London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025

CoI exposes longtime 'tension' between VI & UK Gov'ts

CoI exposes longtime 'tension' between VI & UK Gov'ts

Lone Commissioner in the VI Commission of Inquiry (CoI), Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom QC, was recently informed of concerns raised on the issue of tension between past and present Virgin Islands Governments and Britain and that it may have factored in the calling of the CoI by former governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert.

The issue was highlighted by Sir C. Geoffrey Cox QC, attorney for the Executive branch of the Virgin Islands Government on Day 5 of the hearings by the Commission on Thursday, May 13, 2021, at the International Arbitration Centre, 3rd Floor Ritter House, Road Town, Tortola.

'A real problem between relationship' of VI & UK


The transcript of the session became available on the Commission of Inquiry’s website on May 31, 2021, and in it, Cox raised the issue of a rocky relationship between the VI and UK governments ahead of the calling of the ongoing Commission of Inquiry.

In winding up submissions to the Commission, Sir Geoffrey, who previously served as UK Attorney General under Prime Ministers Theresa M. May and Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson aka ‘Boris’, drew attention to the fact that there is tension in the VI between the “two halves of Government”, referring to the simultaneous roles of the elected Virgin Islands Government and the UK Government in the Territory’s governance system – adding that the tension “has been for a number of years”.

“There has been a real problem between the relationship, not only with this Government, but a previous one and the British administration and the Governor's Office because that is how some perceive it [the Governor's Office] here, the British administration,” he added.

The attorney told Sir Gary he was highlighting the issue because “there is a political background tension which is relevant to your considerations, too, because it explains some decisions, policy decisions, that were taken.”

'Acute political tension' between Jaspert & elected officials


Sir Geoffrey added that it has not escaped the notice of some persons that “it is at a time of acute political tension between the former Governor [Augustus Jaspert] and the elected members that this Inquiry has been ordered.”

He went further to point out that it has also not gone unnoticed that the UK Foreign Office has “preceded suspensions of Constitution and of local institution”, which he said may have been wholly justified in those cases, “but have also resorted to other means by which to gain their objectives inside the overseas territories.”

Describing these declarations as “political facts”, Sir Geoffrey told the Commission he would not be doing his job on behalf of those whom he represents if he did not draw these facts, “as painful as they may be, to your attention.”

Perception growing about operation of CoI


While the Commissioner did not directly respond to the concerns, Sir Geoffrey made the point to Commissioner Hickinbottom as he 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.

On January 18, 2021, then embattled outgoing Governor Jaspert announced a Commission of Inquiry on allegations, to establish whether there is information that corruption, abuse of office or other serious dishonesty in relation to officials, whether statutory, elected or public may have taken place in recent years.

It was no secret that there was tension between the elected government led by Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) and Mr Jaspert, whom Premier Fahie had accused of making certain utterances to strain the relationship between the government and the electorate.

Governor Jaspert was also accused of trying to bully the government and the legislature.

Simultaneous to Jaspert’s CoI announcement locally, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic R. Raab issued a written statement to the UK Parliament also advising of the Commission of Inquiry.

It is no secret that there was tension between the elected government led by Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1), right, and then governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert, whom Premier Fahie had accused of making certain utterances to strain the relationship between the government and the electorate.

The issue of tension between the Virgin Islands and the United Kingdom governments was highlighted by Sir C. Geoffrey Cox QC, attorney for the Executive branch of the Virgin Islands Government on Day 5 of the hearings by the Commission on Thursday, May 13, 2021, at the International Arbitration Centre, 3rd Floor Ritter House, Road Town, Tortola.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Hong Kong Industry Group Calls for HK$20 Billion Support Fund to Ease Property Market Stress
Joe Biden’s Post-Presidency Speaking Fees Face Weak Demand amid Corporate Reluctance
Charlie Kirk's murder will break the left's hateful cancel tactics
Kash Patel erupts at ‘buffoon’ Sen. Adam Schiff over Russiagate: ‘You are the biggest fraud’
Homeland Security says Emmy speech ‘fanning the flames of hatred’ after Einbinder’s ‘F— ICE’ remark
Charlie Kirk’s Alleged Assassin Tyler Robinson Faces Death Penalty as Charges Formally Announced
Actor, director, environmentalist Robert Redford dies at 89
The conservative right spreads westward: a huge achievement for 'Alternative for Germany' in local elections
JD Vance Says There Is “No Unity” with Those Who Celebrate Charlie Kirk’s Killing, and he is right!
Trump sues the 'New York Times' for an astronomical sum of 15 billion dollars
Florida Hospital Welcomes Its Largest-Ever Baby: Annan, Nearly Fourteen Pounds at Birth
U.S. and Britain Poised to Finalize Over $10 Billion in High-Tech, Nuclear and Defense Deals During Trump State Visit
China Finds Nvidia Violated Antitrust Laws in Mellanox Deal, Deepens Trade Tensions with US
US Air Force Begins Modifications on Qatar-Donated Jet Amid Plans to Use It as Air Force One
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
Elon Musk Retakes Lead as World’s Richest After Brief Ellison Surge
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
London Daily Podcast: London Massive Pro Democracy Rally, Musk Support, UK Economic Data and Premier League Results Mark Eventful Weekend
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Musk calls for new UK government at huge pro-democracy rally in London, but Britons have been brainwashed to obey instead of fighting for their human rights
Elon Musk responds to post calling for the murder of Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk: 'Either we fight back or they will kill us'
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
USA: Office Depot Employees Refused to Print Poster in Memory of Charlie Kirk – and Were Fired
Proposed U.S. Bill Would Allow Civil Suits Against Judges Who Release Repeat Violent Offenders
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
×