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by pltm
(PLTM) - When then-Governor Augustus Jaspert opted to call the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (CoI) before he exited office in January this year, he said the strained relationship between him and the current administration had no part to play in him making that call.
This is according to a response from Jaspert to accusations from Premier and Minister for Finance Hon. Andrew Fahie during his October 21 testimony before the CoI. The Premier claimed that the relationship with Jaspert was abusive and they clashed on numerous occasions including during Cabinet meetings where his behaviour and utterances were deemed disrespectful to the elected ministers.
However, in Jaspert’s response to the Premier’s statements, he has dismissed those claims in a letter dated November 17, 2021.
“I have read the assertions put forward by the Premier regarding my conduct. I do not agree with these assertions and they do not correspond with my recollections of events. As Governor I was clear throughout my tenure that my commitment to working in partnership with the elected government of the day having served with two administrations and also my deep respect for the Constitution and the role of elected members,” Mr. Bilal Rawat, Counsel to the CoI read.
Jaspert’s letter continued stating that in the latter part of his tenure, he was subject to many assertions by Premier Fahie which he deemed to be ‘misrepresentations.”
He also pointed the CoI to certain correspondence between himself and the Premier that he claimed to maintain a professional aura despite “unnecessary confrontational assertions in writing or even public statements.”
“This did not change my approach which was to continue a commitment of partnership and to operate professionally and with respect to the Constitution and elected members at all times. Regardless of any real or perceived challenges in the relationship I should make clear, this had no bearings on my decision to call a CoI,” he stated.
Referring to the claims of corruption which was made following a cabinet meeting on January 9 2020, Mr. Jaspert said this: “Having reviewed the further correspondence relating to the above meeting, I have nothing further to add to my points as recorded in the transcripts from page 20 of my appearance to the Commission.”
At that cabinet meeting, it's alleged that the former Governor, according to Premier Fahie, said that, the BVI “is full of corruption.”
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