London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Sep 29, 2025

CARICOM looking on with 'concern' @ CoI in VI

CARICOM looking on with 'concern' @ CoI in VI

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), of which the Virgin Islands (VI) is an Associate Member, has been paying attention to the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (CoI) sponsored by the United Kingdom (UK) and continues to express concerns.

The regional body has issued a statement on the VI as part of their communique at the conclusion of the 42nd Regular Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government from July 5-6, 2021.

According to the CARICOM statement, it is concerned that the CoI may be preventing the democratically elected government from effectively carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.

According to the statement, “The Caribbean Community has noted the ongoing Commission of Inquiry in the British Virgin Islands announced in January 2021, backed by the UK Government. It notes with concern some indication that the democratic political institutions in the British Virgin Islands have not been allowed to fully perform their constitutional functions.

CoI accused of disrespecting Constitution & HoA


Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Julian Willock has blasted the Commission as having no regards for the constitution and the House of Assembly.

He said the lone Commissioner Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom violated parliamentary sovereignty, norms, traditions, convention and the rule of law by asking Honourable members to appear before him on dates the House was scheduled to have Sittings despite being told about the schedule.

“Even today many of our Members are not attending this workshop because again they are asked to appear before him on, the day of a Parliamentary activity after we told him in advance of this event,” Hon Willock said at the opening of the Virgin Islands Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Members Training on Monday, June 14, 2021.

VI Gov’t urged to take a pause from CoI


Meanwhile, host of the Honestly Speaking Radio Programme on ZBVI 780 AM, Mr Claude O. Skelton Cline has said the Government of the Virgin Islands is completely sidetracked and distracted from the core business of doing the people's work, especially as it relates to this COVID-19 global pandemic.

There are currently 558 active cases in the territory and while the numbers have been rising the CoI continues as normal, even as the UK Government has dodged an inquiry into its own handling of the pandemic, citing it being an ill opportune time due to the global pandemic.

According to Skelton-Cline the eyes of government “are not on the ball, not because they don't want to, but because there is an obsession, a preoccupation of efforts and energies that is being expended to the CoI.

“And one of the reasons why I believe and this is Claude Skelton Cline speaking that we are in the predicament that we are in today is because our guys and gals eyes are not on the ball, and might I add, we as a people, our eyes are not on the ball either. Because we are so busy obsessing with the mele and the salaciousness and the gossip of stuff we already know but is coming out through the CoI, that we aren't even paying attention to what's happening to our country, we are not paying attention to what's happening to each other."

The clergyman argued that the government should write to Mr Dominic R. Raab, the UK Foreign Secretary for the Overseas Territories, informing the UK that effective immediately they are suspending cooperation with the Commission of Inquiry.

He said this is until the VI can get their heads and hands around the ongoing challenges of this pandemic.

CARICOM dismayed @ manner CoI was established


Meanwhile, CARICOM also said it recalls its dismay as expressed at its Thirty-Second Inter-Sessional Meeting held in February 2021, “at the manner in which the Commission of Inquiry was established with no consultation, or prior communication, between the UK government and the duly-elected government of the BVI.”

According to the statement, as a Region committed to democracy, transparency and the rule of Law, the Caribbean Community salutes the full cooperation of the Government of the VI with the Commission of Inquiry.

“Heads of Government urge that every effort be made to ensure that the constitutional functions to be carried out by the Government can be undertaken without hindrance. They look forward to an early conclusion of a COI that will lead to a just outcome.”

Deputy Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) attended the meeting on behalf of Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1).

CARICOM family standing with VI- Dr Wheatley


Commenting on the outcome, Dr Wheatley said, “This was a very important CARICOM meeting that covered many issues facing the region, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, tourism, financial services and other matters. It is a difficult time for the Caribbean and we stand in solidarity with our neighbours as a part of the CARICOM family, just as they are standing with us here in the BVI during our period of challenge.”

Heartened by solidarity expressed- Premier


Commenting on the CARICOM statement on the VI, Premier Fahie said,“I am heartened by the solidarity expressed by CARICOM. As the regional body that stands up for democratic values, human rights and the rule of law across the Caribbean and beyond, they want the BVI constitution to be respected and for self-governance to be upheld and maintained. We will remain engaged with CARICOM and keep them updated on our situation.”

The Deputy Premier was joined by Financial Secretary Mr Jeremiah Frett, Assistant Secretary for External Affairs Ms Dwynel Davis and Special Envoy of the Premier Mr E. Benito Wheatley.

Deputy Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), in photo, attended the CARICOM meeting on behalf of Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1).

Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Julian Willock, left, has blasted the Commissioner of Inquiry Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom, right, as having no regards for the constitution and the House of Assembly.

CARICOM said it recalls its dismay as expressed at its Thirty-Second Inter-Sessional Meeting held in February 2021, ‘at the manner in which the Commission of Inquiry was established with no consultation, or prior communication, between the UK government and the duly-elected government of the BVI.’

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. Defense Chief Orders Sudden Summit of Hundreds of Generals and Admirals
Global Cruise Industry Posts Dramatic Comeback with 34.6 Million Passengers in 2024
Trump Claims FBI Planted 274 Agents at Capitol Riot, Citing Unverified Reports
India: Internet Suspended in Bareilly Amid Communal Clashes Between Muslims and Hindus
Supreme Court Extends Freeze on Nearly $5 Billion in U.S. Foreign Aid at Trump’s Request
Archaeologists Recover Statues and Temples from 2,000-Year-Old Sunken City off Alexandria
China Deploys 2,000 Workers to Spain to Build Major EV Battery Factory, Raising European Dependence
Speed Takes Over: How Drive-Through Coffee Chains Are Rewriting U.S. Coffee Culture
U.S. Demands Brussels Scrutinize Digital Rules to Prevent Bias Against American Tech
Ringo Starr Champions Enduring Beatles Legacy While Debuting Las Vegas Art Show
Private Equity’s Fundraising Surge Triggers Concern of European Market Shake-Out
Colombian President Petro Vows to Mobilize Volunteers for Gaza and Joins List of Fighters
FBI Removes Agents Who Kneeled at 2020 Protest, Citing Breach of Professional Conduct
Trump Alleges ‘Triple Sabotage’ at United Nations After Escalator and Teleprompter Failures
Shock in France: 5 Years in Prison for Former President Nicolas Sarkozy
Tokyo’s Jimbōchō Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood for 2025
European Officials Fear Trump May Shift Blame for Ukraine War onto EU
BNP Paribas Abandons Ban on 'Controversial Weapons' Financing Amid Europe’s Defence Push
Typhoon Ragasa Leaves Trail of Destruction Across East Asia Before Making Landfall in China
The Personality Rights Challenge in India’s AI Era
Big Banks Rebuild in Hong Kong as Deal Volume Surges
Italy Considers Freezing Retirement Age at 67 to Avert Scheduled Hike
Italian City to Impose Tax on Visiting Dogs Starting in 2026
Arnault Denounces Proposed Wealth Tax as Threat to French Economy
Study Finds No Safe Level of Alcohol for Dementia Risk
Denmark Investigates Drone Incursion, Does Not Rule Out Russian Involvement
Lilly CEO Warns UK Is ‘Worst Country in Europe’ for Drug Prices, Pulls Back Investment
Nigel Farage Emerges as Central Force in British Politics with Reform UK Surge
Disney Reinstates ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ after Six-Day Suspension over Charlie Kirk Comments
U.S. Prosecutors Move to Break Up Google’s Advertising Monopoly
Nvidia Pledges Up to $100 Billion Investment in OpenAI to Power Massive AI Data Center Build-Out
U.S. Signals ‘Large and Forceful’ Support for Argentina Amid Market Turmoil
Nvidia and Abu Dhabi’s TII Launch First AI-&-Robotics Lab in the Middle East
Vietnam Faces Up to $25 Billion Export Loss as U.S. Tariffs Bite
Europe Signals Stronger Support for Taiwan at Major Taipei Defence Show
Indonesia Court Upholds Military Law Amid Concerns Over Expanded Civilian Role
Larry Ellison, Michael Dell and Rupert Murdoch Join Trump-Backed Bid to Take Over TikTok
Trump and Musk Reunite Publicly for First Time Since Fallout at Kirk Memorial
Vietnam Closes 86 Million Untouched Bank Accounts Over Biometric ID Rules
Explosive Email Shows Sarah Ferguson Begged Forgiveness from Jeffrey Epstein After Taking His Money
Corrupt UK Politician Ed Davey Demands Elon Musk’s Arrest for Supporting Democracy
UK, Canada, and Australia Officially Recognise Palestine in Historic Shift
Alibaba Debuts Open-Source Deep Research Agent with Benchmarks Rivaling OpenAI
Marcos Faces Legacy-Defining Crisis as Flood Projects Scandal Sparks Massive Tide of Protests
China’s Micro-Drama Boom Turns Stalled Real Estate Projects into Lavish Film Sets
New Eye Drops Show Promise in Replacing Reading Glasses for Presbyopia
'Company Got 5,189 H-1B Visas, Then Laid Off 16,000 Americans': US Defends New $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Golf legend tells Omar she should be 'sent back to Somalia' after her Kirk comments
EU Set to Bar Big Tech from New Financial Data Access Scheme
China Bans Livestreaming and AI in Religion Amid Crackdown on Shaolin Temple Scandal
×