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Refusal to swear in Jaspert @ HoA was a matter of 'principle'- Ingrid A. Moses-Scatliffe

- Former Speaker details why she & other legislators objected to swearing in then governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert in HoA Building
Some six years after legislators had refused to attend a swearing-in ceremony of Ex-Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert, left, in 2017, former Speaker Ms Ingrid A. Moses-Scatliffe, right, said she stood on principle when ensuring Mr Jaspert was not sworn in at the House of Assembly (HoA). Photo: VINO/Facebook/File
Augustus J.U. Jaspert recites then signs the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Due Execution of Office in the presence of Her Ladyship the Honourable Madam Justice Vicki Ann Ellis at the Swearing-in and Welcome Ceremony held Tuesday, August 22, 2017, at the Virgin Islands Supreme Court. Photo: GIS
Augustus J.U. Jaspert recites then signs the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Due Execution of Office in the presence of Her Ladyship the Honourable Madam Justice Vicki Ann Ellis at the Swearing-in and Welcome Ceremony held Tuesday, August 22, 2017, at the Virgin Islands Supreme Court. Photo: GIS
Veteran legislator Hon Julian Fraser RA, it has been revealed, was one of the legislators who supported the decision to not have the swearing in of the UK-appointed Governor in the House of Assembly Building. Photo: Facebook/File
Veteran legislator Hon Julian Fraser RA, it has been revealed, was one of the legislators who supported the decision to not have the swearing in of the UK-appointed Governor in the House of Assembly Building. Photo: Facebook/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI– Some six years after legislators had refused to attend a swearing-in ceremony of Ex-Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert in 2017, former Speaker Ms Ingrid A. Moses-Scatliffe said she stood on principle when ensuring Mr Jaspert was not sworn in at the House of Assembly (HoA).

Appearing as a guest on the Honestly Speaking show on ZBVI 780 AM on March 21, 2023, Mrs Moses-Scatiffe said the Governor is not supposed to be sworn in at the house, but rather, at another venue since the House is for Sittings.

However, the VI had become accustomed to the practice of swearing in governors at the House, an issue that would change under her tenure since it was not the correct procedure, she said.

HoA 'is not the venue for that'– Moses-Scatiffe

“So whenever he comes to the house, he comes at the invitation of the Speaker. He comes in instances like the Speech from the Throne. So really and truly, this process about having him sworn… the same with the Judges go to the Governor's Office to get sworn, the same way the Deputy Governor goes, the same way the Governor is supposed to go,” she said.

“The House of Assembly is not the venue for that,” Ms Moses-Scatiffe added.

The Ex-Speaker and At Large Candidate for Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) said there was a memo written in 1985 reportedly by a former Deputy Governor that said the Governors can be sworn in at the HoA, with no other legal justifications to back up the memo.

“So you have a memo was written at the time by I think was Deputy Governor…I'm like, no, that's not it, that's not correct. So, we cannot continue, and this was my premise.

“When you find out that something is being done wrong, the minute you find out you need to change it,” she said.

Notice was given to find another venue– Moses-Scatiffe

Moses-Scatiffe said when Ex-Governor Jaspert was coming to the VI, she, therefore, gave notice that an alternative venue must be found, since he could not be sworn in at the House and this, she said, set off a chain of reactions with back and forth correspondence with the then Governor John S. Duncan.

“From the first letter, I copied every single one of the 13 Members [of the HoA] and all of the communication so you could see what the chain of communication is, and I never forgot a morning after 6:00 am, my cell phone rang, [it was] Hon Julian Fraser and he called me personally.”

She said the call from the Senior legislator at the time was to tell her she was right about not having Jaspert sworn in at the House.

Swear-in Ceremony @ High Court

On Tuesday, August 22, 2017, Mr Jaspert took the Oath of Office to be the Governor of the Virgin Islands (VI) at the High Court, amid the controversy, after being shut out of the HoA in the move that was spearheaded by then-Speaker Moses-Scatliffe.

Elected Members who were not present for the Ceremony on August 22, 2017, were Hons Ronnie W. Skelton (AL), Myron V. Walwyn (AL), Archibald C. Christian (AL), Marlon A. Penn (R8), the late Delores Christopher (R5), Hon Julian Fraser (R3), Hon Alvera Maduro-Caines (R6), and Melvin M. Turnbull (R2).

The ceremony was also boycotted by Speaker Moses-Scatliffe. The then Attorney General Baba F. Aziz was also absent.

Payback?

It was Mr Jaspert who would call a Commission of Inquiry into governance in the Virgin Islands in January 2021. The CoI Commissioner handpicked by Jaspert, retired judge Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom, subsequently recommended imposition of direct rule on the VI by the UK.

After pushback from elected officials and Virgin Islanders, direct rule was withheld but an Order in Council to suspend the local constitution remains in 'reserve' to force the VI to implement recommendations by the same Hickinbottom.

40 Responses to “Refusal to swear in Jaspert @ HoA was a matter of 'principle'- Ingrid A. Moses-Scatliffe”

  • HMMM (22/03/2023, 09:38) Like (37) Dislike (16) Reply
    This girl, CSC, and tall boy working together in two different parties and think we stupid. Not our votes.
    • Payback? (23/03/2023, 20:46) Like (5) Dislike (7) Reply
      It was Andrew who hounded the Governor to appoint a COI. He got his wish.
      • @Payback? (24/03/2023, 13:28) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
        That is a lie. It was the racist governor fueled by those who hated Andrew & VIP pushed for the COI hoping to get the power afterwards.
    • we (26/03/2023, 06:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      “ After pushback from elected officials and Virgin Islanders, direct rule was withheld ”.
      You are deluded. A few ppl pushing back had nothing to do with anything. The UK
      made its decisions based on their considered best way to proceed. We can’t push back because we have no authority and our politicians are corrupt.
  • youth man (22/03/2023, 09:39) Like (28) Dislike (12) Reply
    A vote for her and PVIM is a vote for CSC.
    • Citizen (22/03/2023, 10:18) Like (13) Dislike (18) Reply
      You know better. Ronnie don’t mix family and Government business. CSC Will possibly get a cup of tap water if he is thirsty under Ronnie’s watch.
    • Pure nonsense (22/03/2023, 20:27) Like (5) Dislike (7) Reply
      You are either malicious or just don’t know Ronnie Skelton well. Claude cannot manipulate Ronnie in anyway as he did the VIP.
      • @Pure nonsense (24/03/2023, 13:30) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
        Try stop trying to fool us. CSC in the middle of all Ronnie businesses doing all his dirty work so sell that lie to someone else. Also, CSC has been selling Ronnie as leader for the last year.
  • My Take (22/03/2023, 09:40) Like (26) Dislike (10) Reply
    A lot of them visited the last Governor by night ploting how to take out the VIP so they could get power but all of it will soon come to light.
    • Sambo (22/03/2023, 10:45) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
      So the Guv allegedly conduct business at night on the shadow in a stealth manner. The steppin and fetching “nigs” are true Sambos. They would sell out fellow Virgin Islanders for a wooden Zimbawian penny. These folks smile in your face whole sticking a dagger in your back. Do White folks bring cum carry to Blacks? No. That is the proud province of “Niggs,”
  • Ulysis (22/03/2023, 09:50) Like (15) Dislike (5) Reply
    Point of order. The mase must be removed from the house to accommodate any unelected person to be allowed in the House of Assembly by the Speaker of the House. Moses was correct in her decision. Moving forward we need the elections office to screen the applicants before nomination day preventing a situation after elections whereby elections winners are denied the opportunity to sit in the House.
  • Love (22/03/2023, 09:50) Like (15) Dislike (26) Reply
    Thankyou kindly madam . I long time wanted the real scope on that affair and couldn't have gotten a hold of it. Though i thought at that time you may have slid a bit out of character.
    You would be of great worth to our legislature.. keep positive and truthful for we must extinguish all the negativity.. wish you well.,you have me.
  • resident (22/03/2023, 09:50) Like (31) Dislike (11) Reply
    she was always bias to the ndp and now we see why
  • NICE UPFULL AND BRIGHT LADY (22/03/2023, 10:03) Like (14) Dislike (20) Reply
    WE VOTING FOR HER...SHE IS QUALIFIED
  • Interested (22/03/2023, 10:06) Like (11) Dislike (13) Reply
    Ingrid,I love you and will vote for you God willing,but you dropped the ball on the Jaspert swearing in thing.
  • Buased (22/03/2023, 10:12) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why do you refer to it as payback. If such is the case, why did he not call a COI on the party that refused to swear him in at the HOA and boycotted his swearing in. Referring to the COI as payback for how the NDP treated the incoming Governor makes no sense to me.
  • asking for a friend (22/03/2023, 10:14) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    how did the esteemed handle this when Ranking came?
  • Pastor (22/03/2023, 10:27) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    That man and his mother hands are not clean.
  • 284 (22/03/2023, 10:32) Like (18) Dislike (7) Reply
    only difference between ndp & pvim is the name because for almost 8 years all concerned sat on the same side of the isle however a few hours before the 2019 election there was an apparent devision. One should never forget back in 2017 our territory went through 2 devastating hurricanes. Great Britain sent assistance to this territory and NDP sent them packing in a time when our people needed help(play the tape)

    • To 284 (22/03/2023, 11:39) Like (14) Dislike (8) Reply
      What help Great Britan send? Try stop talking foolishness. They came with thousands of body bags because they thought we were DEAD. They didn't help us with Irma & Maria nor with covid except for last minute out of shame start to send vaccines. Those people want the BVI and the wealth from Financial Services without we the people.
  • Just saying (22/03/2023, 10:33) Like (16) Dislike (9) Reply
    I maintain all governors should be elected by the people and be held accountable by the people and the laws of the land the same as all elected officials. There also needs to be laws put in place locally where governor's assets and bank accounts balances before they take office here and when they leave are made known to the public so they do get away with riches while they are here and get multimillion dollar homes on any of our islands or abroad and huge sums of money that may be transferred to any bank abroad like in Switzerland or other places. Just saying.
    • Common Sense (22/03/2023, 11:18) Like (16) Dislike (6) Reply
      You would be wise to say nothing as you clearly have no idea what you are talking about. The Governor is appointed by His Majesty the King, and ultimately reports to the Monarch accordingly. He is paid a salary and expenses upon which he pays UK tax notwithstanding he lives in the BVI. The Governor answers to nobody in the BVI which is why he is not elected into office locally.
      • @common sense (23/03/2023, 14:48) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
        Racist like you are why we need independence.
        It is a duty which we must move towards as part of our heritage.

        The educated commenter said he the governor should be elected. Yet you go and moon us with your neo-imperial asset. Its so easy for you to lose your façade of loving democracy.

        England should be helping us towards independence as a moral duty. Including allowing governor's to be elected if it is the will of the people.

        What's wrong with that?

        If England has forgotten then I am glad our legislators remember their duty to the people.
    • @Just Saying (22/03/2023, 11:32) Like (8) Dislike (5) Reply
      Sounds like you on to something...
  • Real (22/03/2023, 11:17) Like (16) Dislike (11) Reply
    Ingrid erred on this and doesn't deserve our vote. She is weak.
  • Last 2 Govs (22/03/2023, 11:44) Like (4) Dislike (7) Reply
    RACISTS
  • Foolish Pride (22/03/2023, 12:05) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    People of the Virgin Islands let’s not forget the most important factor of this election.
    “Placing the Virgin Islands back on track to Prosperity and Self Governance “
    Let us vote for candidates who are qualified to take us to that level, candidates who not only see what happens within our borders, but who can fight for our piece of the regional and global stage.
  • Sowande again.. (22/03/2023, 14:01) Like (20) Dislike (11) Reply
    My dear Cuz. I was going to vote for you but I change my mind. I promised not to vote for anyone that disrespect authority or their superiors..I will not vote for you. You allow politicians to buy you. U were for sale. You are weak. We dont need weakness in these times..I will give De Castro that vote.
  • question (22/03/2023, 15:06) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    If a Governor sexual harasses someone or abuse them whether verbally or otherwise, who do you complain it to for action?
  • JaspertGhost (22/03/2023, 16:03) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ms. Moses? The Jaspert swearing matter will come back to haunt you. You will not become a member of the House as an elected member. You have become a political martyr.
  • Rubber Duck (22/03/2023, 16:24) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is the type of storm in a tea cup she is going to be wasting time on?

    I had in mind to vote for her but now I am wondering
  • FACIAL EXPRESSIONS (22/03/2023, 21:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is saying )> ( JAS ) what you mean you normally swearing me in ( ING ) yep , I said wasn't , and am speaking to someone o'er there ???? (FRA) and she meant it ????
  • @ ASKING FOR YOUR FRIEND (23/03/2023, 06:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    ES ~ WHO ? MIS ~ ING ? HEY WE ARE IN THE PRESENT , CAN WE MOVE FORWARD PLEASE ????
  • Correction for ( facial expression (23/03/2023, 08:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    JAS ) did you say you are ( not ) swearing me in ? ( ING ) yep , I said I wasn't , and am speaking with someone o'er there / ( FRA ) and she meant it ????
  • ... (23/03/2023, 14:36) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
    One thing is clear... they have their country at heart

    I dont always agree with politicians but this is representation.
  • the real issue (23/03/2023, 18:01) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    The real issue is the political system the British give us that have us fighting each other and looking for each other's weaknesses in order to keep power rather than uplifting each other's strengths to empower us all. The Westminster moder is a failure as it puts Opposition against Opposition, Opposition against Government members, Government backbenchers against Government Ministers, also Government Ministers against senior public Officers. Unless this structure changes then the only thing that will change each election is the elected officials but the circle of spinning top in mud will continue while the people suffer more and more. The British has screwed us but most of us are to blind to see.


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