Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), in photo, as well as other senior Ministers and public officials, have attended hearings of the COI in the last few days to give evidence to the Commissioner, Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom. Photo: VINO/File

The Commission of Inquiry into governance in the Virgin Islands was announced on January 18, 2021, by controversial ex-governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert, in photo, who was known to have a strained relationship with the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government led by Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1). Mr Jaspert was also accused of trying to bully the democratically elected government and the legislature. Photo: VINO/File

Government has successfully applied for all Ministers, Ministries and devolved government entities, including the Cabinet, to have the status of a participant and to be represented in the whole of the Inquiry by the Attorney General, Honourable Dawn J. Smith, in photo, together with counsel Rt Honourable Sir Charles Geoffrey Cox QC and members of law-firm Withers. Photo: GIS/File

Government had applied for all Ministers, Ministries and devolved government entities, including the Cabinet, to have the status of a participant and to be represented in the whole of the Inquiry by the Attorney General, Honourable Dawn J. Smith, together with counsel Rt Honourable Sir Charles Geoffrey Cox QC and members of law-firm Withers.

Status as a participant under Section 12 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act allows the Government to be represented at all hearings and will also provide Ministers and Cabinet with a fair opportunity to express their views on matters that are the subject of inquiry by the Commissioner.

The CoI was announced on January 18, 2021, by controversial ex-governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert, who was known to have a strained relationship with the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government led by Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1). Mr Jaspert was also accused of trying to bully the democratically elected government and the legislature.

And, according to the Department of Information and Public Relations on May 22, 2021, the Members of the House of Assembly (HoA) have been granted similar status and are separately represented.

Gov’t doing ‘all it can to assist’ CoI- Premier

Commenting, Premier Fahie, said: "I am pleased the Government has been granted full participant status and has the right to be represented at the whole of the Inquiry. From the outset the Government has stated its policy of co-operation and transparency and in keeping with that policy, we have voluntarily answered all requests for hearings and have supplied thousands of documents. This has required considerable effort and has been time-consuming, for which I thank all public officers.

“The Government continues to do all it can to assist the Commissioner and I am happy that Ministers will soon have the opportunity to present their views to the Inquiry on governance and other important matters," Premier Fahie said.

Premier Fahie, as well as other senior Ministers and public officials, have attended hearings of the COI in the last few days to give evidence to the Commissioner, Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom. 

The Government of the Virgin Islands is encouraging all citizens, residents and Government employees to cooperate with the COI.

“The Government’s desire is to see a robust, fair, transparent and balanced process,” the press release stated.