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by pltm
(PLTM) - Government’s legal representative in the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Mr. Geoffrey Cox, QC, has come to the defence of legislators being in breach of the Register of Interests Act.
The UK attorney told Commissioner of the Inquiry Sir Gary Hickinbottom during his appearance before the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Friday that having legislators submit these declarations on the day they are being sworn into office made no logical sense.
He said having to declare on that day places an “unreasonable burden on the member, a newly elected member who may not at the time of election even know of the obligation, will have many unfamiliar responsibilities and demands on their time.”
He added, “And, as the Hon. [Shereen] Flax-Charles observed it is nowadays usual in many commonwealth legislatures, if not all, and the BVI is, of course, a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association for induction and training sessions to take place, some of which specifically dealing with the registration of interests.”
Additionally, he pointed out that the Registrar of Interests in other legislatures “will often hold individual meetings with newly elected representatives to assist and answer questions and give guidance about how they should meet their obligations in what is to many a complicated subject.”
“The absence of such features I would submit to you is a flaw in the system under your inquiry,” he added.
From Premier Hon. Andrew Fahie, to the former Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith, to sitting and past legislators have found themselves in breach of the Register of Interest Act, some of whom have lamented the lack of education and conflicting responsibilities and pure negligence as reasons for being in violation.
