Julian Willock to be hired as Premier’s special advisor
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has confirmed that his office is working toward appointing former House of Assembly Speaker Julian Willock as a special advisor, though a contract has not yet been finalised.
The Premier made the disclosure during a press conference last week after political commentator Cindy Rosan asked whether Willock had already been hired.
“Does Julian Willock have a contract with your office?” Rosan asked.
“Not as yet, but we’re working on it. He’s going to be a special advisor for me,” Dr Wheatley responded.
Rosan questioned the timing of the potential appointment, noting that the current administration is approaching the end of its term and asking whether it was necessary to add another advisor.
“Your government is going out, so what’s the urgency in adding more people?” she said.
Dr Wheatley responded by asking whether she believed the government should stop hiring altogether in its final year.
“You don’t think we should hire anybody else in the next year?” the Premier asked.
Rosan clarified that while hiring within the public service might still be required, she was questioning the need for an additional political advisor at this stage.
“What is he going to tell you between now and December?” she asked.
The Premier maintained that any such appointment would be made only if it was necessary.
“I wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t necessary,” he said.
Role not yet outlined
While Dr Wheatley confirmed that Willock is expected to serve as a special advisor, the specific responsibilities of the role have not yet been publicly outlined. It is also unclear when the contract might be finalised.
Special advisors typically provide guidance on policy, communications or political strategy to senior government officials.
Willock previously served as Speaker of the House of Assembly during a period that included the territory’s Commission of Inquiry into governance. He left the position in 2022 following changes implemented during the reform process that followed the inquiry.
During that period, Willock publicly criticised aspects of the inquiry and was involved in legal proceedings related to its conduct. One legal challenge — which sought an injunction concerning attorneys associated with the inquiry — was later withdrawn, and the court ordered that he pay legal costs.
Willock’s arrest
In 2024, Willock was arrested and charged with several offences, including forgery, misuse of office and conspiracy to provide false information to a public servant in relation to visa waiver matters and a document presented to the Immigration Department. He was later granted bail while the case proceeds before the court.
Willock remains a prominent figure in local politics and public discourse.
His actions during the Commission of Inquiry period have drawn differing reactions, with some residents critical of his approach and others expressing support for his position on issues of governance and the territory’s relationship with the United Kingdom.
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What an absurd world we live in. This man should be institutionalized, now he’s a government advisor.
I believe that Cindy Rosen also deserves an opportunity to be in this role .She has great analytical skill and understands the struggles of the common man .Its time to put the fued to bed and give Cindy the role. Her prespective needs to be appreciated.
This government is going from bad to worse. What can this man advise the government to do? Our tax dollars continue to be used to support cronies. Why can’t he get a job somewhere else? These people who continue to suck off the breast of the government need to go! If he believes he is as intelligent as he thinks he is go find a job in the private sector. Why should money that should go to fixing roads, schools, healthcare and other essentials go to paying salary for a crony? VIP must go!
Private Sector rarely hires PEPs
He will advise Natalio on how not to be able to keep a job. He is getting him ready for his firing at the next general election. Good job!
Why is this even news? Julian Willock is a virgin islander; he is qualified and should be able to work anywhere in his homeland. How come nobody talking about all these island people working in government form statutory bodies, to ministries? From what I have heard he did a dam good job at water and sewerage and when he was a PS. You all need to just stop hating on our local prince!!!!
Add in that he got fired from the public service. That he is the shortest ever serving speaking of the House. And that he is on bail after being arrested and charged for fraud! Is this someone that the government should be hiring?
Apart from that….
Ofcourse, they should. He’ll fit right in. Sometimes, the rot starts from the top. There’s nothing new here to see nor hear. How short y’all memory is. Birds of a feather shit together! Let me leave that there before i say too much. Some of us well lettered but not too bright. We keep doing the same thing expecting a differrent outcome! Aru, wake me up when this nightmare is over?
Hello Julian,
Prince of Darkness you mean surely.
When public officers are arrested and charged they are interdicted and put on half salary. They can’t come to work. Willock is on bail after being arrested and charged and now he is getting a big job with big salary? Explain to me how this is fair?
He is not employed by the PSC, deputy governor nor governor so ask Natalio.
The same old disingenuous faces like putting lipstick on a pig.
In this case we are only needing the lipstick.
Now, you know mama taught you better so stop it because, how will you find the right color to match skin tone and the colonial wig? That will be a battle worst than Operation Epic Fury. Btw, which lip, top or bottom?
https://bvinews.com/uk-official-out-of-place-in-calling-bvi-corrupt-premier/
Just saying… COI v.2?
https://bvinews.com/uk-official-out-of-place-in-calling-bvi-corrupt-premier/
COI v.2 coming?
Wiggy will sit on this site all day and press the like button for a good comment for him and dislike for a bad comment about him. And then he will start to blog calling himself prince, esteemed, the next leader for the 3rd district etc. The man is not well mentally. Something is wrong with him. His head needs to be examined.
@ WIGGIE conartist, infactuated b boy at it again today.
Why
It’s like Wheatley is looking to be director and star of COI Series 2
Any more jokes?
Is this to calm down Willock. Hmm
He is already secretly appointed chairman of the TRC. The Governor is a joke. Allegedly, some of these people are selling the country’s rights to these outer-island corporations.
And it return, fooling the people with a job fair or basketball sponsorship while people remain hungry. And when they done praising HL and the march of 1949.
Hypocrites laughing at the people knowing that their actions of today selling our belongership for our own personal gain would be detestable by Fonseca, Noel Lloyd, and others who put their lives on the line to preserve this country. The people had better wake up.
Hope he is not responsible for encouraging use of that $2M on the EE/LL sewerage system. We are in trouble.
The governor is a real disappointment. It seems if it ain’t a policy that can hurt and make life harder for the people, anything else can go. The morale of the civil service is below zero. This could have never happened in the past.
NO other country, including USA or the USVI, could have allowed this to happen. The Feds would have stopped it.
Any other country, the Governor head of civil service would have had to call a press conference and give the people an explanation. But conveniently, he is away.
You can’t make this stuff up. We have a Premier walking around with a silver tongue, carrying a PH.D, was raised right and can read, comprehend and I dare say research. He also have an office filled with staff, PSs, plural, Assistant Secretaries, and other staff members. Why is he wasting much needed tax dollars hiring his cronies to advise him with no results? Why is he the first Premier in the history of these Virgin Islands to need this and waste money on this? Willock can work anywhere. It is time for elections and the VIP diehards should definitely sit down and decide how much more of this our country and finances can take. This Government is just not capable of running our country and hiring of these political advisors at astronomical costs is the Premier himself acknowledging this.
Is this now the 4th Special Advisor to the Premier? Enquiring minds wants to know how my tax dollars are being spent……….
Does the premier not do any due diligence or he does not care? Willock is on bail for human trafficking. He was also arrested for theft. Two cases. Premier is a waste of time.
There are MANY qualified, capable, emotionally stable individuals who could make meaningful contributions in the position of adviser to the premier. The ‘esteemed’ is NOT one of them. We the people of the BVI are not stupid. What does this man have over the VIP government that they continue to put someone so embarrassing in prominent positions. This is a VERY CLEAR and OBVIOUS misuse of public funds. Just a way to give Mr. Willock a payday for absolutely NOTHING. Him and Claude are cut from the same cloth. Anyone who would do this or sit by and watch it happen DOES NOT CARE FOR THE BVI.
100% true agree. This is not a good move on behalf of the Premier. Elections are coming eh! We the people have the power to decide who leads us into the next government.
Premier Wheatley pls come to the front of the Class! What are we really doing? I think Cindy would have accepted this offer at half price and would still do a terrific job, even swaying the electorate for the next elections.
The BVI isn not a real place.
“He’s going to be a special adviser for me”
—————————————————-
This seems problematic to me. Here you have the Premier about to give a contract to someone who has a pending case before the courts on serious charges.
One would think out of due caution that such a hire would await the outcome of the courts decison on the case before you extend another contract. but no, the Premier appears to be ignoring that case, and have decided to hire him as a so called “special advisor”
I presume the Premier may be thinking that if he was to hire him as a special advisor that will make everything ok.
Well, Mr. Premier, it’s not ok. It looks bad, and quite frankly looks like you are trying to do him a favor to make some money.
Ms Rosan asked the right question: ““What is he going to tell you between now and December?”
Kudos to her.
Something is not adding up. The reasoning is not reasoning. If it looks like a crony contract it is a crony contract.
There are plenty of bull frogs hopping around that are preety inside and out. 🙂
vote the A13MG Party – all 13 must go – we need 13 fresh faces
OK ATMG but pliss give an idea who to replace them with??
That won’t work
We at the front of the class calling A13MG to the front to tell us what sowande did to you all.
All these advisors but various places in Tortola can’t get consistent running water
Roads still a mess
Government buildings still a mess
Electricity still cutting off
Wa them advising? How to swindle more money?
ADVISOR not adviser
No. Please no. Oh nooooo.
End the Corruption, nepotism, jobs for cronies, families and friends.
Nooooooo.
People of the VI. You kust stop this.
The nation is being stolen from you!!
VIGILATE
Now more than ever.
ALL13MUSTGO + ONE
I cannot wait to vote these goofs out of office – all 13 of them – worst house of assembly ever
Who paid his legal fees in the end? I know he was expecting government to? Was this part of that deal…..”you owe me?” And needs to get that recouped before the end of this government term?
Didn’t this guy get caught with porn on his website and get fired for breaching the laws of the British Virgin Islands?
https://bvinews.com/willock-charged-with-forgery-misusing-office/
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PREMIER?
The premier is just a boy. He will end up kike his predecessor Andrew if he is not careful. He got coached by the head coach and we are not surprised of all his stupidness.
I am surprised. He can do better than he is doing, but it takes a bigger effort than he is willing to put in. So he runs away, either travels or he’s in the HOA passing Bills. Somebody needs to tell him and his Ministers, especially him and Hon. Kye that this is not a popularity context but a serious job. Try don’t put your names in for re-election or we will never find our way back. We’re in trouble, buddy.
https://bvinews.com/willock-charged-with-forgery-misusing-office/
https://www.bvibeacon.com/julian-willock-arrested-and-charged/
https://bvinews.com/speaker-ordered-to-pay-legal-fees-for-unreasonable-court-action/
https://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/news/former-bvi-speaker-julian-willock-charged-in-connection-with-visa-program-waivers/article_91301636-3a58-11ef-8eeb-b721bf2430f2.html
Looks like you got his “rap sheet”….aa .. accusation history.
Hiring a media outlet to influence the voting public…… Sir Hitchkobottom is that you knocking again
Makes you wonder – what dirt has the esteem wig one got on Sowande?
At this point in time, I really couldn’t see myself voting for another VIP government come the next election. I just don’t think they’ve done much except spend my tax dollars on BS.
Now this… The esteemed one! The nail in the coffin.
Can somebody please organize a political party for the territory that has an economic philosophy and is NOT just another programme for distributing spoils?
The spoils system at work.
This is why we had the Commission of Inquiry. Obviously the changes enacted as a result of the Commission’s recommendations did nothing to change the political culture here – zero-zip-nada.
An appointment such as this is nothing more than a sham – Payolla – just like with Skelton-Cline.
Still corrupt and rewarding those most opposed to the Commission.
Yes Willock was the best speaker of the house ever , less the wig and those UK people came here on a witch hunt to make a lot of our people looks bad and it backfired on them now we have to pay millions in lawsuits.
This is exactly why he needs to institutionalized. He wrote that post above and he actually believes what he wrote. He spent less time in the job as speaker than any other appointed speaker and he was the best. He was the only speaker to be asked to please leave the job and he was the best one. Something is wrong with this cat mentally.
Shut the hole in your face from talking nonsense. Willock should have never been speaker period. It was a mockery of the house of assembly.
Nuts! Willock is facing a number of court cases and not for misdeamours but serious allegations. Then there is his general poor reputation on top of that!
Who’s next in line for a cronyism award? (the not so Christian Pastor) Cline perhaps?
Has our Premier gone completely mad?
What sense does it make to hire more advisors that they won’t listen to?
The Premier will listen to Mr Willock because he has to if he wants to keep his job next Elections. If you know you know.
Cindy and aaron needs to stop blogging all this shit.Willock is the only man willing to stand up znd fight the UK on sensitive issues.Like him or not he is well qualified to advise on governmental issues and can be an asset to the country
Well I guess they planned on dpp losing them cases so willock can get off Scott free
LoL sigh this country sad sometimes mehson
Natalio you are a disgrace to this territory. You have an Advisor, and nearing the end of your goverment’s term you need a Special Advisor. I have nothing against Willock as a matter of fact I consider him a friend, but this decision is ridiculous and suspicious.
With all these consultants doesn’t make sense have Public Servants. Way too may
Them just jealous if the esteem
Oh well it done now. . Country going down the drain. This is CULT like dealings
I am not surprised… he remained quiet till the uk order lifted…. Corruption has been reinstated
Hiring Julian Willock is worst than being ganged r**e. Even the thought of it is abusive.
They are engaging a media outlet again right before the election season starts.
Things will never change you all have a lot of strength on here but the same post is on Facebook with one comments sometimes too, a lot of ayo are Facebook champions
If the UK had arrested these cr**ks, we would not be forced to swallow this f**l’s shite
Recycling of outdated materials, is the reason VI is not moving forward.
two of history’s worst parliaments
this guy sued the uk gov with our $$$$. joke. no integrity. stupid prizes on the horizon . . .