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Public making a number of complaints against lawyers- BVI Bar Association

- but said hands are tied since Disciplinary Committee still not been constituted
Re-elected President of the BVI Bar Association Ms Jacqueline Daley-Aspinall has lamented the number of complaints received by her from members of the public with respect to members of the legal profession. Photo: Facebook
The BVI Bar Association, established in 1976, is a voluntary organisation comprising members of the Virgin Islands’ legal fraternity. Photo: Provided
The BVI Bar Association, established in 1976, is a voluntary organisation comprising members of the Virgin Islands’ legal fraternity. Photo: Provided
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Although not specifying what were the nature of some of the complaints, re-elected President of the BVI Bar Association Ms Jacqueline Daley-Aspinall has lamented the number of complaints received by her from members of the public with respect to members of the legal profession.

Ms Daley Aspinall was at the time giving her report following the Annual General Meeting of the BVI Bar Association at Ogier's Conference Room on Thursday, January 18, 2018 when a new 5-person Council was elected to serve for 2018.

The re-elected President, according to a press release from the association, reminded members of the Association that such complaints must be sent to the Attorney General for consideration as the Disciplinary Committee, which was envisioned under the Legal Profession Act, had still not been constituted, almost 2 years after the Association had submitted the name of its proposed representative for the Disciplinary Committee.

Meanwhile, according to the press release, the President delivered her report on the Association's activities over the period since the previous Annual General Meeting held in September 2016.

“Despite the devastation of Hurricane Irma the Council continued to lend a voice to the territory's legal practitioners in circumstances that have been challenging, particularly in view of damage caused to court buildings and the disruption to essential services. On a positive note, the President highlighted that restoration and upgrades to court facilities are envisaged by the government's recently published draft recovery plan,”

The President described the Association's lobbying activities during the period including its continuing engagement with stakeholders involved in the administration of justice through courtesy calls and meetings with government and court officials. The Association had also participated in several consultations undertaken by government.

Members of Council

Ms Daley-Aspinall, a Partner at Harney Westwood and Riegels (Harneys), returned as President of the Council for the third consecutive term, having run unopposed for the position. She is joined by returning officers Ms Shelly Bend, the In-House Legal Advisor at Trident Trust Company (BVI) Limited (First Vice-President) and Mrs Kimberly Crabbe-Adams, Senior Associate at Harneys (Second Vice-President). The Treasurer, Mr Nicholas Brookes, is a Senior Associate at Ogier and the Secretary, Mr Ruairi Bourke, is a Partner at Maples and Calder. The Treasurer and Secretary are both first time members of the Council.

The BVI Bar Association is a voluntary organisation comprising members of the Virgin Islands’ legal fraternity. The main aims of the Association include maintaining the honour of the ‘BVI bar’, supporting the independence of the judiciary and promoting the improvement of the administration of justice. The Association was established in 1976.

29 Responses to “Public making a number of complaints against lawyers- BVI Bar Association”

  • just asking.... (28/01/2018, 13:02) Like (10) Dislike (39) Reply
    Is she from here?
    • Really? (28/01/2018, 13:30) Like (39) Dislike (7) Reply
      How is that relevant to the story? Do we always have to reduce every discussion to the 'us' against 'them' issue?
      • Belonger Lawyer (28/01/2018, 15:00) Like (20) Dislike (2) Reply
        I also have to ask how this question is possibly relevant to the story. She is "from here" in that she lives in the BVI but she is not "from here" in that she was not born in the BVI. How is this possibly relevant to anything?
      • born here (28/01/2018, 15:30) Like (8) Dislike (33) Reply
        we need a local lawyer in that post
        • @born here (28/01/2018, 22:29) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
          You know exactly what you are doing just trying to get a reaction. I highly doubt you care either way but too many fall into these traps of being trolled and don't even realise it.
        • Boo (29/01/2018, 08:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
          elected by peers?
          • @Boo (30/01/2018, 23:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
            By peers
            Let's see who elected her and the people will understand trump talk is all about the money
    • ... (28/01/2018, 15:37) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      @just asking

      Careful now, you're genius is showing
    • huh (28/01/2018, 21:24) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Kettle and pot
    • vi (29/01/2018, 10:41) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
      She is a pretty Jamaican lawyer who has been here for almost 20 years, If I can recall correctly. Where she is from does not matter. She spent her time in the VI well without getting into any affray. She also owns property in the VI. We are one Caribbean people. Irma tried to bring us together but some of us still have this born here mentality
  • Diplomat (28/01/2018, 14:04) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    The BVI went from having a dearth of lawyers to today having a glut of lawyers. All while there is a dearth of skills in other professional areas. Most of the glut of lawyers goal is not to ensure that residents have access to reasonable and affordable legal assitance but to get rich quick. Lawyers circle around like sharks in water smelling blood. They are more interested in highly lucrative cases, not helping the lil man. They exploit the lil man who is trying to attain justice. More residents need to avoid litigation and pursue alternative dispute resolution (ADR), ie, mediation or arbitration. The BVI has become a sue craze society.
    • Exactly!! (28/01/2018, 14:26) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
      Not all are doing the same but there are some that are a disgrace.
      Its about the money, its not even about proper representation its more like some of these lawyers care more about monies than the truth.
      The will represent the devil accusing Jesus.
      • vi (29/01/2018, 10:29) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        AS is a prime example of this, and her clients are too fool fool to see what she is doing to full her pockets
  • investigate (28/01/2018, 14:28) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    I had a lawyer sent me a letter accusing me of stealing when the said things is absolutely mines.
    But they can do such thing because for the most part the bvi is not a law enforcing country.
  • wize up (28/01/2018, 15:41) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    I willing to wager my last 50 cents that no-thing will become of those matters!!!
  • Queen (28/01/2018, 17:42) Like (19) Dislike (15) Reply
    Some of these young female lawyers have no class. All they do is go around destroying home's and making children for married men. One has to wonder, what do they teach these young people in law school.
    • CHUCKLE (28/01/2018, 21:41) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      haven't had a good chuckle for the day. Thank you!
    • Seer (29/01/2018, 06:16) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      They teach various forms of law one would think. However, moral and self-respect is something totally different. No school should be responsible for what parents and other family members are tasked to do, and adults will be adults. Place the blame where it should be.
    • Oh dear (29/01/2018, 15:21) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      I doubt that the married man was tricked, so i would think he has to take some responsibility for any destruction suffered in his household.
  • Lawyers no loyal. (28/01/2018, 20:47) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just like the polititians. Greed, all about money. The way they treat the poor. The way they favor the Rich.. Wonder what they will tell the King...They are the Bible Caesars..
  • True Story (29/01/2018, 05:36) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    I Got fired a few years ago which I thought was unjust. I went to a lawyer and that lawyer said to me that I have a very good case and suggested I bring a lawyer in from abroad . For reasons she didn't say she cannot take the case. ( respect her up to today she is been honest and straight ), Any how the Lawyer abroad was costing me too much, so I went and get what people say was the best local lawyer and he started the case very good and in the middle of the case he deliberately stall the case and let the 6 months respond limitation ran out I. Kept telling him he has to respond before the six months limitation expires i know of that because i was working in the legal business. He sat back and allow it to expire. All he was telling me dont worry, stop worrying. The day of the case My employer lawyer made a no case submission saying that the defendant allowed the 6 Montha reply statue to expire on him so they asked for the case to be dismissed and the Judge agreed with my employer lawyer and diamised the case. "Down goea my carrer and my future". My employer lawyer before we leave the court room said to me. I would have won my case but my lawyer gave him a gift because that's all he had" if you are wondeiring why he said that to me because we all get along very good we all work in the legal business. I was so mad I didnt say a word to my Lawyer. Two days later his office call me and ask me to come in when i reach there all I got is an apology and all the money I paid he gave it back to me.. The glass was already dropped and broken.." That's how these lawyers work. (Gos don't sleep Gos already punished them). He knew what he was doing. Why I can't say for sure.. Of course we all know in a greedy unprofessional system money is King. (Be your own Judge)
    • Advice (03/02/2018, 06:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      If what you are saying is correct, please note that you can take action against that lawyer in negligence and you should seek advice on same.
  • be you own judge is a fact (29/01/2018, 08:19) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Money is not all why not assist the poor and needy with free legal services. Several lawyers in SKB go to various centres in and around the island and offer free services to several groups of people the same can be done here. Help your brother man. My experience was help a student in her CXC exams by tutoring her for free and her father begged me to give him a price and I said you know what just give me some food products from your home garden whenever you can and let me tell you it went a long way.Hand go hand come
  • ballheaded (29/01/2018, 14:49) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    hear some of them who never practice over 6 months now lobbying for QC
  • Well (29/01/2018, 15:02) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lets speak on how these lawyers are stalling your case for years to make money off of you when the case was to be dealt with already. Its ridiculous, and these are suppose to be one of the top law firms. They making decision and not consulting with the client. Something needs to be done.
  • Dramatic Queensie Poo Poo (29/01/2018, 17:34) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    The legal fraternity has done more good than this filth this woman spewing. I will just say practice what you preach. New election for new president needed. Unfortunately the good lawyers do not got time with the post. Bad online publicity for the BVI.
  • faxy (30/01/2018, 10:21) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    give us the straight shooter we need? The bar is a joke
  • ccc (30/01/2018, 10:36) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is one of the darkest period in the country's history, when there is a break down in the political and legal systems.


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