of Mandelson Files Raises Tensions as UK Seeks Stable Relations With Donald Trump
UK Documents Reveal Starmer Was Warned About Mandelson’s Epstein Links Before Ambassador Appointment
Nearly Five Hundred UK Mortgage Deals Withdrawn in Two Days as Market Volatility Forces Lenders to Reprice
Three Cargo Ships Hit Near Iran as Attacks Spread to Strategic Strait of Hormuz
Why British Police Repeatedly Declined to Investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s UK Links
UK Parliament Ends Hereditary Seats in House of Lords, Closing Chapter on Centuries of Aristocratic Lawmaking
EU and UK Urge Israel to Act Against Rising West Bank Settler Violence Amid Regional Tensions
US Senator John Kennedy Says Keir Starmer Should Not Be Trusted for Military Advice Amid Iran War Debate
UK High Court Rejects Attempt to Revive Terrorism Charge Against Kneecap Rapper
Revolut Secures Full UK Banking Licence After Multi-Year Regulatory Wait
Kentucky’s Bench Boost Powers Wildcats Past LSU in SEC Tournament Opener
British Couple Die After Being Pulled From Water at Australian Beach During Family Visit
British Airways Suspends UK Repatriation Flights as Middle East Travel Disruption Deepens
US Forces Prepare Ordnance at RAF Fairford as Strategic Bombers Deploy for Middle East Operations
Nigel Farage Faces Criticism After Saying Britain Should Stay Out of Iran War
Landmark UK Trial Begins Over Sony’s PlayStation Store Pricing
UK High Court Rejects Bid to Challenge Britain’s Chagos Islands Agreement With Mauritius
Finnish Duo Triumphs in England’s Annual Wife-Carrying Race, Winning a Barrel of Ale
How U.S. and UK National Security Strategies Are Reshaping the Global Business Landscape
Green Party Gains Momentum as Labour Shifts Toward the Political Centre
Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Dragon Sets Sail for Eastern Mediterranean as Regional Tensions Rise
UK Homebuilder Persimmon Warns Iran Conflict Could Dent Property Buyer Confidence
Roman Abramovich Signals Legal Fight if UK Seeks to Seize Chelsea Sale Funds
UK Ready to Back Emergency Oil Reserve Release as Middle East Conflict Pushes Prices Higher
Study of 40,000 Articles Sparks Debate Over Alleged Anti-Muslim Bias in UK Media
×