‘Demeaning and degrading’! COI was out for blood — Fraser
The Commission of Inquiry (COI) was a demeaning and degrading exercise and a regrettable passage in the history of the BVI, particularly for lawmakers who had to endure intense questioning for hours at a time by United Kingdom (UK) officials over some of the more questionable decisions they made on governance during their time in office.
That was the position held by several current and former legislators vying to serve as Premier of the territory as they recently debated issues at the H Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) ahead of the general elections slated for April 24.
Third District Representative, Julian Fraser suggested that the UK may have had ulterior motives in imposing the COI on the territory two years ago.
Fraser argued that the COI had a humiliating objective and said this played out fully as the territory’s leaders — both past and present — were hauled before the Commission to ask them the same questions repeatedly.
“The Commission of Inquiry, it was demeaning, was degrading. I think they had their objective, they had their motives. Their objectives seemed to have been played out…” Fraser argued.
“First, [the COI] undressed the leaders of the country. [They] show to you that [elected officials] are not worthy of being of being your leaders and then we got everything covered after that,” Fraser told residents during the debate. ”The Commission of Inquiry, to me, didn’t come to seek truth, they came to exact blood.”
Fraser contended that most persons in the territory are convinced that the BVI’s leaders are untrustworthy and corrupt, but he argued that the BVI’s leaders are, in and of themselves, a reflection of the people.
“You just couldn’t win with the Commission of Inquiry,” Fraser said. “Justice should be blind, but it depends on where it comes from and how it was meted out on you. And I think that we were pretty much humiliated. I think that those are the kind of things that we should factor into our thoughts when someone asks you about self-determination.”
UK shouldn’t dictate constitutional change
Fraser’s views were mirrored to some degree by Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) leader, Ronnie Skelton, who said he believes the COI should have been done a long time ago and stressed that changes coming as a result of that COI are needed in the territory.
Skelton, however, said he disagreed with the COI’s recommendation that the UK government should have the power to dictate when constitutional changes should be made. He instead said he believes this power should be solely in the hands of the people of the territory.
He, too, turned his attention to the COI’s process, describing it as ‘antics’ and a ‘public display’. “The COI, the whole process, you know, to me was, as a Virgin Islander, degrading for me personally. I don’t know if it’s so for others. The COI to me, the whole investigation, a lot of the stuff, we could have done them on our own,” Skelton said.
He added: “I didn’t like that part of it — to see that a bunch of people of a different colour, [to see our legislators] being humiliated in a public forum, I think those days have long gone, and it should not have happened.”
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The reason y’all felt humiliated is because y’all incompetence got put on display for all to see…if bvi lawmakers were actually doing a good job running the bvi the coi would not have even happened and if it did then there still would not have been anything to find. Just vex y’all get exposed… facts are facts!
EXACTLY!!!!!!!! I am so sick of them and their nonsense. Talking about hidden agenda. They are all just ashamed that we found out how they really be doing us the people. They all seem to forget who was begging and asking for a COI. Set of SK**ts through this place!!!!!
For a man who says you can trust him as he has TRUST well placed on his Billboards, Mr. Fraser you are not trustworthy of the label trust. How could you have done so much wrong with that Sea Cow’s Harbour Development project and want to be free of guilt. You l**d to the Inquiry about calling for a meeting with contractors and no one showed up, hence the reason for employing your two brothers; you l**d on a dead man, former Premier Ralph T O’Neal because you know he is not around to verify an in their names, yet their checks were allegedly paid to your company, Fraser Inc; the moneys they and others received who did not work have not been paid back to Government. Get real and be worthy of the office you hold. STOP THE L**S AND STOP BLAMING OTHERS FOR YOUR WRONGDOING1
Mehson ayo aint tired badtalking this man to no avail?
The truth hurts! You were given enough rope and eventually you will hang, as you should given the only thing you have liberated is our tax dollars and our land. You were told decades ago to clean up the corruption and when the UK did nothing you became complacent, telling yourselves that they didn’t care. Surprised when the now incarcerated Premier called for a COI? One of your own requested it and his request was granted, so stop your posturing and prepare for what is coming!
Oh boo hoo! If y’all old heads were doing what you were supposed to do, there would not have been a COI. We need younger persons like Davies in the house.
Yes, us crazies need one of us in the House.
4 MORE YEARS
These politrickers can’t admit they did something wrong and they were exposed.
No righteousness, morality, or decency. These are the people who are leading us. Just sad my BVI.
fraser its time for you to go, you guys needed to be held accountable
A vote for Julian is a vote for going backwards, give one of the other young guys a chance to lead, time for Fraser to go.
FRASER IS THE MAN FOR THE 3RD
He said that most people are convinced that the BVI’s leaders are untrustworthy and corrupt but they are a reflection of the people… So basically he’s saying the people of the BVI are corrupt and untrustworthy so we shouldn’t be upset that our leaders possess these qualities? He making it sound like man come from the UK and fabricate lies on BVI lawmakers to push some agenda when is nothing but the truth coming out is what have you feeling bummy.
CoI:
Regrettable – No.
Unfortunate – Yes.
What is regrettable is the nonsense, payola and back-scratching that our elected officials have gotten away with for decades.
If the Honourable Member for the 3rd district thinks that this House of Assembly would make any positive changes towards governmental transparency and honesty without the sword of the Order in Council hanging over their heads, he’s living in a fantasy world.
If the Honourable Member for the 3rd is not in favour of transparency and daylight in government operations, then the voters should take note and assist the Member into retirement.
Out for blood? Now the people know the truth……time to get it of the crooks!
even after the same COI that was begged for , by you X buddy , brought to light all the corruption ,that you all thought was swept under the rug , you still boldface enough to say it was a set up ? ( strangely you ain’t saying anything on your X buddy ,on the streets it’s being said both of you got secrets on eachother , so you pointing at the UK is raising some red flags / just like the refusal of the navy ship
Your excellency Governor Ranking please release those two reports that the VIP is hiding from us. We the people need to be fully informed before we vote.
Thank you kindly