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Commissioner silences Smith-Penn for questioning independence of CoI
From the start, many saw the Inquiry as a revenge move by the failed controversial Ex-Governor, Mr. Augustus J. U. Jaspert.
The embattled Jaspert, who was stopped at every turn from breaking the laws of the Virgin Islands (VI) and violating the constitution, was also labeled a ‘racist’ after he sparked public outrage over comments he made that relics of slavery should be maintained in the VI.
Mr. Jaspert had also angered the territory by refusing to apologise for comments he made that descendants of slaves in the VI should not expect any reparations for brutal acts of slavery as a current policy of the monarchy he represented.
CoI has no integrity?
At a CoI public hearing of Thursday, June 1, 2021, Complaints Commissioner, Ms Erica R. Smith-Penn, who is a lawyer, had accused Commissioner Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom of ‘impropriety’ while she raised concerns about ‘the independence and impartiality of the CoI.’
Many prominent voices have also echoed these concerns including House of Assembly (HoA) Speaker, Hon Julian Willock, Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) and Legal Counsel representing Members of the HoA.
While raising her concerns, Smith-Penn was often interrupted with ‘cross talking’ in an attempt to shut her up by both the now controversial Sir Hickinbottom and CoI Counsel Mr. Bilal Rawat.
Throughout the inquiry, Rawat had warned against cross-talking so the records could be clear, however, he violated his own recommendations by blatantly cross-talking during the hearing, as both he and the Commissioner moved to silence the concerns of Smith-Penn at the live hearings and off the records.
Governor & Commissioner arrived on same flight – Smith-Penn
Despite the interruptions, the territory’s Complaints Commissioner stood firm and also noted that when Sir Hickinbottom first arrived in the VI, it was “on the same flight as the former Governor, Augustus Jaspert.”
Another attempt was made to shut down Mrs. Smith-Penn, but she made it clear that she intends to raise her concerns with the Governor and the Deputy Governor since she felt the concerns were of “critical national importance”.
One-man show in Town; sexist white men?
At the time, both Hickinbottom and Rawat turned red and it again demonstrated the one-sided process with the Commissioner telling Mrs. Smith-Penn whatever she had was to be placed in writing to him for him to decide if to accept it.
The Complaints Commissioner professionally told Mr. Hickinbottom that writing to the CoI would not “give the fairness that is required”.
However, Mr. Hickinbottom replied, “I am the master of these proceedings and it is my job to make any determination on fairness.”
The back and forth continued with both Mr Hickinbottom and Rawat trying to make technical arguments to further silence Mrs. Smith-Penn, a move now seen as sexist behaviour by both men against a sister of the soil.
Smith-Penn hurried out of room
When Mrs. Smith-Penn again indicated that she wanted to put something else on the record, the Commissioner in an almost bullying manner told Ms Smith-Penn that she could not do so unless whatever she had to say would be helpful to the CoI and was not a legal submission.
The Complaints Commissioner insisted yet again that she felt the instructions of writing to the CoI would not “give the fairness that is required”, however, she was soon expedited out the room when Rawat indicated that another interview was scheduled at 2:00 pm.
Also appearing before the one-man CoI on July 1, 2021, was former Complaints Commissioner Sheila N. Brathwaite.
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28 Responses to “Commissioner silences Smith-Penn for questioning independence of CoI”
Isn’t an inquiry supposed to delve into good and bad but they only focus on the negative. It is extremely biased.
“ However, Mr. Hickinbottom replied, “I am the master of these proceedings and it is my job to make any determination on fairness.”
Riiight and the people cheer for this.
I stand corrected it is EXXXTREMELY biased.
This is a violation of our democracy.
We voted for this change of party and we can’t get the voted on laws ascented or have our representatives doing their job as their busy covering their butts while the COI searches for poo
They had all the time in the world for a COI for years when planes were missing and now choose to do it when we get a strong political party leading government.
A local government that makes no joke about advancing the people of the VI.
Rather than the previous weak government that pretended to be high society and helped only the high class & UK agenda to advance.
The VI people have voted and here we are. But it’s obvious the UK can’t stand for us to have the strong government the people voted for.
Good governance from the UK seems to be a joke. Respect the democratic process.
This COI is a disgrace with which it seems they wish to ultimately disrespect our democratic rights as voters, with no mechanism to bolster them. Voter fraud is not an issue in the VI.
We vote and they are in for four years stop wasting the voters time.
Some of you people must want to be in Slavery, e@#$$g idiots, Stand and fight with your own or be enslaved and controlled even more by the UK, by some of these comments and dislikes, it looks like some of you c**ts wanna be Enslaved and controlled, some of you are Extremely Dumb and senseless.