Tuesday, January 26 – The final meeting in the series of consultations on the Draft Human Rights Commission Act is scheduled for Tortola on February 2 following the conclusion of similar meetings on the sister islands.
The Tortola meeting will be held at the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Cultural Hall next Tuesday, starting at 7 p.m. Members of the public are encouraged to read the draft Act to better prepare themselves for a lively discussion on the constitutional provisions, share their views and be part of shaping the proposed Human Rights Commission Act. A copy of the draft Act is available online on the websites www.bvi.gov.vg, www.dgo.gov.vg, www.bvinews.com and www.bviplatinum.com.
Attorney General Honourable Kathleen Quartey is reminding the public that the right to be informed of their human rights imposes a duty to avail oneself of the opportunity to be informed. “This is the essence of civic responsibility, so the Chambers look forward to a good turnout on Tortola,” Honourable Quartey explained.
Teams of attorneys from the Attorney General’s Chambers, led by Attorney General Quartey and Solicitor General Mrs. Jo-Ann Williams Roberts visited the sister islands on January 12, 13 and 19 to launch the draft Human Rights Commission Act.
Residents were taken through the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual set out in Chapter 2 of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007 before discussions ensued on the proposals in the draft Act. The proposals mainly concern the establishment, composition, mandate and procedures for the proposed Human Rights Commission.
The commission will be responsible for promoting conciliation where there are complaints and disputes. The commission will also be tasked with keeping the public informed and abreast of not only their constitutional rights but also of pertinent international human rights developments.
Residents of the sister islands participated fully in the discussions and gave their input on the draft Act.
Other activities on human rights over the coming weeks will include a visit from the Commonwealth Foundation which has been tasked by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, with the responsibility of capacity-building in the United Kingdom Overseas Territories. Members of the team and representatives from the Attorney General’s Chambers will be the guests on GIS’ Public Eye on February 16. Interspersed with these activities, will be radio interviews which began with the BVI Bar Association hosting the Attorney General last week on ZBVI Radio 780 AM. Tomorrow night the Solicitor General and a Senior Crown Counsel will be the guests on the GIS Radio Report and at a future date, there will be another appearance by the Chambers’ staff on ZBVI’s Speak Out BVI.
The Attorney General’s Chambers provides legal advice to the Government of the Virgin Islands and is responsible for the international law and legal reporting obligations of the Territory and also drafting legislation based on the policy decisions of the administration which must all be human rights compliant.
British Virgin Islands News