Penn says HOA ‘compromised’ as Speaker flip-flops on naming vendors
Controversy erupted in the House of Assembly (HOA) on Thursday as Speaker Julian Willock opted to block the disclosure of names of businesses to who the BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA) owes money.
Willock at first stated that the House had collectively agreed months ago that the names of companies could be publicised in the HOA.
However, he later changed his mind and said he would write to the Attorney General for advice before returning the matter to the House.
“At this time, we will not entertain [the publicising] companies’ names. I will write formally to the Honourable Attorney General to ask if there is any matter prohibiting companies names from coming to these chambers and we will be guided or discuss her findings,” Willock said.
HOA compromised! Speaker making up rules on the spot
Opposition Leader Marlon Penn then accused the Speaker of “making up the rules of the house on the fly”, seemingly in an effort to not contradict Premier Andrew Fahie’s position on the matter. Willock rejected that claim.
Opposition legislator Julian Fraser interjected and said there should be no need to write the AG on the matter, especially since she was present in the House at the time of the sitting and the issue could have been resolved after a simple recess.
But the Speaker, in turn, said his ruling on the issue was final and insisted on referring the matter to the AG, noting that she would need time to conduct research.
Penn suggested that the Speaker was not impartial since he always appeared to be siding with the government. “This house is compromised,” the Opposition Leader continuously said in a relatively hushed voiced.
How it all started
The entire conflict arose after Penn asked Premier Fahie for details of all monies the BVIAA owed to vendors, contractors, and individuals from January 1, 2019, through May 10, 2021.
Premier Fahie declined to release the full, detailed information; stating that it contains information of businesses and individuals’ names.
The Premier explained that disclosing names would violate Standing Order 17 1(b) of the rules that govern the HOA. That standing order states that “questions shall not include the names of persons, statements of fact unless they are necessary to render the question intelligible”.
The rules are clear
Premier Fahie argued that he has always had an issue with disclosing names of persons or companies because these entities were not present in the HOA to defend themselves.
But Penn protested forcefully, stating that even though HOA members may have made a decision not to release the names of individuals in accordance with the rules that govern the HOA, the names of companies should at least have been made available in the Premier’s response.
Penn further said the standing orders were clear on the matter.
The Premier later conceded that he would stand by and accept any decision the House makes on the issue.
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The Speaker of the House of Assembly should be elected and not selected by the sitting government.
@ Sarah
Kudos to you Sarah. Any body with half a brain knows that we will never have an impartial Speaker or Attorney General if they are chosen by the sitting government. We see them bumbling all the time so as not to implicate their boss.
Then we need to change the constitution to reflect this…we are a mature democracy, it is time we act accordingly
F*t Albert is Fudging facts again with the help of his Fat Frog Friend W****ck..
These men are playing games/dolly house in the house of assembly
here we go again / after the number that was played on Frazier and all that was revealed by coi , is it still a surprise ( these guys are really slick) what a pity they don’t care about the country , only their pockets
I hold the belief that the names of persons or companies involved in any contracts or one time business dealings government or other public entities should not be hidden.
What is the real purpose of the secrecy???
BVI Paving signed a contract +$300k
Autland the other day +$1mil
James Todman Construction +$17mil
Where was there ‘protection’?
Let the COI come back and shut the darm dolly house door and put on the lock! Too much shitz still going on and while the coi at it call for the war ship as back up and deport them ALL to Downing Street!!
WHO THE H**L ELECTED THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE TO DETERMINE THE AFFAIRS OF THE PEOPLE’S GOVERNMENT. HE WAS ELECTED TO SUPERVISE OR MONITOR THE AFFAIRS OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY WHILE IN SESSION. I CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHY THE MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT ESPECIALLY THE PREMIER NOT SHUTTING THIS A***GANT PERSON DOWN. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS PARTY IS BEING RUINED AND FOLKS JUST LETTING THESE NON ENTITIES BURY IT.
what the hell do they have to hide? seems like Willock’s name might be on the list or he has share with someone involved.
Some of us know it’s you wigalox blogging under different names / sanyway we know you is the brain behind the game /\\_ and that large fellow may not that he’s getting played
Say one say two the fact remains Julian Willock is one of the best speakers we have had now take that to the bank
How quick we forget the pass 8 years when the place was a circus
Thank God in advance the VIP Government will be out next election. We need people who are about the BVI and not about themselves and their supporters? We had enough of this cronyism.Lets us pray for a grip of persons to come forward.
Britain need to take this place over for about a year. Get things in order, bring back honesty and accountability..Then allow us to vote for our own after that..These Govts are just like Covid, when you think they are going to get better, they are getting worst..
that is exactly what we shall do.
What clowns. Must have more to try and hide. Guessing its more dubious trade licences, DBAs and no contracts!
Can we not hire the contractor that “fixed” the base of the elevator road again?
Britain need to take this place over for about a year. Get things in order, bring back honesty and accountability..Then allow us to vote for our own after that..These Govts are just like Covid, when you think they are going to get better, they are getting worst..
Britain who enslaved us. Robbed from us and so many other counties to build up themselves. Then turn around and hail
Their pirates as heroes must bring back honesty to us. Are you hearing yourself?
I think it’s clearly all over bar the shouting, to all reasonably minded people the COI have demonstrated that the BVI’s governmental system is not working, and, needs changing accordingly.
BVI is just fine. This newsite and Marlon takes everything out of context. They are obviously working for the British.