Governors should face inquiries too —Hon Lorna G. Smith OBE
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With this in mind, coupled with how the CoI was conducted, Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour and Trade, Honourable Lorna G. Smith OBE (AL) is of the view that the Virgin Islands Inquires Bill 2024, be amended in such a way that the sitting Governor for the Territory also be subject to such inquiries in the future.
Hon Smith was at the time giving her take on the proposed law during its debate on July 16, 2024, at the 15th Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA).
She recommended for the House’s consideration “that the (VI) government should be able to ask His Majesty's government, to do an inquiry on the Governor himself should the circumstances be warranted, let us not be afraid.”
Qualifying her position, Deputy Premier Smith reminded the HoA members that the Governor meets weekly with the Premier and Cabinet, which he chairs.
As such “the CoI, the extent that it went, it should never have come to this; if there were perceived shortcomings, wrongdoing in the government in the administration, given the role, given the involvement of the Governor in the whole administration through regular meetings with the Premier, regular meetings with the Cabinet, surely many of these shortcomings could have been pointed out, but it is what it is.”
CoI caused reputational damages to VI- Hon Smith
Hon Smith made it clear; however, that she is committed to the implementation of all the recommendations of that CoI that are meant to strengthen the framework for a stronger administration.
She noted too that while she is all for transparency, "I question whether the CoI should have been as public as it was. I don't know that the territory benefited from the exercise. I think we lost in terms of our reputation and I hope that future inquiries will take these matters into consideration because when your economy suffers everything you have suffers.”
Hon Smith added that the House of Assembly is now held in "scant regard" because of the CoI.
“And I dare say that a lot of it is because of the CoI, which spent much of the time on politicians, allegations of corruption and this has permeated this society. We have to get that right, we have to fix it.”
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23 Responses to “Governors should face inquiries too —Hon Lorna G. Smith OBE ”
The core of the Westminster system is the rule of law, ie, no one is above the law. The rule of law was ushered in by the Magna Carta in 1215 under King John. The rule of law was further reinforced by the Glorious Revolution of 1688. How is it in the 21st Century, can one one be appointed Governor to rule over a people and the people have no say in the tge appointment? Furthermore, the appointed Governor has the power to do he/ she pleases and the people have no serious, real meaningful means of redressing any wrongs. On the other hand, the appointed- Governor can initiate a COI for any reason, on any subject. However , the people have no means of redressing wrongs committed by the UK - appointed representative. The UK - appointed rep is above the law; the rule of law don’t apply. The outcome of the Sir Gary Hickinbottom CoI seemed to have been predetermined with selective persons to be investigated. Functions falling under the. UK- appointed Government were not investigated, wrongly suggesting that the UK personnel were perfect and can do no wrong. Only the subjects commit wrong. Colonialism in full bloom, selective, exclusive, racist, etc.
May God our Father and Creator richly bless you young one
cry out for power and control but find it hard to be accountable transparent and even harder to improve this country from 3rd world status
The 0.01% of Locals involved in cocaine does not justify any such legislation but again those who will feel it most are not local so continue crying about unexplained wealth. Its a distraction because the white people will never submit to unexplained wealth legislation.
I think , Honorable Creque- Smith, that the members of the House of Assembly has caused that upon themselves!
Now to get to the matter at hand: yes, I think that the Representative of the King, too, should be under inquiry!
Will it be able to happen?
If the outcome of Mr. Morrell, the death of Frandie, and the English man that was allowed to go back to the Kingdom, is any indication, I say, it's not gonna happen!
To inquire of the Representative of the King, represents having inquiries made about the institution, of the Monarchy;
And that type of request, coming from members of an overseas territory;
NOPE,NOPE,NOPE, and Nope!
Nevvàaaa gonna happen!
Those uk lawyers working without work permits should have been prosecuted and made the CoI null and void but nooooo. They were allowed to continue to blatently violate the law. The selective enforcement in favour white people. The black people from the caribbean doing the same thing would have been prosecuted and deported.