Calls for Speaker’s resignation ahead of another planned protest
A demand is being put forward by dissatisfied members of the BVI public for government appointee Julian Willock to resign as Speaker of the House of Assembly (HOA).
This demand has been written on a poster being circulated on social media. The poster is about another planned protest for Willock to pay legal costs of up to $121,000 for an aborted court injunction he filed against attorneys with the Commission of Inquiry.
The march is to be held on Monday, November 22 — a date only two days before the 72nd anniversary of Theodore Faulkner’s 1949 protest that resulted in the territory’s existing modern-day political framework.
The march will start at the Governor’s House and end at the House of Assembly on Pickering Road.
“It is unfortunate that we are at this point in our history, but it is necessary. Upholding rule of law is the most important element of keeping a nation from falling into anarchy. We cannot allow our leaders to use our highest office, to take us there,” said political activist Cindy Rosan who has been a lead organiser of the recent protests.
The tipping point
The public’s outrage in the matter seemed to have boiled over a little more than a week ago when news broke that the government wanted to outrightly pass the burden of paying Willock’s legal fees to taxpayers.
But following an online petition and at least two days of protests, Premier Andrew Fahie decided instead to establish, through the House of Assembly, a special committee charged with considering softer options on whether to exempt Willock from payment.
The three-man committee — comprising Fourth District Representative Mark Vanterpool, Ninth District Rep Vincent Wheatley, and Third District Representative Julian Fraser — has a two-month window to come to a decision.
The Speakers action in filing the aforementioned injunction has been called into question since it is being said he did not get permission to do so. The court itself has already determined that the Speaker was not acting in any official capacity or with the blessing of government. It, therefore, ruled that Willock must shoulder all legal costs; not only for himself, but also for all the parties brought before the court.
Many now see the government’s special committee as a move to usurp the court’s decision.
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why has he not had to pay up – another two months!
Only pro CoI stories – even though its lawyers were breaking the law
Lock him up for disobedience to a court order.
The wig man is fighting hard to get that $121000 from the cookie jar.lol
He will be known forever as the” Wigman”. which will suit him fine for wearing that silly wig.
yet he does not want to be colonized, and wants Independence.
The decent thing to do will be for Julian Willock to resign so that we can focus on the more important issues impacting our territory. Also, in my humble opinion Andrew Fahie is dragging the whole damn territory through the mud to defend Willock. The only thing for anyone to believe is that Andrew directed Willock and now he feels obliged to defend him. If that is the case, and I don’t know, but if it is, all Andrew Fahie has to do “PAY THE BILL “, let’s move on. I don’t think that we can move on with Andrew Fahie though. They both need to go, and let’s see if the remaining legislators can scramble some decency to pull together and get the territory back on track.
Maybe ask why is he defending him? Maybe someone has dirt on someone
having proved themselves morally bankrupt, and intellectually incapable of rising to the enormous challenges we are faced with. Never mind $100k for the court fool, what about the failed Irma rebuild, schools, forward planning for Covid, the druglords, and the big one: planning and organizing for global warming mitigation. We are on the front line with hurricanes and sea level rise. Time for responsible leadership.
Now this is ridiculous. This tactic used by NDP camp is not gaining any momentum. Poor Cindy is being used although she has her agenda to remove Fahie and his administration from office.
Look what democracy came to.
Go STFD. What you calling Cindy name in? This is neither about NDP, VIP nor Cindy. It is about the unprecedented direction the BVI is taking, it is about the future of our children, it is about restoring national pride in the BVI, etc.
The only think you have said in your post that made sense is “Look what democracy came to”. Look what it has indeed come too; where the court made a decision and the legislative branch of government, formulated a committee to determine otherwise.
Some of you need to cease this cult like following and look at what’s happening in the BVI!!!
I want to blog on this for the record. I don’t blog because I see most of the blogs are written in the same context from a group of individuals trying to same thing.
If this is so important to we the people? Why don’t we go out there to march with these people?
Then when election come, you will see people who never even been to one march coming as candidates. Where are they now. Where is Walwyn who always running his mouth? Where is Dancia OBE? Where are these new comers who want to represent and be advocate for young people?
They are no where to be found but when election comes in a year you will see them out begging for you to vote for them.
I will not vote for Cindy because she has proven to be successful at failing with LOTs of skeletons bones in her closet and is being used as a scape goat for Marlon and the team while they sit back, relax and become fat off of the tax payers money.
Cindy welcome to the entertaining industry. I will give you the Emmy award for loudest mouth.
This whole thing is a joke. People aren’t really outraged. This is strictly politically motivated. How many marches did we have when $7.2 million was lost for nothing. Where was Mitch and Marlon the two biggest mouths and suddenly the great protectors of the public purse. You telling me that the $121,000 hurts so much but they stood silent and still defend BVI Airways and the Pier Park. Look how stupid this really is, we supposed to take VIP out of office and put the 2 people that had a hand in losing $7.2 million as our saviors.
You will never have the support of everybody when the outrage is fake. VIP isnt the problem, the entire HOA is the problem but folks have a vendetta against Fahie so they focus their energy on one side. We wont get better until we clean the entire house. Cant clean the living room and leave the bedroom dirty. Get Mitch, Marlon, Mark and all of them out the house too. We aint turning a blind aye to anybody.
he can keep the wig
So ayo want a man to pay from his personal funds trying to hold those COI workers because I can’t even say that they are true lawyers since they were not declared by the bar, accountable for not following the laws of this country but you all not questioning the governor who seeking attorney representation in the same COI that we the tax payers have to foot the bill.
The opposition is sickening and you can see straight through them.
Change the person in the hot seat. I bet if it was the past speaker trying to uphold those who broke the law, you would have a different bla bla bla. Only when Master say do ayo do but quick to bring down your black brothers and sisters.
You all need to stop this s**t man!
That is NOT the point. The court made a decision and this has no business in the HOA. If they don’t like the court’s decision, do what everybody else would have done: “Appeal to a higher court”.
We are becoming a banana republic.
They did not have to be approved by the BVI Bar because it was not a court case, and the lawyers that went with Willock knew that but went on the ride just to get paid. They are lawyers by profession and they had their credentials advertised on the COI site if you need it. Some people are just sad because they only go by the noise and don’t do research for themselves. Some are manipulated so bad by the scammers out here. The scammers(politicians) here use phycology on the people here as a game.
YOU CRAVED FOR THE SPOTLIGHT AND YOU GOT IT
He will be known forever as the” Wigman”. which will suit him fine for wearing that silly wig.
No he is the esteemed so go smoke that
AM VERY SORRY, YOU FORGOT ( PRECIOUS ) wig
Why is thw Premier and the Govt kept mingling in the Mud of this Swine, No wonder they all are messy and start smelling…Let this bad Vybz go..
BOTH OF U CAN SMOKE IT YOURSELVES / ITS REPENT TIME , SOON IT WILL BE DOG EAT DOG
Let me tell you guys something. I am an honest man and a good citizen of the BVI. I might wear a wig but underneath my head shinning. Just like Cline I’m untouchable..,…
If the HoA approve the payment of these fees it will set a very dangerous precedent. Firstly, because the Speaker illegally incurred these fees for legal action which needed the permission of the Attorney General which was not sought; and secondly because the Court judged that he should be personally liable for those fees as he did not obtain that permission. So by approving the payment of these fees the HoA is condoning the illegal act of the Speaker, for a frolic of his own, and also ignoring the authority of the Court and its decision. The public outcry at any approval of these fees should warn the HoA that they are in danger adding another charge to the purview of The Commission of Inquiry as well as deciding the next election result.