London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Sep 11, 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
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
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
On the Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Death: Prince Harry Returns to Britain
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Murdoch Family Finalises $3.3 Billion Succession Pact, Ensuring Eldest Son’s Leadership
Big Oil Slashes Jobs and Investments Amid Prolonged Low Crude Prices
Court Staff Cover Up Banksy Image of Judge Beating a Protester
Social Media Access Curtailed in Turkey After CHP Calls for Rallies Following Police Blockade of Istanbul Headquarters
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
Elon Musk Poised to Become First Trillionaire Under Ambitious Tesla Pay Plan
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
Burning the Minister’s House Helped Protesters to Win Justice: Prabowo Fires Finance Minister in Wake of Indonesia Protests
Brazil Braces for Fallout from Bolsonaro Trial by corrupted judge
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
Nearly 40 Years Later: Nike Changes the Legendary Slogan Just Do It
Generations Born After 1939 Unlikely to Reach Age One Hundred, New Study Finds
End to a four-year manhunt in New Zealand: the father who abducted his children to the forests was killed, the three siblings were found
Germany Suspends Debt Rules, Funnels €500 Billion Toward Military and Proxy War Strategy
EU Prepares for War
BMW Eyes Growth in China with New All‑Electric Neue Klasse Lineup
Trump Threatens Retaliatory Tariffs After EU Imposes €2.95 Billion Fine on Google
Tesla Board Proposes Unprecedented One-Trillion-Dollar Performance Package for Elon Musk
US Justice Department Launches Criminal Mortgage-Fraud Probe into Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Escalating Drug Trafficking and Violence in Latin America: A Growing Crisis
US and Taiwanese Defence Officials Held Secret Talks in Alaska
Report: Secret SEAL Team 6 Mission in North Korea Ordered by Trump in 2019 Ended in Failure
Gold Could Reach Nearly $5,000 if Fed Independence Is Undermined, Goldman Sachs Warns
Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay Secure Places at 2026 World Cup
Florida Murder Case: The Adelson Family, the Killing of Dan Markel, and the Trial of Donna Adelson
×