Tory MP Sir Geoffrey Cox was becoming frustrated as he defended the British Virgin Islands’ government against allegations of corruption, abuse of office and serious dishonesty.
It was a Wednesday last month and the full-toned barrister was appearing – remotely from the UK – before a commission in the British Overseas Territory that is backed by the Foreign Office to investigate the claims.
The former British attorney general, who usually earns nearly £1,000 an hour for his legal services, couldn’t hide his annoyance that his day in court wasn’t going entirely his way.
‘I just have a few more questions to make and then I’m yours if you wish to continue to grill me rather than permit me to ask the witness questions,’ he peevishly told Sir Gary Hickinbottom, the commissioner conducting the inquiry.
‘I have absolutely no wish to grill you,’ shot back Sir Gary. Verbose Sir Geoffrey then went on to lecture the commissioner, a retired High Court judge, about interrupting him.
Perhaps it is unsurprising that tempers were flaring as there is a huge amount at stake. Against the UK’s own interests, Sir Geoffrey has elected to fight the corner of a group of Caribbean politicians – Andrew Fahie, premier of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), and other government ministers – accused of a lot more than fiddling their expenses.
Tory MP Sir Geoffrey Cox was becoming frustrated as he defended the British Virgin Islands’ government against allegations of corruption, abuse of office and serious dishonesty (stock image)
As Gus Jaspert – who used to be Her Majesty’s governor of the BVI – told the hearing that day, allegations against some of the BVI government’s ‘highest holders of office’ include that they are linked to drug traffickers and criminal gangs.
It was in January that Mr Jaspert – now a senior official at the Home Office – established the commission of inquiry with Foreign Office approval as he left his job on the islands, one of the world’s foremost tax havens.
In a blistering and emotional video address back then, he accused the territory’s ruling elite of presiding over a country ‘plagued’ by endemic political corruption and cronyism.
The corruption culture had tainted the criminal justice system and silenced anyone who dared speak out, and the pervasive climate of intimidation risked undermining democracy, he said.
He outlined allegations that included chronic misuse of taxpayers’ money, galloping organised crime involving drug cartels and a ‘growing culture of fear’ gripping the country.
The BVI’s 30,000-strong population hardly needed telling. Two months earlier, local police raided the home of a fellow officer and found more than £180million worth of cocaine – 2.3 tonnes – stuffed into bags around the property.
Sir Geoffrey has repeatedly attacked plans to make tax havens more transparent, saying other even less reputable countries will step into the breach
The covert operation reportedly set a record as the largest land-based cocaine seizure in British history but the extent of corruption it implied didn’t surprise islanders.
Only three weeks ago, the brother of a prominent BVI businessman and member of a government statutory body was arrested in connection with another cocaine seizure.
And while the allegations about links to drug gangs have been tackled in the commission’s closed sessions, its public hearings have provided ample evidence of alleged government misspending. The commission has also heard claims that £5million was spent on a non-existent airline and £730,000 squandered on building a short wall around a school.
A pier for cruise ships allegedly went £23million over budget, the contract having been awarded to a political ally of the government.
Up to £40million of government money may have been overspent on a hospital project, while a £30million fund for families struggling with Covid was reportedly channelled to politicians’ friends.
In the BVI government’s defence, Sir Geoffrey would no doubt
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