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VI taxpayers may be footing Governor’s legal fees- Premier

- Hon Fahie said legal bill is not about an individual but rather an official office
Governor John J. Rankin. The taxpayers of the Virgin Islands are likely to be footing the bill for the Governor’s legal representation in the BVI Commission of Inquiry, in his capacity as Governor and not in his personal capacity.
According to Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), the legal fee for representation is not about the individual, but rather the office they represent. Photo: Facebook/File
According to Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), the legal fee for representation is not about the individual, but rather the office they represent. Photo: Facebook/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Virgin Islands (VI) Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has indicated that the taxpayers of the Virgin Islands are likely to be footing the bill for the Governor’s legal representation in the BVI Commission of Inquiry, in his capacity as Governor and not in his personal capacity.

Hon Fahie reminded that the legal fee for representation is not about the individual, but rather the office they represent.

At the start of today’s 12th Sitting of the 3rd Session of the 4th House of Assembly, in Duff’s Bottom, Tortola, Premier Fahie said he has been informed that a section of the Virgin Islands Constitution will most likely be used to pay for the legal representation of the Governor, if he is cross-questioned by the CoI, as well as for legal representation for the CoI lawyers in the case that was filed by the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

"It is important for everyone to know that the Governor has exercised his democratic right to have legal representation during the time he will be cross-examined in the CoI, which is the same CoI that the Governor's Office called, and it is projected that the BVI taxpayers will be paying this expense as well because I have been informed that Section 103 of the constitution will likely be used for those two expenses that I have named.

This comes as a small group of persons led by talk show host Rosemary Cindy Rosan-Jones had marched upon the Virgin Islands House of Assembly (HoA) HoA for the speaker to pay his own legal fees. This is even as the Speaker has indicated that the case was brought by him in his official capacity.

House Speaker Hon Julian Willock, along with his Deputy Hon Neville A. Smith (AL), through the law firm Silk Legal, had filed an injunction against Bilal M. Rawat, Andrew King, and Rhea Harrikissoon, who are currently assisting with the work of the CoI.

Speaker acting in official capacity - Premier 

“The only one that is being ordered to pay legal fees in his private capacity while taking action in his official capacity would have been the speaker,” Hon Fahie said.

The Speaker and Deputy had accused the three lawyers of practising law in the territory and doing so while not being called to the Virgin Islands Bar, in violation of the Legal Profession Act 2015.

Hon Willock, however, was forced to withdraw his application after it was found that Attorney General Dawn J. Smith did not grant consent for him to move forward with an injunction that had already been filed in the court.

Justice Adrian Jack, who took over the case from another judge, had then ruled that the Speaker needed to pay the court fees incurred out of his own pocket.

25 Responses to “VI taxpayers may be footing Governor’s legal fees- Premier”

  • maybe (01/11/2021, 19:59) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    Get your facts straight and comeback
  • BS (01/11/2021, 20:28) Like (34) Dislike (3) Reply
    The COURTS ORDERED him, not the VI taxpayers, to pay the legal fees. You above the law?
  • 4th booster (01/11/2021, 20:43) Like (30) Dislike (0) Reply
    These man got to be high off of these booster shots because what is really going on in this country ?
  • Hmmmm (01/11/2021, 20:44) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply
    Tax payers also paying for your legal fee also willock why all the noise talk about that too
  • Ummmm (01/11/2021, 21:18) Like (29) Dislike (2) Reply
    Why is this a headline? The government has got a contract with withers to represent them that last time they said anything was $5m of tax payers money. These lawyers want to cross examine the Governor on behalf of ministers and Dawn Smith so she can’t advice the Governor so she has to pay for someone else
    This has only happened because Fahie got lawyers in. Reckon the cost of defending this government is more than the cost of the COI which the uk tax payer is paying for!

    Why don’t we see how much has been spent on legal fees by the government?
  • lmao (01/11/2021, 21:44) Like (25) Dislike (3) Reply
    Premier said he will not be threatened by next election. Question is threatened by whom? By people stating that they ARE GOING TO VOTE HIM OUT OF OFFICE? The power is in the hands of the people, they are the ones that is going to make the decision next election.
    • sorry (02/11/2021, 08:49) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      I hit the dislike button in error to the above mentioned comment. He is out for sure
    • @lmao (02/11/2021, 09:57) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      Him and his Administration is out for sure. The only one on that crew that might get another chance is KYE RHYMER. My X IS FOR PREMIER TO NOT GET ANOTHER TERM.
    • @Imao (02/11/2021, 14:53) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      I believe he's coming right back in, cause we don't want NDP or any Party resembling them.
  • Assinine (01/11/2021, 23:53) Like (29) Dislike (2) Reply
    This is the most assinine comparison ever made by a leader of a country. JW is not even in the same league as the governor in the hierarchy of leadership. He does not have the autonomy that he thinks that he has.
    • @Assinine (02/11/2021, 09:15) Like (0) Dislike (22) Reply
      'UK' appointed governance should never be in the hierarchy of leadership in the territory. I hope my people can start to independence themselves from mental slavery and stop this evil colonial heresy from festering through each generation. It's the year '2021', it's time to truly be free!
    • Reply (02/11/2021, 10:06) Like (2) Dislike (6) Reply
      Willock the esteemed heads a branch of government, plus he is from here

      Pay the man bill premier end of story he was acting on the behalf of the people
  • @lmao (02/11/2021, 05:53) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
    True, KARMA is a big payback. THE PEOPLE HOLD THE POWER. DON’T CARE OR WANT TO HEAR OR LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE. THE SHOE WILL BE ON THE OTHER FOOT NEXT ELECTION. Use your power to do good, not hurt and destroy.
  • wow (02/11/2021, 07:18) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let there be a dissolution of the Cabinet and We shall see who feels threatened. Then again! In or Out the Primier is gonna get paid! SMDH
  • Lucifer (02/11/2021, 08:36) Like (32) Dislike (0) Reply
    But surely the point is that the speaker was not acting in his official capacity, otherwise he would have had the AG's sign off for his little stunt. If John Rankin were to sue the BVI Government outside of the remit of his powers as governor, then he would pay his own costs for that. Surely its not that difficult a concept for our esteemed premier to grasp
  • asking for a friend (02/11/2021, 10:08) Like (1) Dislike (7) Reply
    Why do the bvi even have a governor in 2021?
    • @asking for a friend (02/11/2021, 10:53) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      Because the BVI is an Overseas Territory of the UK.
    • @asking for a friend (02/11/2021, 14:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Exactly, in 2021 we are still under a 'Queen' and allowing her people to come to rule us? Very outdated and Colonial!
  • Just Sayin (02/11/2021, 10:19) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Wilock made a huge deal of the fact that HE was going to court against the COI. not the government. if the government were going to do that then surely the attourney general would relresent the government. not withstanding....any legal action would surely have to be approved by cabinet ??
    governmwnt paying wilock legal fees plays right into the hands of the COI as it represents the very thing that they are here to prove...that the government looks after their own and only their own..this government....last government....VIP should show that they are differnet...that speaker must pay his own self inflicted bills. also..surley the speaker mutst be excused from any reading of this in the HOA.
  • 911 (02/11/2021, 10:21) Like (1) Dislike (5) Reply
    He is white Willock is back I say no more
  • Ne Timeas (02/11/2021, 10:24) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    How ironic. How ironic. The Governor’s office commissioned a Commission of Inquiry and now the VI taxpayers are being asked to foot the legal fees of the Governor. This is some weird shit. The FCO should be footing the bill. This is a akin to ‘crusading’ ie, country A invades Country B and Country A forces Country B to foot the bill for the invasion. Governor Rankin inherited the COI from Jaspert so what is his fear of testifying? Is it that Jaspert confided in him the true reason for the COI in a weak moment?


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