House Speaker opts to skip second scheduled COI appearance
Speaker of the House of Assembly (HOA), Julian Willock has indicated he will likely not attend his hearing before the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (COI) this Friday at noon.
The revelation was made earlier today when the COI was told through an email sent by one of the Speaker’s attorneys last night.
In the email — which was read aloud during a livestream COI session Wednesday morning — the Speaker reportedly claimed he did not receive any written summons regarding his next scheduled appearance this Friday.
Willock was initially summoned to appear before the COI on Monday, June 14 but he declined to attend. On the morning of that hearing, his attorney Richard Rowe, for the first time, informed the COI that the Speaker was otherwise engaged at a pre-planned event with the Commonwealth Association of the House of Assembly. It was thereafter that Rowe guaranteed his client would make himself available to appear for a scheduled hearing this coming Friday.
But in a letter sent to his attorneys at Silk Legal and forwarded to the COI secretary late last evening, Willock said: “I am not aware of when I have to appear before the Commission of Inquiry, as I have NOT seen anything in writing from you nor a summons from the COI after indicating I was available on Monday, 14th June 2021 at 1:30 pm. However, I will make myself available on Monday, June 21st at 1 pm.”
The letter/email continued: “I am very busy with House of Assembly matters as we have another sitting on Thursday, 17th June 2021. Please convey to the Commissioner that I will be on standby for Monday, and when they are ready for me, I will arrive. However, I will not be sitting in a waiting room for hours. Please confirm when this has been conveyed to the COI and send me a copy of whatever paper you would be required to file on my behalf to give effect to this request.”
Willock’s attorney disputes his claim
Returning before to the COI this morning, Rowe disputed Willock’s claim entirely and told the COI that the Speaker was properly informed orally of the requirement for him to attend a hearing this Friday.
He also said lawyers are ‘creatures of their instructions’ and can only advise their clients of the consequences of their actions.
Rowe said Willock instructed the lawyers to send the email to the COI.
COI Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom then pointed out that not attending the hearing when he is due meant the Speaker would be in breach of the summons sent to him, which would essentially equate to “a criminal offence”.
It was further highlighted that the summons for the attendance of all witnesses, including HOA members remains an open one; meaning that witnesses only needed to be served correctly in the first instance and can be recalled at any time subsequently without the issuance of a new summons.
Commissioner Hickinbottom added that everyone requested to attend the COI hearings is also required to attend 20 minutes in advance of their scheduled time.
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Of course as he would have to provide info on the [other] news site publicly that he denies being owner / editor
Last time the Speaker did not do what he was supposed to do he was allegedly detained in Balsam Ghut to think about it. Maybe he needs to be sent back for another think!
Someone gave him a gown of gold and he thought he had become king.
@Howdy doody – Great idea!
Lock him up!
Love it!
From how this government operates…you would think they’re the MAFIA
The government or Willock….let him continue to play with Hickenbottom and the UK..he is already 0-1
If I were the suspicious type I would say that Mr *** is very worried about investigations into his interests and the disclosing of them. The Investment Club was mentioned too.
His ego has gotten even bigger, if that is even possible.
The government/belonger has no respect for the rule of law they even created. It is unfortunate when they are forced to comply with it.
@ Rebel
You should not compare this government with the MAFIA. The Mafia has ethics.
And how does this line of action benefit Mr. Willock I am puzzled?
He is hoping to be a martyr and that we will feel sorry for him.
Never ceases to amaze me with such antics.
Willfully behaving so because of preconceived notions the UK and the COI is out to get us. They will get you though. Just continue with your antics.
#Premiercontrolhimplease
#willockdoesnotrepresentus
#willockcannotrepresentus
This guy is so arrogant. He needs to have his wings clipped.
He should get his @$$ in there and stop being difficult. I hope he understands his intransigence can amount to “a criminal offence”.
LOL now, I see why Kishma called him a c●ckadoodle $uk@
How embarrassing was his questioning this afternoon….his ignorance and arrogance was totally amazing. I write this on his news that he wouldn’t admit to. Mr. Willock is indeed not a h——— man and will nevery get my respect. The House of Essembly should be thinking twice about his position. His disrespectful mannerisms should have consequences. All for a committee that was just asking questions…..sad
Well now , no doubt entirely by coincidence, a so called COI document has been leaked to the yellow top. The document is in fact one of the position statements that the COI asked all participants to fill in.
It can only be coincidence [who owns] the yellow top …
Leaking the document is a criminal offense.
It’s all getting interesting.
I am very surprised that advertisers are still using the yellow top. Let’s see if any still are at the end of all this.
My thoughts exactly….stop feeding the people that are so undeserving of our money
This blasted (alleged) *** think he is above the law. Let the Most Honourable Esteemed one go ahead. I’ll toot my horn to him on my way home passing Balsam Ghut. D**b f**l
I think this about puts the lid on the enquiry, it will not end well for the BVI government.
SO HE EXERCISING NOW / KEEP ON SKIPPING JUST MAKE SURE YOU DON’T TRIP UP OR DOWN
You wonder where our people learn this stiff-neck, abhorrent disrespect to Government officials. People like JW teaches it well. Hope JW is one of the first they decommission. He is a poor representation of who we are as a people. Even the Premier must be embarrassed.
Clearly, from what has been seen and heard during the past several days of hearing regarding the operations and misoperation of our government, clearly things are not right in the state of our country and theres no need for members of our government or House of Assembly to develop any hostile attitude regarding the UK and electorate’s desire for Good or Better government than we have been having and they need to answer to us. Among the many injustices to taxpayers and their moneys contributed to the runnong of their government are such situations as (huge roject overruns, no bid projects 7-million for a plane not in governments possession, moneys paid for consuñtancies awarded without clear and measurable porformance goals, expected, unedited books, moneys from Social Security not fully accounted for, 8-million dollars originally allocated for the Sewage Project in the 7th District spent but without solving the sewage problem, rampant Drug infiltrating our islands and communities, rampant crime, many unsolved and so much more). After all we live in a democracy and mismanagement,and corruption must be held to account. Yet in this socall Christian country, there are cries for self Determination and Indipendence. Imagine if we already at such a status!
Mr. Willoocck needs to pay for his own legal representation if he plans to be difficult. Taxpayers should not be wasted on this i***t.
This is simply willful pride and obstruction! The Speaker is not fit for office. And, by the way, anyone used to dealing with this Government, from the Premier on down, knows all about sitting around for hours waiting for meetings. Heck, the whole Territory had to do it for the live Covid announcements. What a hypocritical j**k Willock is.
that thumb down was definitely a mistake. i meant to thumbs up 100 times. These people have a general lack of respect for people time and he have the audacity to say he wont be sitting around waiting for hours.
Julian Willock, Has a big chip on his shoulder I hope the Commissioner has him arrested and brought to the Commission of Inquiry, and if he doesn’t corporate charge him. Commissioner stop playing with this man, he believes because he is speaker of the house he is above the law. Commissioner, please Look into his past.
He thought he was above the law, that is why he got a sleepover sometime ago.
IF HE DOES NOT COOPERATE, COI, YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO. I AM SO SICK AND TIRED OF THIS ANGEL FOOD CAKE EMBARRASSING……… ….!!!!.
The speaker will make the News! He like people to make it so somebody needs to make him the headlines for all the right reasons…Lets go COI ????
I’m sure I heard the Commissioner say that all parties involved are binded by the original summons. Who Willock think he is buddy?
Why he feel like he’s above the law because he sits with a white wig on his head in the house looking ridiculous.
So it boils down to who blinks first. If I was a betting person, I would wager that Willock with all his talk, will blink first.
Dont ask again; he miss the next date just send the police for him one time.
Arrest his a** when he doesn’t show. Keep him in jail until the commission is ready for him and have him escorted (shackled) to the hearing room. Begin to treat him as the c*****al he is.
Arrest his f.. u… b…. A.. DAM PRIMATE ON THE LOOSE thinking he is above the law.
Like he forgot the sleepover he got the last time with failure to comply.
Was the Speaker elected by the people? The arrogance is appalling!!!
Julian Willock, Is out of place, since he became speaker of the house he thinks that he above the law. Commissioner if he doesn’t show up you should have him arrested and brought to the COI. He is breaking the law and he should be treated according to the law. I think you should go a bit and check out this man’s reputation. He is not fit to be the speaker of the house the way he is carring on.
@He Loves The Spotlight, When you do one sleepover you don’t mind doing a few more, he should be charged and the COI to make sure that he will not be assisted by the taxpayer’s money.
Have mercy on us Lord. Have mercy on the BVI. For the past 2 days, I have been stuck to YouTube with these hearings. This is not going to end well.
Time to deport the co***dly speaker to a nice healthy prison in the English countryside. Maybe North Sea Camp Prison in Lincolnshire with nice winter views of the cold stormy North Sea!
Willock will be in contempt of court if he keeps this up; if necessary the Commissioner will have him arrested and brought to the hearing.
These antics and the general lack of competence and records makes the BVI a laughing stock.
i find it funny how people of the bvi praying and wishing for the downfall of their own fellow bvi residents. UK using us against ourselves and y’all eating it up sad sad days now and ahead for the bvi and then people that call it home
What you should be concerned about is Mr. Willock’s disturbing pattern of behavior. Do not buy into the narrative about the UK is against us.That is certainly not the case. Mr. Willock has always shown that he is above the law, but he will learn – trust me. We have much more to be concerned about such as the poor governance in this territory as exhibited in our so called Speaker.#weembarassed
THIS VIP GOVERNMENT IS NOT A PEOPLE GOVERNMENT, THEY ARE A FAMILY RUN GOVERNMENT. FATHER, MOTHER, COUSIN, WIFE, HUSBAND EVEN THE FAMILY DOG IS GETTING HIRED IN POSITIONS THAT THEY ARE NOT QUALIFIED FOR. WE WANT VIP GONE LIKE A BAD DREAM.
This man with the wig is not wholly of the BVI family.
Non family BVIslanders are zapped of yonder families and sooner or later the difference is markedly discerned. Case in point would be the female talk show host with the wide wide painted mouth.
Isn’t this the same culprit who cost us thousands with the mark vanterpool saga?
@ heckler.
You mean hundreds of thousands for revenge.
from forming d a**e again
This is enough to suspend HOA. Not allowing this Guy to be incharge of this branch… This has been their MO.. selfishness…This move can have serious consequences….The BVI In Trouble
This dude making us sht wid shame
Everybody complying except this igno@#$% @$$#0@
!
WE THE CITIZENS OF THE BVI IS CALLING FOR THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE TO BE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IF HE REFUSES TO COMPLY WITH THE COI.
He is playing with fire at the country’s expense all the while hiding behind freedom of the press credentials while doing their dirty divisive work.
This will not end well.
Whomever leaked that COI document to the press needs to be sought, identified, and sacked. Throw in a trip to Balsum Ghut for good measure.
We all know who leaked that poorly written one sided document….none other than ***
They hate Jaspert so badly..he must be looking at the clown show with a big bowl of popcorn.
We need to elect our own Speaker this is embarrassing. Hate to see him with that stupid wig on his head.
They are two of the same, Oppressive. Think they can do as they wish, Print only what they like, it has to be their way.. …Both V*** and its Sp***** owner need suspending…
That’s a habit this speake seems to have..few yrs ago he tried to opt out of a court appearance.
Scotland yard will be on the job soon.
HE GOT THE SPEAKER POSITION BECAUSE IT WAS HANDED TO HIM ON A SILVER PLATTER BY FOY. WE DIDNOT VOTE FOR THE POWER H***RY THINK HE IS ABOVE THE LAW OUT OF CONTROL ***. I AGREE 100% IF THE SPEAKER REFUSE TO SHOW UP FOR HIS APPOINTMENT WITH THE COI, PLACE HIM IN CUSTODY. THE TAX PAYERS IS NOT FOOTING THE BILL FOR THE PRINCESS, WE WILL TAKE TO THE STREETS AND PROTEST. HE ALREADY FLEECE THE TAX PAYERS WHEN HE STARTED THE DRAMA WITH VANTERPOOL.
Done to guarantee alternative news in his paper. If he got the job, the top guy can guarantee his one sided narrative gets published!
This OVER RATED j**k has bought shame to the people of the 3rd. He is not above the law. Look at all the confusion the INEPT, INCOMPETENT PREMIER HAS CREATED. MR. PREMIER, CONTROL AND INSTRUCT YOUR, YES YOUR SPEAKER TO COMPLY WITH THE COI OR WE ARE CALLING FOR HIS ARREST/POSSIBLE YOUR ARREST. NO MAN IS ABOVE THE LAW.
The problem in the BVI none of these jokers ever get charged or go to jail no matter what they do and thats why they keep on doing it even while under investigation for the same crap. We need to change that this week starting with J..
This *** needs to return to the Caspian Sea.
He is out of touch with the populace and believes ONLY he knows the law of the land.
He is a true representation of what entitlement looks like in the BVI…shameful!!
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 4:10.
The Spesker,the Pastor are independent choices of this Premier.
Not at all a good look
Totally embarrassing and humiliating for the VI.