September 8, 1997 - The stated intention of the Government of St. Lucia to inquire into a number of alleged acts of impropriety and/or illegality in the conduct of the affairs of the state, through a Commission of Inquiry, notwithstanding a short delay, remains resolutely on course.

This delay has been occasioned by the failure of the former Governor General, Sir William George Mallet, to sign the Commission Instrument and swear in the Commissioner as required by law.

On Friday 29th August, 1997, the day after Sir George returned to St. Lucia, discussions between the Attorney General's Chambers and the office of the Governor General settled the following :

the instrument which had been sent for signing some time ago would be presented to the Governor General for his signature that morning; and the swearing in of the Commissioner and Secretary to the Commission was set for 2:30pm, subject to confirmation.

Despite numerous attempts to confirm these arrangements no further information was available until 2:30pm when a staff member at the Governor General's Office indicated that it did not appear that Sir George would be swearing in the Commissioner and Secretary as planned. No information on whether the Commission Order had been signed was available.

The Government of St. Lucia wishes to inform the citizens of St. Lucia that this delay is temporary and immediately following the appointment of a new Governor General, the first order of business for the new appointee shall be the expediting of the Commission of Inquiry.

In the meantime, the sole Commissioner designate has remained in St. Lucia at the express request of the Government of St. Lucia, which anticipates the arrival of the instrument of appointment of a Governor General within the next few days and desires a swift start to proceedings. During this time, she has kept a judicial silence and maintained the high level of dignity and decorum for which she is known throughout the region.

Designated Counsels to the Commission are busy, acting under the authority of Cabinet, examining files, studying documents, identifying persons who may be called when the Commission is in progress and generally preparing for the commencement of proceedings.

In a statement to the print and electronic media, former Prime Minister Dr. Vaughn Lewis, referred to "malice" as a possible cause for the non-commencement of the inquiry. This may well be so but the central question remains "whose malice."

Finally, it is indeed unfortunate that Dr. Vaughn Lewis, who for so many years was the Director-General of the OECS, now finds it necessary to make snide remarks referring to the nationality of the designated Commissioner.

We trust that Dr. Lewis, in his public utterances will be guided more by the fact that he once held the highest executive office in the land and less by any self interest in the outcome of the inquiry.