People of the Virgin Islands, I am making this statement in my capacity as Speaker of the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands and Head of the Legislative branch in reference to the continued delay and refusal of the Office of the Governor and the Secretary of State, the Right Honourable Dominic Raab’s refusal to assent to the following bills, which were duly passed in the House of Assembly:

1. Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) (Amendment) Act; and
2. Disaster Management Act, 2021

The Government’s Inquiry Response Unit (IRU) is preparing for the next stage of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) this week with the arrival in the Virgin Islands of the Right Honourable Sir Geoffrey Cox QC. 

 Today, in response to a question in the House of Assembly, Premier Andrew A Fahie gave details of the scale of response from the Government of the Virgin Islands to the     Commission  of Inquiry (COI) which was launched on 19th January.

The Government of the Virgin Islands continues to bring forward and support major change to legislation in the spirit of cooperation, good governance, and transparency and in the best interest of the Territory.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to second this motion. Mr. Speaker, it is a very important one that the Attorney General has brought forward. This Government in its wisdom has brought to the table, as one of the actions that we as a Government would like to move forward with, in the spirit of cooperation and transparency.

Mr. Speaker - As this Honourable House is aware, on 19th January, 2021 the former Governor, His Excellency Augustus Jaspert, appointed a Commissioner, Sir Gary Hickinbottom, to hold a Commission of Inquiry, to inquire into whether corruption, abuse of office or other serious dishonesty in relation to officials whether statutory, elected or public, “… may have taken place in recent years.”

On January 19, 2021 the former Governor, His Excellency Augustus J. U. Jaspert, appointed Sir Gary Hickinbottom, to hold a Commission of Inquiry (COI), to inquire into whether corruption, abuse of office or other serious dishonesty in relation to officials, whether statutory, elected or public, “… may have taken place in recent years.”

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) has welcomed CARICOM interest in the Commission of Inquiry (COI) currently taking place in the Territory, highlighted in the communiqué of the recently concluded 32^nd Intersessional Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community on February 24 and 25.

Following the decision of the former Governor, His Excellency Augustus J U Jaspert, to institute a Commission of Inquiry (the "Inquiry"), the Government of the Virgin Islands established the Inquiry Response Unit ('IRU') on 5 February, 2021 to ensure full cooperation with the Inquiry and facilitation of the Inquiry process, while upholding the legal duties and legitimate interests of the Government.

I want to say Good Day and God’s Blessings to everyone, especially to our incoming Governor, Governor Rankin. On behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands and the Government of the Virgin Islands, I say welcome to the most beautiful place in the world. A place where you will find that there are 68 islands and islets. A place where everyone, as they used to say in the show Cheers, knows your name.