‘The people will not back down’, says protest organiser
The organiser of yesterday’s protest outside the House of Assembly (HOA), Cindy Rosan-Jones, said the people will not back down and will be paying keen attention to the decision taken by the government regarding the payment of Julian Willock’s legal fees.
Protestors had opted to remain outside the HOA until the matter of Willock’s fees were decided on. But when proceedings began, Premier Andrew Fahie moved a motion in the House to push the debate further back on parliament’s order paper.
Rosan-Jones described the motion as as a ploy to frustrate the people. However, she said she was pleased with the effort of the protestors who did not back down. Some people had remained until 7 pm before leaving the premises.
“Overall, I’m happy about how the day turned out. After they couldn’t get us stopped from coming on to the premises, I guess the next stop was to frustrate us by changing out the items. However, we will be here when they decide to call the action. And even if we aren’t here if the actions are not what the people want, we will be taking the next step to advise the territory accordingly,” Rosan-Jones stated.
The social activist also said she managed to speak with the Premier and the Deputy Speaker of the House, Neville Smith on the matter.
She said based on that dialogue, her impression is that they will vote for the government to foot Willock’s hefty legal fees of up to $121,000, which were generated after he (Willock) filed a court injunction against attorneys of the Commission of Inquiry then later withdrew.
“I had a long conversation with the Premier. I feel like he is leaning towards voting yes, although he said he would do what the people wants. I made it clear to him that if he pays attention, there is overwhelming support of this not becoming a reality by the people. He said he knows that but then he changed to do what the people want within principle. So, we’ll see how it works out. As far as I am concerned, the people have spoken,” Rosan-Jones said.
“Also, I spoke to Honourable Neville Smith and I kind of have the feeling that he will vote yes [in paying Willock’s legal fee] because his thing was to ask me why they should not vote yes,” she added.
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You guys do not represent the people. Who the eff elected yall? Some people actually support what Willock was fighting for no matter how small their voices may seem. I’m neutral in this fight but just hate how people just adopt these names like “the people” and feel they can speak for the majority or all of the population. The ironic thing is they are fighting for their own selfish purposes cuz if they supported what Willock did and others did not they would not have been marching. It’s all selfish agenda.
Who the eff elected Willock?
The 13 members 0f the hoa
So our Premier should also keep in mind that we not only “not” wish for pay the legal fees but also wish for the Speaker to step down.
Premier needs to relinquish his Post too! Enough is Enough!
WE WILL BE SHOWING UP ON ELECTION DAY
Foy wutlissness will catch up to he in a matter of months
So for no good reason but to appease this nonelected by the people person of fatal embarrassment,Andrew has decided to give serious effort to undermine the rulings of the Court represented by our sister and daughter of the soil, Attorney General Dawn J Smith at the c expense of embarrasment and humiliation of these VI and its people.
What recourse would the Courts have,if this travesty comes to fruition?
It becomes more and more clear that the Premier has supported Willock’s action. So if that is the case he can help Willock pay out of his own pocket not Government funds. All the law he quotes says that he the Minister of finance can pull the money to pay, not that it is right to do so.
What did you expect the sheep too say? They scratch one another backs plus the sheep should have been named in paying the bill too.
The esteemed was elected by the 13 members of the house of assembly
We may not be loud but we support what Willock is fighting for
Well y’all need to speak up and be heard because right now only one view is being heard and it sounding like the only view. Time to speak up.
Was it unlawful for the speaker to say that the three lawyers needed permission to carry out their duty in the BVI? If we supposed to be a country of laws how is it ok for these lawyers to carry out their duty without going through the right means? If the attorney refused to do the right thing does that make the speaker wrong. We should be applauding that one person such as the speaker for upholding our laws. Since they were not operating legally, the speaker shouldint have to pay for the neglect of duty by the people in the attorney office. If the same Government is paying for the fees of COI, and the Governor, then the same Government should pay for the speaker Legal fees. If the matter was allowed to go to court by the attorney office, we would have a different result today. Stop crying down your own heroes for your personal and selfish gains and wants. Blame the attorney office for not doing their job.
If the Speaker had a case, the AG should have represented him. The A.G. did not so the question is why is that the case. The courts asked him who authorised him and that has not yet been made clear. If the Government authorised him against the advice of the AG, then they should let the public know that and come clean. Otherwise, we do not know why the case proceeded if they were cleared to conduct the COI. They could not come here to do it unless someone approved them. Is the case saying whomever approved them to come was wrong? These are the real questions to get to the bottom of this debacle.
My friend the truth is that colours always play a role. If they were three african decent lawyers,the same attorney office would have already send them back. Why they were trying to get them regularize then. Because they know they were operating illegal. One man stand up for the entire country and the European Judge say he must pay because the attorney turn a blind eye? Our own people on the street protesting against the one person that said we have to abide the law. We still drinking the water and eating the food from the slave master’s table my friend.
SURE , HE HAS A RIGHT TO FIGHT FOR THRONE , ALL HE NEEDS IS A REAL ?
Who is Cindy related to? Just curious
The legislature is separate and apat from the Judiciary.If they are aggrieved by the Judge’s decision , the legal recourse is to appeal.that motion could be strike down easily in a court of law.by the way ….where is the Bar Association….kindly wake up and give a statement as the Judge cannot do so.
The crazy breed from down the French isle