BVI News

Govt’s committee gets extension to decide on Willock’s legal fees

VINO’s owner and House of Assembly Speaker, Julian Willock

A further extension has been sought and granted to a committee established to determine whether House Speaker Julian Willock should shoulder the legal costs he incurred before the High Court last year.

Willock was deemed personally liable by the court for the legal fees following an aborted injunction he filed against three Commission of Inquiry (COI) lawyers.

When Premier Andrew Fahie established the committee in November last year, he said it would have two months to come to a decision and issue a report on whether payment of the legal fees would be made by the HOA or whether taxpayers would be made to foot the bill instead.

But while speaking at a press conference last Friday, Premier Fahie disclosed that the committee he set up requested a further extension.
The Premier chose not to elaborate about any possible reason for their request.

“The most I’ve heard is that the committee asked for a little more time,” Premier Fahie told reporters at the press conference when asked for an update on the matter.

“When they bring their report, then we’ll deal with it,” he added.

The decision on who will pay the $98k legal bill was left up to legislators Julian Fraser, Mark Vanterpool, and Vincent Wheatley – the three House members Premier Fahie said had agreed to sit on the committee.

An earlier decision by the Fahie administration to unilaterally make the payment on behalf of Willock was met with much pushback and protest by members of the public.

Shares

Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

21 Comments

Disclaimer: BVI News and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the comments below or other interaction among the users.

  1. if I wuz he says:

    The 3rd district representative needs to abstain

    Like 14
    Dislike 2
  2. BVIslander says:

    If the COI doesn’t go with him you guys now know it’s time to vote him out, any legislator that votes to pay this bill should be voted out. Voting to have the country pay this bill clearly shows their level of dishonesty. I hope the reps from D3 and D9 see that D1 made certain that he did not take part in it but sent them like fools to a slaughter. Are they willing to sacrifice their own shaky political careers in order to pacify D1, only time will tell:)

    Like 45
    Dislike 1
  3. Well Well says:

    The Premier is of the view we should Brace for inflation, hardships coming out of Ukraine invasion.
    And we still going on with this illegal prop that the court already decided on? Since the Speaker went ahead and did this on his own, then said that it was for the people of the BVI, Why don`t he then bring this to the people so we can decide who should pay his bill.

    Like 26
    Dislike 1
  4. Crazy!!!! says:

    WHAT THE F**K????? Where in the real world does a Government get to select a committee to make a decision based on a FORMAL COURT ORDER!! WTF? Are these people CRAZY? The Court has already ruled, if there’s an issue then the appeals process is there. This is a slippery slope and if left unchecked will lead to serious issues down the road.

    Like 41
    Dislike 1
  5. Difficult says:

    It is SOOOOO difficult for a local politician to say “NO!” to a voter.

    Like 8
    Dislike 1
  6. ccc says:

    This bill still outstanding please pay the same bill Fahie and stop wasting out time

    Like 8
    Dislike 2
  7. SMH says:

    Time Will Tell! Time Will Tell! Time Alone Will Tell! ( X ) determines the Outcome.

  8. Sturpss says:

    Months now to decide on something a court of law already decided on.

    Like 14
    Dislike 1
  9. Asura says:

    Government must pay he was doing it for we the people

    Like 3
    Dislike 25
  10. Jones says:

    Court needs to intervene now regardless of what committee there is and give a deadline for payment – like 7 days. He has taken the piss for too long on this

    Like 10
  11. Citizen says:

    If it wer me I would have to pay the bill as defined by the High Court. How is this man allowed to get away without paying. Time for the court to chase immediate payment or imprisonment. The latter is fine with most of us voters.

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
  12. @ ASURA (WIGO says:

    we know it’s you behind that fake name ? but you will still have ton pay that bill ? you too arrogant with our taxpayers money ? ?

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
  13. Wigo says:

    Not sure what the fuss is about tax payers will pay in the end so let’s move one

    Like 1
    Dislike 7
  14. J says:

    Fahie should be made to pay the bill since he is so convinced that his friend shouldn’t have to. In fact, the whole party can assist. We the taxpayers of the VI shouldn’t have to. V. Wheatley won’t be getting my vote in D9 if he endorses this nonsense. It’s time our reps grow some backbones and say no to the squandering of public funds. It’s amazing to see how low key the esteemed one is remaining. I guess he was asked to do so in order to avoid agitating the public even more.

    Like 8
    Dislike 1
  15. @ WIGO says:

    am sure the WIG one would appreciate you paying his bill (and like you said ( what the fuss about ? ) we won’t have a fuss with That / and leave our taxpayers money ? alone please

  16. Committal says:

    Delay and more delay. Eventually the esteemed will be in jail waiting for the ‘committee’ to make a decision. Perhaps 1 day incarcerated for every dollar of the unpaid court order seems reasonable.

  17. The Big Fall out.. says:

    They full of tricks. They trying to play this out until after the election..Some members want Willock to foot his build. He is responsible for. He went against instructions..

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  18. Lick and smack says:

    We have had some bad ones, but this group of A** Clowns have got to be the most stupidest id**ts ever elected in the history of the world. We are in a lot of trouble Buddy!

Leave a Comment

Shares