BVI News

Things slipped through the crack because of COI reforms — Willock

Willock

Former Speaker of the House of Assembly Julian Willock blamed the Commission of Inquiry (COI) reforms for neglected and delayed infrastructure projects in the territory, arguing that things lapsed as the government focused on COI implementation.

Speaking on JTV recently, Willock was questioned about whether he thought the territory was in a better shape than it was four years ago before the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) entered office. According to Willock, although “the reality on the ground is tough for most people”, residents must understand that the government took the first two years in office to deal with what he described as imposed COI recommendations.

The former Speaker pointed out that the government prioritised meeting the COI recommendations to avoid significant constitutional repercussions.

“We got set back a lot because that was their focus… Their backs were against the wall with a gun over their head,” Willock said. “Either you do these things or we will take away your freedom… So while they were busy working on those things, a lot of things slipped through the crack.”

Willock highlighted water shortages as a major issue plaguing the territory. He noted that residents of the Third District, in particular, have been struggling to secure a steady water supply for more than a decade.

“People in District 3 call every morning,” he said. Willock explained that residents often wake early to fill buckets during brief periods of water availability. He described the situation as “not tenable.”

The former Speaker acknowledged that infrastructure challenges such as water supply and sewerage management have persisted for decades but argued that political decisions by the National Democratic Party (NDP) exacerbated the situation. “If the government in 2011 had fulfilled its obligations under the BiWater contract, we would have been in a better position today,” he said, referencing a controversial public-private agreement for water production.

Willock also called on the VIP government to make significant progress with available resources. “Now is the time to fix the infrastructure. Now is the time to do the water,” he asserted. He urged leaders to act swiftly, suggesting that visible improvements should be evident by late 2025. “If by the fourth quarter of 2025 we don’t see substantive work on the ground, then we’ll have to talk about marching,” he warned.

Despite his criticism, Willock credited the government for securing a $100 million loan to address infrastructural issues. He emphasised that these funds, combined with the 2025 budget, create an opportunity for progress. However, he cautioned against mismanagement, calling for transparency and strategic planning.

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26 Comments

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  1. Hmmm says:

    Are you that dunce, is there one person in the Government? Every department focus on it’s own projects.

    Like 19
    • Busy Bee says:

      @Hmmm…
      Too true! The overwhelming appearance is there is zero inter departmental coordination and communication. It’s every department for itself, and farming out the agencies to become semi-independent statutory bodies, such as Shipping, or Ports, only fragments things worse. Meanwhile each of those statutory bodies is out grubbing for cash, nickel-and-diming wherever they can.
      This governing party has been in office since late February, 2019, doing zero, and their predecessors where only stymied in the corruption by Irma.

    • @Hmmm says:

      He’s not dunce; he thinks most people are

      Like 5
      Dislike 1
  2. Do your job says:

    Fact is COI would never have happened if BVI govts had made a half way reasonable effort of governing instead of plundering the coffers.

    Like 47
  3. Interested says:

    He is being handsomely paid as a consultant I hear,so he is earning his keep

    Like 15
    Dislike 3
  4. Vex says:

    I find the esteemed to be brilliant and very thoughtful he is correct love him or hate him

    Like 1
    Dislike 27
  5. Delusional says:

    person. Definitely not electable.

    Like 14
  6. Oh please!! says:

    The very disturbing part of this article is NOT that the statements are, in fact, UNTRUE (problems were here way before COI), or that the person quoted is sucking up to Premier so he can pave a way for a fresh contract with Government (Coming soon. Watch for it!), but that we are further away from getting anything actually fixed because we point to someone else when it’s time to take responsibility. Notice that none of our Government officials are accepting responsibility for the gross, smelly, disgusting conditions of this place. That’s the real disturbing part!!!

    Like 16
  7. COI says:

    I think we can all accept that the COI was necessary. It cost the UK and the BVI a fortune. If was during your tenure that the commission came in – and you were forceable removed.

    If there were things missed during this period – they are ultimately entirely your fault! Do you not see that?

    Like 13
  8. ASUSUAL says:

    The wigged one just want to be in the spotlight , one way or the other / he got his yello site , but he just cannot resist the urge to come on this site to be seen , incidentally he is always bad mouthing this same site , but keep off it with his racist narratives , what a hypocrite ,

    Like 14
  9. Guest says:

    If not for the COI, those cracks would have widened.

    Like 14
  10. wellsah says:

    this is the same intentional tactic of “dumbing down” to avoid accountability. even a school child knows that if they didn’t turn in assignments, they now need to work twice as hard to complete those missing assignments and keep up with the class work load.

  11. Resident says:

    What did water, sewer, roads, electricity, and schools have to do with the COI?

    Like 10
  12. Idiot says:

    After all that giving away of our social security money you have the nerve to come on here to try to dispute what VIP really did with our money? What are you going to premier’s office to get a contract about?

  13. Hog city says:

    Can’t wait to vote for willock in d3

    Like 1
    Dislike 11
  14. LB says:

    Same government that caused the COI, now wants to use the COI as an excuse for its incompetence! Imagine! I guess we are all just dummies!

  15. Ummm says:

    Why was he asked to leave the public service?

    Like 2
    Dislike 1
  16. @ taxpayer says:

    Why would willock be asked to pay a legal bill when he was operating as speaker? I hope by now the government has settled this bill end of story

    Like 2
    Dislike 7
  17. Hmmmm says:

    You almost slipped through.

  18. WEW says:

    Things have slipped through the cracks, like your buddy CSC

  19. Really says:

    This man is only interested in self promotion. Hopefully he will be a convicted cr***nal soon and that might take the wind out of his sails. A complete waste of space and a complete cr**k who abused his position!!

  20. @Hmmm says:

    These two are too big to fit between the cracks. Ro**en to the core and have no shame in abusing their positions and st***ing tax payers money.

  21. Informed says:

    So Mr Willock your saying that the government is showing poor governance. This was the entire purpose of the COI proving the UK was correct to step in. The country is in dire need of proper professional contractors who know how to build roads. Simple raining is flooding town multiple times a year.
    It’s not going to get any better.

  22. AS I SAID BEFORE says:

    just as his hero , talked too much, he will soon do the same , and like you said ( he is admitting it and still trying to use the COI as a
    scapegoat to making look like its the white slave masters fault ,
    For exposing his
    hero’s rodeo games and the other clandestine corruption that wasdiscover and exposed , he seems to enjoy using his racist lyrics to create distraction & drama plus his overgrown EGO is in the mix / implosion coming next

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