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UK attorney raises concern of no local involvement in CoI team

- emphasised importance of local public confidence in Inquiry
Former United Kingdom Attorney General and attorney for the Executive branch of the Virgin Islands Government, Sir Charles Geoffrey Cox QC, has lamented the apparent lack of local involvement in the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (CoI) which is allegedly aimed at improving governance in the British Overseas Territory. Photo: www.geoffreycox.co.uk
Lone Commissioner, retired British Judge Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom QC, left, and Press Secretary Steven Chandler. The Commission of Inquiry team has no local involvement, which has raised concerns of transparency and fairness. Photo: VINO/File
Lone Commissioner, retired British Judge Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom QC, left, and Press Secretary Steven Chandler. The Commission of Inquiry team has no local involvement, which has raised concerns of transparency and fairness. Photo: VINO/File
It was revealed in the CoI and reported by this news site that there was longtime tension between the governments of the VI and UK. Ex Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert was also accused by trying to bully the elected government led by Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) as well as the legislature. Photo: Facebook/File
It was revealed in the CoI and reported by this news site that there was longtime tension between the governments of the VI and UK. Ex Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert was also accused by trying to bully the elected government led by Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) as well as the legislature. Photo: Facebook/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Former United Kingdom Attorney General and attorney for the Executive branch of the Virgin Islands Government, Sir Charles Geoffrey Cox QC, has lamented the apparent lack of local involvement in the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (CoI) which is allegedly aimed at improving governance in the British Overseas Territory.

Emphasising that he is not taking any dogmatic position, Sir Geoffrey addressed how perception arising from the way the Inquiry is being conducted can affect local confidence in it.

He told the lone Commissioner, retired British Judge Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom QC: “You've arrived on this island with a team from the United Kingdom. As far as we're aware, there is no local involvement in your Inquiry.

Sir Geoffrey was speaking during submissions on Day 5 of hearings by the Commission on Thursday, May 13, 2021, at the International Arbitration Centre on Wickham’s Cay II, Tortola. The transcript of the session became available on the Commission of Inquiry’s website on May 31, 2021.

‘Importance of transparency should not be underestimated’

The UK attorney also noted that there is an uneasiness surrounding the CoI in the VI, not necessarily because anyone has anything to hide but because there is a lack of transparency regarding the operation of the CoI.

“Your arrival has obviously been noted, to put it mildly, and it causes, inevitably within the island, a degree of concern, apprehension, consternation, speculation, and, frankly, worry, and that isn't because necessarily there is anybody - those who are worried are necessarily feeling they have anything to hide, but in the absence of precise knowledge about what the Inquiry is doing, for perfectly understandable reasons, it does cause a strain.”

Sir Geoffrey emphasised the importance of “local public confidence in the fairness, balance and independence of your Inquiry.”

He said the importance of transparency should not be underestimated and the Commission should take note that certain perceptions have grown based on how the Inquiry has been operating from inception.

It was also revealed in the CoI and reported by this news site that there was longtime tension between the governments of the VI and UK.

Former Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert, who Commissioned the CoI, was also accused of trying to bully the elected government as well as the legislature.

18 Responses to “UK attorney raises concern of no local involvement in CoI team”

  • Banana smudge (02/06/2021, 12:17) Like (8) Dislike (18) Reply
    Take note, he said "no local involvement", not expats / not down-islanders. LOCALS
    • trevor (02/06/2021, 13:31) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
      That’s your take, not his.
      He meant no one who lives here locally.
      Stop tying to muddy the waters
  • No Local Involvement (02/06/2021, 12:24) Like (28) Dislike (5) Reply
    There isnt any local involvement because it was local involvement that created the need for a COI in the first place. The fact that we have no effective means to police our own government is evidenced by the need for the COI
  • Racism (02/06/2021, 12:27) Like (10) Dislike (12) Reply
    Just like the governor’s office on the fco side blacks are shut out
  • Wrong (02/06/2021, 12:30) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    We are involved on social media, following every step, voicing our views and opinion and suggestions, check the bloggs...Start reading...Every Bar, street corner, Construction site, office, thats the topic of discussion,, Ur wrong..
  • Politicalĺ Gimmics and distractive tactics at work. (02/06/2021, 12:34) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    In mine and many others honest opinion you are Still playing the devide-and-conquer game. Simple put, had you treated the majority poor as equall receivers of the country's wealth, there would not have being any need to try to convince them to supporr your position. They would gladly do.
  • Interested (02/06/2021, 12:40) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    The COI is almost over.
  • right (02/06/2021, 12:47) Like (22) Dislike (3) Reply
    We the locals don't trust you the locals with our confidentiality. So no we don't want locals in the COI team. Too much leaks would happen.
    • josiah'sbay (02/06/2021, 21:22) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      Some people never see the bigger picture because they want to satisfy some petty or personal discontent. We'll see what happens when all the smoke clears.
  • that is all that is all (02/06/2021, 12:49) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    They dont trust the locals because of all the recent leaks
  • Shaft (02/06/2021, 14:24) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    IS JUST TRYING TO MAKE HIMSELF LOOK REAL , OR DOING HIS HOME WORK ~ IF THERE IS NOTHING TO HIDE WHATS SO WRONG WITH THE TRUTH ( WITH ALL THE DECEPTION , NO .ONE CAN BE TRUSTED
  • Mrs Tubman (02/06/2021, 16:34) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    No one can be more a local than our current Attorney General.
    If she is not involved in the COI it is because the local elected and affected and investigated don't want her to be involved .
    • Mr Tubman (03/06/2021, 02:06) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Well funny enough coming from a non-local attorney that was hired to be a part of the team to represent the executive branch of government, are there any locals on YOUR team Sir Cox QC? Wasn't any of the ordinarily resident QCs competent to do what you are doing? Is Withers a local law firm? Were none of the more local law firms competent enough to be a part of your team Sir Cox QC?
  • Involvement (03/06/2021, 08:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    There are many forms of involvement in civil matters such as the CoI. Mr. Cox is raising the lack of involvement issue in regard to the folks in the large families that are descendants of the last 2 centuries of habitation in the BVI. Well these folks are involved mostly as witnesses. In any other CoI involvement capacity these folks would be seen as traitors or even worse as spies.


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