HOA wasn’t consulted when Willock told its lawyers to file injunction
House of Assembly (HOA) members jointly represented by Silk Legal in the Commission of Inquiry (COI) were not consulted before Speaker Julian Willock instructed the law firm to file a court injunction against COI attorneys.
Despite the Speaker’s claims otherwise, Opposition legislator Melvin Turnbull — who is also one of Silk Legal’s clients — said Willock did not act on behalf of the House’s behalf when he filed the costly injunction that was ultimately withdrawn.
“We received notice that this (the injunction) is what was being done. However, there was no discussion or debate about such. It was the Speaker … I don’t want to say and I don’t know in what capacity, but the Speaker is the one that stated what was going to be done. The next thing I saw was a press conference,” Turnbull said in an invited comment.
“It has to be supported or more than likely supported by the Premier and his Cabinet [who are represented in the COI by a separate law firm]. Because, as far as I am aware, I didn’t have any conversations and I know others did not have any regarding this injunction. Even to the point when it was then repealed there was no discussion in that way,” the Second District Representative added.
His statement comes ahead of the debate on whether the HOA should pass the burden of Willock’s legal fees of up to $121,000 to taxpayers.
Willock’s emergency meeting asking for support
Turnbull said there was an informal emergency meeting called approximately three weeks ago. At the time, Willock asked for members’ opinions and support on the legal fees. However, Turnbull said wrote to the Speaker afterwards stating that he cannot, in a good sense, support the government’s decision to exempt Willock from the legal fees.
“Now with this footing of the cost, I do not support it and I’m not going to support it because I believe what was done was not done on behalf of the House of Assembly. These discussions and decisions that were made were made void of myself. When he had that meeting, I voted no then and my position is still that. I don’t believe we can make a determination that the government should pay the legal fees when the court has ordered that he (Willock) should pay,” Turnbull said.
On Thursday, October 28, Premier Andrew Fahie had moved a motion in the sitting of the House of Assembly to exempt Willock from paying up to $121,000 in legal fees for the failed injunction case ordered by the High Court.
Since the motion was moved, an online petition for Willock to pay the fees has received resounding support.
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The premier is behind the curtain pulling the strings…Same thing he did with Mark’s situation, these guys cant be trusted at all
Stand your ground!!!
Mitch has been known to stand on shaky grounds. A few weeks ago he said he didn’t know about the Insurance for Members. Yet we found out days later he was the one leading the negotiations. Mitch just stay quiet.
Julian Willock and Sheep should be made to pay the lawyer fees and if they don’t lock them up. The government paid for Willock’s last lawyer fees this should not happen again.
Usually Mitch is not know for truth telling I need to hear the other side
Again and again we are reminded why we need this COI.
You are clearly mixed up because it is the COI that help to cause this mess.
The fact that the COI revealing this sorta corruption is them “causeing” this mess says alot about your moral compass
The government is just a reflection of people like you
I wasn’t for Willock bill being paid by us as tax payers. However what I heard this morning in the Parliment, I am now saying pay it. If the Governor and the COI lawyers are being paid by the BVI tax payers then why not pay Willock’s bills.
Read Wow comment. The Wigged f*g needs to pay if he was told not to file. He need to pay 80K and she need to pay 40k
The Speaker was told NOT TO FILE the injunction and he still went ahead. The protocol was to deal with the matter via the AG and when the AG decided they wanted no part of it, he went ahead on his own. The Judge has ordered JW to pay the fees not as Speaker, but as JW. The Speaker cannot, without the AG or HOA blessings file court actions and expect that his bills be paid for such.
ARE THE SAME WIGGLE-OX YOU FULL OF ARROGANCE SO YOU LOVE TO BE IN SPOTLIGHT , NOW YOU ARE /GET YOUR GLOVE AND PAY UP ??
Let him pay his own bill. Taxpayers did not ask him to file this stupid lawsuit.
When was the HOA designated as an arm of government that is above the law? I missed that memo.
To over-ride a court order signals a blatant disrespect to and disregard for the rule of law in the BVI. Whomever supports that motion is in cohort with the speaker.
Why is this even being debated in the House?
If the Court says JW has to pay out his own pocket, will the court allow the BVI Government to do so?
Or is the government going to give JW that money as a lump sum payment so he can then pay the court?
The last time JW defied the court’s orders he knows what happened.
I wonder what’s the court’s stance on this? Someone, please help us to understand what the court would do.
Mitch sounding good but he doesn’t speak the truth very often and he always have a self serving agenda. I will wait until the truth reveals itself. Can’t believe a word from your mouth Mitch. sorry
Why is this even being debated in the House?
If the Court says JW has to pay out his own pocket, will the court allow the BVI Government to do so?
Or is the government going to give JW that money as a lump sum payment so he can then pay the court?
The last time JW defied the court’s orders he knows what happened.
I wonder what’s the court’s stance on this? Someone, please help us to understand what the court would do.