Premier Fahie had made the announcement during remarks at the contract signing ceremony for repair works to the Ralph T. O’Neal Administration Complex today, May 15, 2020, but had stopped short of disclosing the name of the local person, citing confidentiality reasons.

VINO sources familiar with the matter; however, have since indicated to our newsroom that Ms Smith, a former Director of the BVI London House, is the local person selected.

Who is Dawn J. Smith?

Ms Smith, an indigenous Virgin Islander and attorney, is a former Director of Legal and Enforcement Division of the Financial Services Commission and a Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office.

She was admitted as a Barrister of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (Virgin Islands) and holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts (Cum Laude) from Middlebury College - Vermont, USA, a Bachelor of Laws (Upper Second Class Honours) from the University of the West Indies - Cave Hill Campus, Barbados and a Certificate of Legal Education from the Norman Manley Law School – Kingston, Jamaica.

Ms Smith, the sister of former Financial Secretary, Mr Neil M. Smith, is a member of the BVI Bar Association, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and is a founding member of the BVI Chapter of the Caribbean Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

VIslander named to AG post- Premier Fahie discloses

A Virgin Islander has been selected for the post of Attorney General (AG) of the Virgin Islands, Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has disclosed.

According to the Premier, during remarks at the contract signing ceremony for repair works to the Ralph T. O’Neal Administration Complex today, May 15, 2020, Hon Fahie said he was elated at being privy to documents indicating that a local will be filling the AG post.

He noted; however, while he was elated, he could not disclose the name of that person at this time due to confidentiality reasons.

“We continue to plant good seeds and we have to nurture those seeds,” adding that the seeds wouldn’t grow tomorrow “but you have to trust the process.”

Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) also expressed delight at a local being selected for the Attorney General’s post.

VIslander can hold Post – Premier Fahie

It was during the Second Sitting of the Second Session of The Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) on December 13, 2019, that Hon Fahie signalled that the contract for Attorney General Baba F. Aziz would not be renewed and that Government was looking to have the position filled by a Virgin Islander.

Mr Aziz’s contract was scheduled to end in February 2020.

“I know most likely this will be the AG’s last budget with us, cause I know that his contract ends in February. But I want to thank him from the NDP [National Democratic Party] Government to our Government, for the service that he has rendered to the people of the Virgin Islands,” Hon Fahie had said.

The Premier had continued, “and we want to make sure that… once it’s the end, that he has held the fort for us, because we know the constitution allows for a BVIslander to hold the post… and he has served the post tremendously well."

Baba F. Aziz

Effective February 10, 2015, Mr Aziz, a native of Ghana, was appointed to the post of Attorney General in the Attorney General's Chambers under the then NDP government, according to the Government Information Service (GIS). Amongst his various roles, he served as the Chief Legal Advisor to the Government as established by the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007.

He also served in an advisory role as a member of Cabinet, the National Security Council, the House of Assembly and the prerogative of Mercy Committee as well as being responsible for managing the administration and activities of the Attorney General’s Chambers.

“So once that is the case Mr Speaker, we want to thank him in his office and whoever comes also for what they have done… In the spirit of all of this, we have done a lot of work but yet a lot more work to do,” Hon Fahie had told the House.