Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Attorney General shouldn’t be in Cabinet & HoA- Hon Julian Fraser RA

-Said VI needs a Minister of Justice
Deputy Premier and Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Hon Julian Fraser, RA (R3), has said the Attorney General should not sit in Cabinet, nor the House of Assembly. Photo Youtube/HoA
Hon Dawn J. Smith is currently Attorney General (AG) of the Virgin Islands. Photo: GIS/File
Hon Dawn J. Smith is currently Attorney General (AG) of the Virgin Islands. Photo: GIS/File
Deputy Premier and Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Hon Julian Fraser, RA (R3), asked his colleagues in the House of Assembly how they could sleep at night with all the imperfections in the Territory. Photo: YouTube/HoA
Deputy Premier and Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Hon Julian Fraser, RA (R3), asked his colleagues in the House of Assembly how they could sleep at night with all the imperfections in the Territory. Photo: YouTube/HoA
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Deputy Premier and Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Hon Julian Fraser, RA (R3), has said the Attorney General should neither sit in Cabinet nor the House of Assembly.

His comments came while debating the 2022-2023 Constitution Reform Commission (CRC) Report during the Ninth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) on Thursday, September 18, 2025. 

Hon Fraser cited Section 48 of the report, which reads, “There shall be an Attorney General of the Virgin Islands whose office shall be a public office and who shall be appointed in accordance with Section 95. The Attorney General shall be the principal legal advisor to the government of the Virgin Islands.”

The Deputy Premier said he has always questioned what is meant by the Government of the Virgin Islands and who is the legal counsel for the HoA. 

“The term Government of the Virgin Islands does not include the House of Assembly. If it doesn’t include the House of Assembly, then answer this question…where does the Attorney General sit in the House of Assembly as a member?”

Same question for almost 20 years

These questions are what need answers, he said, adding that his questions cannot fall on deaf ears. 

“I am serious. Since 2007, when we negotiated our constitution, I advocated, I contended, I should say, that the Attorney General should not be in Cabinet and should not be in the House of Assembly. That was my contention then, it’s my contention now.”

VI needs a Minister of Justice 

Instead, Hon Fraser said, a Minister of Justice is needed. 

“It is high time the Attorney General be elected as opposed to being someone who walks in from office, sit in the House of Assembly and sit in Cabinet.”

He said if the Premier needs something relating to Communications and Works, he references the appropriate minister; however, the same cannot be said about the Attorney General. 

“That’s why you know we limp along with a system that is barely functional, and we call it walking, but it’s not. We could do better, we smarter than that, all of us.”

Hon Fraser turned to his colleagues and told them he did not know how they could sleep at nights. 

“With all these imperfections, all these things that are happening that need to be fixed, you still go to sleep at night [and] wake up in the morning like nothing happened. I’m throwing in your face right now, I am.”

25 Responses to “Attorney General shouldn’t be in Cabinet & HoA- Hon Julian Fraser RA”

  • BuzzBvi (19/09/2025, 14:20) Like (28) Dislike (1) Reply
    Neither should you.
  • Commentator (19/09/2025, 14:41) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    If you can't sleep...just listen to this guy for a few minutes. You'll be snoring in no time!!
  • Nonsenwe (19/09/2025, 14:43) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    Thats why you guys are making unrealistic decisions that are not in the best interest of this country.
  • THE 3RD HAVE SPOKEN (19/09/2025, 15:20) Like (9) Dislike (4) Reply
    ThIS FELLOW IS SOME PLACE ELSE THERE IS SO MUCH THINGS THAT NEEDS SERIOUS ATTENTION LOOK AT WHO HE JUMPING ON ( IS SHE THE CAUSE OF WHATS NOT BEING DONE BY THE GOVERNMENT / ISN'T THE LADY PERFORMING HER DUTES UP TO YOUR STANDARDS / 20 YEARS YOU YOU HAVE BEEN ASKING THE SAME QUESTION / IS THE QUESTION GOING FIX WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE FIXED IN THE COUNTRY , THAT THE GOVERNMENT AIN'T FIXING / IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE (AG ) THE REASON WHY YOU HAVEN'T ACCOMPLISHED ANYTHING IN THOSE 20 LONG YEARS BESIDES DANCING TO YOUR BROKEN RECORD LYRICS / NO WONDER YOU AND THE REST POWER HUNGRY COULD NOT UNITE AS ONE AND FORM THE GOVERNMENT / YOUR HEAD WAS AND STILL IS IN THE SAND / MAYBE YOU STILL CHASING DOWN THE ( COI ) TOO / THE 3RD DISTRICT NEEDS A HELP WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAS * INTEGRITY * , BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE YOU LOST YOUR MARBLES •
  • bvibuzz (19/09/2025, 15:42) Like (3) Dislike (19) Reply
    I agree with Fraser let's see if they have the balls to make it happen
  • hmmmmm.... (19/09/2025, 16:07) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    Can someone please please please check to see if Julian is getting dementia. OBVIOUSLY he doesn't realize that the AG is the advisor to the Government.
  • FACIAL EXPRESSION (19/09/2025, 16:17) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    The EMPEROR, IS SAYING )> AH KNO AR-YO AIN'T GINE LIKE THIS , BUH , AH JUS AIN'T WAN - NO [ AG ] IN MY HOUSE , AND SINCE AH GAH AH LIL POWER NOW - YO BOI GINE FLEX OFF ME " MOURT "
  • hog city (19/09/2025, 16:40) Like (2) Dislike (31) Reply
    We love fraser
  • Eagle Eye (19/09/2025, 17:43) Like (28) Dislike (2) Reply
    The Third has the most uneducated voters.
  • 1 plus 1 (19/09/2025, 18:26) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who it was that tell a former Speaker "there's no Vacancy "
  • Blind Man (19/09/2025, 19:22) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    That pay raise smell his head
  • one eye rooster (19/09/2025, 19:40) Like (4) Dislike (20) Reply
    What dementia the man is speaking the truth you want be attorney get elected
  • Stealth (19/09/2025, 20:26) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Whether the AG is Cabinet or HOA is neither there or here to me;it is just semantics…Nonetheless, the legislative body, the HoA, needs a legal advisor on staff to support the elected members on procedural matters , constitutionality of bills,,HoA rules., etc. Similarly, the executive body, the Cabinet, needs a legal advisor on staff to support members. Further, an AG is still needed and should be appointed, not elected, for the AG needs to be non-partisan. Furthermore, the AG’s office should be staffed with a number of attorneys to support Ministerirs, Department, Statutory Bodies(?), agencies, etc. Eack lawyer should be assigned a number of activities.Let’s stop with the semantics., eh. I’m not with the Liberator on this one.
    • RealPol (20/09/2025, 11:19) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Stealth, concur that AG should be appointed, not elected, for the AG needs to a non-partisan, experience jurist. Election is a popularity contest which may not produced the best qualified, experienced, non-partisan, professional, etc., person., The appointed mechanism is not perfect, no gurantees, etc., but it is head and shoulders above and better than the elected mode. True, the squabble about the AG sitting in Cabinet and HoA and not being a member of either is pure semantics. The BVI has bigger fish to catch, clean , season and fry than this. In regards to the Government sitting in and chairing Cabinet, yes, kick his rass to curb. The Guv has to give assent to any bill passed by HoA so why he needs to be in Cabinet? King Charles has to give assent to any bill passed by Parliament but does he sit in UK cabinet. The Guv role is a continuation of colonialism, ie,racial superiority , control, exploitation , non-privilege, etc of the colonies..The view is the colonies leaders are weak in governing and needs Whiite massa to lead them, for they have the divine power to rule over them. This is some corrupted governing logic driven by social Darwinism. It is some Neville Chamber appeasement crappola. Some Benidict Arnold shit.
  • 2024 (19/09/2025, 23:03) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    when will the highway through sea cows be repaired should we ask the Attorney General
  • Herbs Powa (20/09/2025, 00:03) Like (23) Dislike (1) Reply
    Look who the third have in the HOA. What a shame.
  • Yo Killa (20/09/2025, 00:23) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    We need to protect the AG! Them after her now for doing them work
  • bay yute (20/09/2025, 06:49) Like (0) Dislike (19) Reply
    The record will show Jon fraser has committed himself to serve with integrity and independence, engaging constructively on issues that matter most — economic growth, job creation, public safety, education and healthcare — while always putting the people of district 3 first
  • Mummy watching (20/09/2025, 07:24) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The AG gotta be there to keep you naughty peoples in check
  • RealPol (20/09/2025, 11:34) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    @Stealth, concur that AG should be appointed, not elected, for the AG needs to a non-partisan, experience jurist. Election is a popularity contest which may not produced the best qualified, experienced, non-partisan, professional, etc., person., The appointed mechanism is not perfect, no gurantees, etc., but it is head and shoulders above and better than the elected mode. True, the squabble about the AG sitting in Cabinet and HoA and not being a member of either is pure semantics. The BVI has bigger fish to catch, clean , season and fry than this. In regards to the Government sitting in and chairing Cabinet, yes, kick his rass to curb. The Guv has to give assent to any bill passed by HoA so why he needs to be in Cabinet? King Charles has to give assent to any bill passed by Parliament but does he sit in UK cabinet. The Guv role is a continuation of colonialism, ie,racial superiority , control, exploitation , non-privilege, etc of the colonies..The view is the colonies leaders are weak in governing and needs Whiite massa to lead them, for they have the divine power to rule over them. This is some corrupted governing logic driven by social Darwinism. It is some Neville Chamber appeasement crappola. Some Benidict Arnold shit.
  • Agree (20/09/2025, 13:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree that the AG should be elected as they should be bi-partisan and not timid to actually do their jobs. The HOA seems to be a free for all so either they are getting advice and not taking it or the AG pins down their lips because they are afraidn of reprisals. Either way the advisor to the HOA have to be strong and assertive. They are getting away with a lot there.
  • Really?!! (20/09/2025, 17:37) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    I can't hear a thing Julian Fraser is saying until he visits the barber?! Why are u in your professional arena looking unprofessional?!! Do better!
  • HMMM (20/09/2025, 21:25) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Clean and fix your district!!!


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.