The Fifth Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) is to convene today Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at 10:00 AM at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom. Photo: YouTube

The one-man commission conducted in 2021 by retired British Judge Gary R. Hickinbottom recommended that the Virgin Islands’ constitution be suspended and that the Territory is corrupt. Photo: VINO/File

The main item of the Order of the Day should be the debate on the controversial Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Report.

The one-man commission, conducted in 2021 by retired British Judge Gary R. Hickinbottom, recommended that the Virgin Islands’ constitution be suspended and that the Territory is corrupt; however, he did not provide any evidence of corruption, outside of some auditor reports done locally.

Does the CoI Report have legitimacy?

Many have blasted the report as illegal and one-sided. The coalition government of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7); however, has accepted all the recommendations and has thrown overboard whomever it believed was necessary in order to put a stay on the suspension of the constitution.

Many Members are expected to show their opposition to the swift implementations being done without the input of the people or even the House of Assembly.

By any means necessary!

The CoI was also overwhelmed with controversy when it was discovered that three of its attorneys were working in the Territory illegally, in violation of the Virgin Islands Legal Professions Act, 2015. This was confirmed in writing by the Attorney General (AG) Honourable Dawn J. Smith.

It was also discovered by the AG that the former Governor, who has been labeled a racist, Augustus J. U. Jaspert, had obtained information from the HoA Register of Interests illegally.

The sitting today will be aired LIVE on House of Assembly VI Youtube; House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands Facebook; 780 AM ZBVI Radio; CBN-Radio (90.9 FM); FLOW TV Channel 101; and CCT TV Channel 291.