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

Silk Legal's cost 'insignificant' to VI’s potential losses from CoI- Richard G. Rowe

- reveals that Silk Legal has only received $30K deposit for CoI defensive legal work so far
Silk Legal attorney Richard G. Rowe, right, takes a question from reporters at a press conference on August 18, 2021. Left is Speaker of the House of Assembly Hon Julian Willock. Photo: VINO
The Virgin Islands stands to lose significantly if not properly defended in the Commission of Inquiry, Silk Legal attorney Richard G. Rowe has posited. Photo: VINO/File
The Virgin Islands stands to lose significantly if not properly defended in the Commission of Inquiry, Silk Legal attorney Richard G. Rowe has posited. Photo: VINO/File
Attorney Mr Richard G. Rowe has said his firm, Silk Legal, has been battling the practices of the CoI and discovering the weaknesses and breaches of the law by the Commission. Photo: YouTube/File
Attorney Mr Richard G. Rowe has said his firm, Silk Legal, has been battling the practices of the CoI and discovering the weaknesses and breaches of the law by the Commission. Photo: YouTube/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Silk Legal Attorney Mr Richard G. Rowe, whose law firm is representing Members in the House of Assembly (HoA)- who are not ministers- in the BVI Commission of Inquiry, said the minimum cost of his firm to Virgin Islands' taxpayers is incomparable to potential losses the territory faces if not defended.

Mr Rowe made the comments in response to questions on the cost of his legal representation while sitting alongside HoA Speaker Hon Julian Willock in a press conference yesterday, August 18, 2021.

“Let’s understand the stakes as demonstrated with the takeover of the Turks and Caicos, what it means… the three pillars of the Virgin Islands which have kept this territory and these melanated people strong, will be kicked out from under our feet.”

What's at stake?

Mr Rowe suggested that should the UK suspend the VI’s constitution as a result of the COI,  local trade licenses will be "open to the competition for billionaires and from the large department stores from England.”

He said other adverse impacts could include work permits and landholding titles being abolished, “so, therefore, anyone with millions and with land permits can come in and purchase all the land and make it so expensive for the local that we will become like Bermuda or Cayman,” he said.

Mr Rowe said with regards to the possible outcome of the CoI, there remains a lot at stake for the territory.

“The minimal fees that we are charging are insignificant to the losses that we as a people will suffer as a whole, when there is this wholesale takeover. There will be no legislature, the Governor will rule from top, [and] they will bring in foreign civil servants to head the various departments,” he said.

Services reflect COVID-19 reality- Rowe

Mr Rowe, who also said his firm has only been paid a $30,000 deposit, defended his firm’s performance, stating that compared to the team representing the Executive arm of Government, Silk Legal has been battling the practices of the CoI and discovering the weaknesses and breaches of the law by the Commission.

“It is us and we are nowhere near 3 million billing,” he said in reference to announcements from Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) that Whiters law firm has billed the VI Government ‘just over $3M’ for its CoI defence.

“Our services are offered at a far lesser rate and for greater consideration of the wellbeing of the territory as of COVID. So you wouldn’t find us anywhere near the $100,000, $3 million or otherwise. It will be significantly less,” he said.

Attorney Rowe said at times, they remain in their office, watching the CoI’s proceedings on YouTube rather than attending the hearing “when it is not necessary” in an effort to reduce legal costs.

“So we are quite aware of the expense, we are quite aware of what we are going through with COVID, I had it, and our duty is to protect the reputation of this territory, and that we will do,” he said.

10 Responses to “Silk Legal's cost 'insignificant' to VI’s potential losses from CoI- Richard G. Rowe”

  • my2cents (19/08/2021, 10:21) Like (8) Dislike (12) Reply
    The VI are not ready to be independent b/c our standards are not world class. We are not a very highly educated population, so we distrust educated persons that come back from Institutions of Learning. We are slow to accept the global norms as the world changes around us. We have limited expertise in Intl Relations. Ppl are still dependent on the civil service for employment. All that being said; We have done very well for ourselves and we can still be a successful state moving fwd. But not if we allow the UK to take advantage of our tribal conflicts within. Our Grandparents grandparents worked hard for what we were born with. A UK takeover would be the same NWO that many fear, as our jobs will be lost, our businesses will not survive and certain things like our Emancipation Festivals would be gone permanently. Our homes and ancestral land will be taken away from us. The requirement of advertising jobs locally 1st will be abandoned for direct UK hires. Cost of living would go up even more as we would go to the pound instead of the dollar, and taxes increased to keep us unable to progress. It will be a New World Order for us. Most of us will not survive. They will not treat any of us any differently, the people will experience racism for the first time. All of us will, not some of us, all of us. The time has come to unite as a people for our own rights of self determination & autonomy. I am not advocating abuse of government power but for a conscious awakening now to the realities of the real global environment and 'agenda'. We need to educate ourselves instead of fighting against education. If we get educated ourselves then no one can use their education against us. Understand the fight of the underdeveloped nations as that's what we are. Demand higher standards in everything so we are world class at everything & can compete on equal footing. The Old days are gone only the real survivors will be able to compete in the New days ahead. Demand better leadership from everyone. Politicians, preachers, teachers, employers, doctors, heads of depts, etc. That is what I've taken out of all of this.
    • MyBenjamin (20/08/2021, 08:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You said:
      "A UK takeover would be the same NWO that many fear, as our jobs will be lost, our businesses will not survive and certain things like our Emancipation Festivals would be gone permanently. Our homes and ancestral land will be taken away from us."
      Is there any particular reason you said this? Do you write fiction for fun? Or do you spread complete bull professionally?

      Anyway, in today's news, there is a giant lizard on the West End road eating all the schoolchildren, so be careful if traveling down there. And ferries are cancelled today because someone removed the plug from the bottom of Sir Francis Drake Channel. Authorities hope it will be fixed in time for a heavy snowfall expected to arrive yesterday morning, one year ago.
      Of course, do your own research and you'll see we need to blame whites for these very bad things. Their secret international quest to control the TV remote means they will stop at nothing!
      Facts.
      • my2cents (23/08/2021, 12:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        I'll answer your question if you answer these.

        Have you read the history of the British Empire?
        Travelled to the places they've colonized or talked to the ppl in those communities?
        Have you been to Africa or India yet or talked with the locals there?
        Do you understand Globalization?
        Tell me about life in the UK, for the children of the west indian ppl.
        Have you ever been to Bermuda or talked to Bermudians?
        What about Brooklyn NY? Have you been there? Or talked to the locals about what happened to their communities?
        Have you ever worked in the private sector here in the BVI? Or job hunted outside of the civil service?
        How many ppl come from the UK for jobs that locals can do? Ever applied for a job to be told that it was already given to someone in the UK for 5x what they advertised locally + living expenses and been told that they just had a legal requirement to post the job locally for 2 weeks before making their official hire?
        Have you ever looked at the interest rates on mortgage loans here vs other places?
        Have you ever had talks with UK citizens who think we have too many holidays as is?
        I could go on. But what's the pt really?







  • Jury (19/08/2021, 12:08) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    If a person is charged for an offence, it is the duty of his /her legal team to get them acquitted by finding any legal means whatever .This would of i course nvolved technical issues some as simple as the omission of a caution or the way a crucial piece of evidence was handled by the Investigator. In this case the defendant may deemed by the court to be not guilty. The question may still be asked though, Did the defendant committed the offence? I understand the core of the challenge here and the aim of the COI . Whatever the out come of this investigation I am more interested in whether or not the BVI is as corrupt as The COI or other persons are alleging. It is the only way to find the truth and close this chapter in our book.
  • @ 2 CENTS (19/08/2021, 13:14) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    you spoke a lot about everything like a psychic , except all the corruption that is going on in the territory / seems like you can only see on one side
  • withering (19/08/2021, 13:26) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    $3m for withers is an awful lot. but presumably it includes the fees of their silk, former ag of uk
  • stop (19/08/2021, 16:03) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
    @my2cents why don't you speak for yourself, Your post is very stupid.
  • lol (19/08/2021, 19:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Services insignificant as well
  • Hmm.. (20/08/2021, 00:17) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    No one wanted the goons at the door but who's fault is it really??? If y'all as government officials was such upstanding citizens of leadership then why are we in this mess right now? The COI shed light on so much years of blatant theft corruption croniesim and the list goes on!! The way I see it whatever is to become of the BVI Blame Your Selves for failing this country! It's like the public was just to sit back and leave y'all continue to live lavishly off hard tax paying dollars majority of which comes from expats seeing they make up a heavy part of this population that y'all still treat like sh**! You the government created this problem so instead of telling us what we already know.. FIX IT! But no that won't happen instead you sit there in your fancy meetings finding ways to finish leach of a struggling country for your own safety while we the people suffer for your wrong doings...
  • VG68 (20/08/2021, 10:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The COI has alerted the public of various areas of documented corruption the public was never made aware of. Anyone who listened to any of the COI proceedings will have heard how many questions were left unanswered or easily passed the “not my fault “ to another government department. If one has nothing to hide than you have nothing to fear.


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.