I will not oppose the court’s ruling, Willock must pay — Vanterpool
Opposition legislator with the National Democratic Party, Mark Vanterpool, said he will not be voting to exempt Speaker Julian Willock from paying his (Willock’s) legal fees when the select parliamentary committee meets to assess the matter.
In an interview on ZBVI today, Vanterpool said while he agreed to be one of three members to sit on the committee, he does not support any action that defies a court order.
And he believes Premier Andrew Fahie’s motion to form the committee did just that — defy the court’s ruling that Willock must foot the bill for a failed injunction he (the Speaker) filed against attorneys with the Commission of Inquiry.
“Sitting on the committee does not mean I support the bill. I do not support defying the court’s orders. The court is one jurisdiction and we must let them do their work,” Vanterpool said.
Premier should have withdrawn
Vanterpool, who was absent for the entirety of the debate on Fahie’s motion Thursday, said he believed the substantive motion by the Premier should have been withdrawn from the House of Assembly (HOA).
He also noted if he was present for the voting, he would have voted for the motion to be dismissed and supported the counter-motion by the Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, Marlon Penn.
“I think that was a good [counter]-motion [by Penn]. I would support what the Leader of the Opposition presented. I think he presented his case well,” Vanterpool added.
Leave the court’s judgment undisturbed
Penn had countered Premier Fahie’s motion to form the parliamentary committee by stating the decision by the Supreme Court should “stand undisturbed” by the HOA.
In the meantime, the special parliamentary committee will comprise Vanterpool, government legislator Vincent Wheatley, and Opposition legislator for Progressives United (PU), Julian Fraser. The committee will have to make a recommendation to the House within two months.
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Great news. But why he not in the HOA when it mattered? He fought so hard to be there!! At great expense!
They should dock his pay
he wasnt there because he had done agree to be in the devil committee.
@BuzzBvi
It was not a hard fight. If Hon Fahie had set up a committee then, the fee of over 200,000.00 would have been the speaker`s bill too.
By the way, do you realize that the two months for the committee is to wait out the COI and then pay the bill? These guys really playing some serious games in this little secret bvi.
I suspect Willock will have to pay this bill from his personal account. That means the VIP would have to give Willock the money, so he could personally pay the bill as specied by the court.
The VIP would then be in shark infested waters.
You should have been in the HOA to state this….
I am happy that Mark is for the rule of law. The Supreme Court’s ruling should stand. When the rule of law is usurped, that is how Dictatorial and Totalitarianism governments are formed. Andrew Fahie wants to be a strong man, like the presidents of North Korea, Turkey or the Philippines. Andrew not in the Virgin Islands. The Virgin Islands is a Democracy, we are a free people and there will be blood before we let you put us in the captivity of Communism. I pray for our children and grandchildren and their children that they will live a quality life in our beautiful Virgin Islands. This is why we stand so strong against your lawless government. Those legislators who support Fahie in his wrong doing should be ashamed of themselves.
You spoke for me on that one. I don’t have to add another word to what you said.
1 down 2 more to go
Fraser and Willock are like siamese twins (and go back along way) and Premier knows he has the 2 votes he required before forming this committee.
Foy thinks we cannot see through his scams !!!!!!!!
WILLOCK MUST PAY!!!
if you are a bee then look for your hive / he didn’t use taxpayers money to pay his bill , if he did , please enlighten us , O THOU ESTEEMED ONE
100% in agreement with Mr. Vanterpool.
Now, my hunch tells me that Mr. Frazer is a principled man. He has been around for quite some time and knows too well the implications of side stepping the ruling of court.
I would not be surprised if he comes to a similar conclusion.
Country over person.
Every dog has his day
two months to decide…..I guess they hoping we all forgot by then….?
CASE CLOSED
Julian Frazer should abstain and not try to assist that traitor who left him for the vip candidate Thompson.
He should abstain because a judgement was put out by the High Court. The claimant does not agree and should proceed to the appeal court. If he is so right why don’t he go to the appeals court. If the honourable minister thinking on leading a party and he might have a chance this round then he needs to not support payment or abstain. Let the VIP make its own decision.
Mr. Vanterpool does not represent the 4th District. We don’t see him and he does not speak for us in the house. Him and D3 member were wilfully absent from HOA because they were already asked to be members of the committee. You will represent a committee but he can’t represent the people in the house=. Please step down all of you. The majority of us are tired of all this clown show
If he had openly said he was in disagreement, he would never be on the committee. Mark is a shrewd man. Let’s hope Frazer is as shrewd and that VW man’s up
Well what goes around comes around / and the smile the 3rd district gentleman’s face is saying I got U by you by your ( SE*DS) which is of no use to U anyway / but am going to make sure you sing like a canary as you did during the election with all your mud slinging
That is not what was expected of Mark. I am sure that is disappointing news for some.
Thank you Mark. The court has made a ruling. If you disagree,appeal.
Thanks Mark..but where in the world have you been?
Just smoke no scrubber and mirrors Shazam! All the rotten eggs in one basket! Got to love it?
So according to this precedent, next time you get a parking ticket you can form your own committee to decide whether you have to pay it? Good to know.
Can somebody say Collusion? Sounds like a big scheme to me.
1. What is the definition of opposing ?
.2.Why are you not supporting Marlon’s position?
3. Where have you been all this time absenting yourself from the HOD ?
4. Why have you surface at this time to support the Premier options that are now geared to pay Willock debt ?
5. You are a big disappointment shame on you
Why are you not supporting Marlon’s decision ?
Those who tell him to take action should help him pay the fees. We the taxpayer not paying for this.pronto.
Fahie knows that the COI report wont be good for them, he is playing a smart game of trying to get as mich suppost in thr House as he can…He even go as far as bribing them with an increase salary…
So the 3 person committee has 2 months to make a decision to pay or not. During this time the unpaid lawyers should seek the speaker’s committal at the prison until the court ordered legal costs are paid.
The whole notion of the VIP Govt bringing a motion to debate a Court ruling is a violation of the Constitution. And the Yellow media is promoting this as a right, and that the facts need to be known. Bulls….it. it is a violation of the Cinstitution fir the HOA to even consider debating a motion on a Court ruling. This what dictators do. Are we a dictorship, that when the court makes a ruling. Politicians challenge it because they dont like it. We are on a alippery slope BVI. There are no reasons on earth for a govt to justify such actions. If the speaker did not like the ruling the law allows for him to challenge it in court not via the HOA.
all of the ones was in NDP must pay!!! not only willock
Mark I like the fact that in words you are supporting the rule of law. Back up your words with action, “Remove yourself from the Committee “.
don’t count / the TRINI hustler done do a number on you and our taxpayers money ? through your over grown EGO and now you want us to pay your bill again , you better go dye your wig