Will CoI lawyers accused of breaching VI law feature in upcoming hearings?
The question was posed to Secretary to the Commission, Mr Steven Chandler after it was revealed that the team will be returning to the territory to continue hearings from September 6, 2021, which happens to be the 4th anniversary of Hurricane Irma making a destructive landfall in the VI.
CoI lawyers accused of breaching VI law
Bilal M. Rawat, Andrew King and Rhea Harrikissoon have been accused of violating the Legal Professions Act 2015.
When the law firm representing House of Assembly Members who are not ministers, Silk Legal, during a CoI hearing in June 2021, had asked Commissioner of the CoI, Mr Gary R. Hickinbottom, whether his legal had been admitted to the BVI Bar to practice law in the VI in keeping with Section 18 of the Legal Professions Act 2015, Hickinbottom said the lawyers were not required to be admitted to the BVI Bar in order to carry out their duties for the CoI.
The Commissioner; however, directed that the three lawyers make an application to be admitted to the BVI Bar.
The three lawyers, according to court documents obtained by our newsroom, filed an application to be admitted to the BVI Bar; however, House of Assembly Speaker Hon Julian Willock and the Deputy Speaker of the HoA, Hon Neville A. Smith (AL) objected to their applications on the basis that the Applicants have been practising law in the Virgin Islands since March 2021, in breach of the Legal Professions Act 2015.
The CoI, in their arguments against the objection, raised the issue as to whether the Speaker and Deputy Speaker had standing to make an objection; however, the High Court ruled they did have standing and adjourned the matter to October 26, 2021.
Chandler mum on status of lawyers
While Chandler has not responded to a question asked by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), as to whether the three lawyers will feature in the upcoming hearings, in a press notice today, August 25, 2021, he said the hearings will proceed with the first six days dealing with the composition and function of Statutory Boards.
“Updates to the schedule will be available on the COI’s website as the hearings progress. Hearings will continue to be conducted in public via a live stream on the COI’s dedicated YouTube channel,” he said.
Chandler further indicated that following the directions hearing on July 13, 2021, where the applicability of the rules of procedural fairness to the work of the COI was considered, "the resumed hearings will be used in part to afford public officials the opportunity to respond to potential criticisms arising from evidence received by the COI."
Some aspects of hearing will be private
Chandler noted, however, “In order to protect the interests of all who might be concerned and to safeguard their rights to confidentiality, neither details of potential criticisms nor the identification of those at whom they may be directed will be publicized in advance of the hearings.”
According to the secretary, in keeping with current COVID-19 guidelines, witnesses will be expected to attend those hearings in person.
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15 Responses to “Will CoI lawyers accused of breaching VI law feature in upcoming hearings?”
How does demanding that the coi abide by the lawd of the bvi makes one trying to stop the coi? These w**** people are sick sick sick
This is a total disregard of the law here. Should these lawyers continue to practice here on September 6th 2021 when the COI is expected to resume, then there should be a demonstration outside the court room to shut it down. These British Operatives have no regard for the laws of this territory and they must be stopped. When you look at the body language of these lawyers and the Commissioner, it shows clearly that they are thinking that these little descendants of BKACK SLAVES should shut their mouths and allow us to wire brand them. Slavery is over and it is time for the people of this territory to be respected.
Everything will.continue as scheduled including the unoreparedness of theVI Government.