Willock complains to UK’s OT Minister about COI commissioner
Speaker of the House of Assembly (HOA), Julian Willock has made a formal complaint to the UK Minister responsible for Overseas Territories, Dominic Raab, about the way Sir Gary Hickinbottom is conducting the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (COI).
In his letter dated July 8, Willock said he wanted to alert Raab on what he believes are serious concerns about the COI’s operations.
The Speaker told the Secretary of State that when he appeared before the COI, Hickenbottom’s approach to him as head of the HOA was extremely condescending and tantamount to ‘bullying’.
He also said the commissioner, as a visitor to the territory, has displayed a patronising attitude over elected members of the House of Assembly and others who came before the commission.
Commissioner accused of sexism
The speaker referred to Sir Gary’s treatment towards Complaints Commissioner, Erica Smith Penn whom Willock said was almost chased out of the room and denied the opportunity to raise concerns about the commission’s independence on behalf of the people of the BVI.
The Speaker told Raab in his three-page letter that Hickenbottom interrupted her at every turn with cross-talking. This, he said, contravenes the very rules of COI hearings. Willock further claimed that many people have labelled Sir Gary’s attitude towards Smith-Penn as sexist. He did not substantiate this accusation.
Willock also referred to the commissioner’s treatment Sara-Jane Knock — one of the attorneys representing the government in the COI. According to Willock, Sir Gary showed a lack of respect for women.
Concerns of alleged impropriety
The Speaker also informed the Secretary of State about the a concern raised about why did Hickenbottom arrived in the BVI on the same flight with former governor, Augustus Jaspert who organised the COI. Willock further claimed that the commissioner has allegedly been seen meeting with the current governor, John Rankin.
Considering those concerns, Willock invited Raab to provide him with evidence that the BVI truly has an independent COI.
Willock also spoke of Hickinbottom’s insistence that he (Willock) breached the Register of Interests Act, even though he submitted so-called ‘additional evidence’ to prove otherwise.
The outspoken Speaker wrote that when he appeared before the COI on June 18, Sir Gary had given his Attorney Richard Rowe a bundle with missing documents. Willock further claimed that when he raised this matter with the COI, the commissioner showed little respect and simply said ‘some mistakes are more important than others’.
According to Willock, this speaks volumes about the fairness, transparency, and integrity of the COI and against Hickenbottom’s own moral principles.
Willock’s letter was copied to the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle; Governor John Rankin; Premier Andrew Fahie; Deputy Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley; Leader of the Opposition Marlon Penn; Attorney General Dawn Smith; Complaints Commissioner Erica Smith-Penn; and the Secretary-General of CARICOM, Irwin LaRocque.
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Premier – if you want my vote, please disassociate yourself from this person.
In fact if the premier gets rid of the esteemed that is the end of the vip
Please support Hon Willock the coi has a case to answer and Willock is on point
Well Mr Wiglook may well have a case to answer. Today’s COI was a lawyer briefing on how the “ criticisms “ , in normal language that is the accusations and allegations will be handled. And how the criminal investigations will be handles.
No more Mr Nice Guy Rawat.
Get the popcorn ready ( and some nice warm cells at Balo )
He cannot disassociate himself because he encourages Willock’s behavior. Are some of us really that blind? If the Premier was not encouraging this behavior do you think he would have made this man speaker and kept him on after he embarrassed this country over and over again? Think about it? The premier owes him for using his new site to spread lies on the NDP and is now afraid that willock will use that same site against him if he fires him. It is not that difficult to see this.
this lie is not going to work. Mr. Willock is speaker because he made us all proud and continues to do a good job.
You fools going eat rocks when the esteemed is speaker for another 4 years come next election.
Get use to Mr. Speaker Hon Julian Willock oh I love it!!!
Evening Julian, nice to see you here.
We stand firmly behind the Speaker we need 10 more like him
@Ann… That’s all we need, 10 more like the self-esteemed one ripping us off.
lol same situation he in with the controversial pastor.
The man is complaining to Raab who sent Lord Gary to sort out and clean up the criminal mess. Blonde Bab***n needs to go sit in his corner and wait for *** criminal trial to begin.
KEEP PUSHING HON WILLOCK THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WITH YOU, BUT WE DO NOT BLOG
THE UK AND THE COI IS BAD NEWS THANK GOD YOU GOT SKILLS TO SPEAK FOR WE
“WE can’t continue our corrupt ways”
“COI refused to meet at MY OFFICE”
“My wig is too tight”
“My robe is too slack, it needs to fit like a nice tight …”
This dude is an chip off of trump block what an dis***ting individual
Pot calling the kettle black
I am certain Mr Raab will give Mr Wiglooks letter the time and consideration it deserves.
@ Rubber Duck
Throw it in the trash where it belongs. Lmao.
Mhenn Why these people don’t stop embarrassing us. What sexism!? what bullying!? and you was in fact in breach yuh ms! Nobody vote for this man and he going on with the most.
Did you lack love and attention in your childhood days? Impossible for one person to seek this much attention from people who could care less. Willock the hearing was live streamed, we all saw that you were the one rude and disrespectful. Why don’t you do something more meaningful with your time instead of wasting our already limited resources writing these stupid letters. The COI is here and none of your smoke and mirrors will change its course.
You liked to say Jaspert was an unelected governor, listen…you are an unelected speaker. Go take a seat. Andrew will pay dearly at the poles for his decision to appoint you. Rmemeber I said so
He never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
All fluff & bluster
I think their wig is too tight.
Willock you got b**ls we with you 100%
Are u Sure he got b***s, i heard he has the other thing.
Meow.
We with Julian on this yall
He feels that he wasnt treated fairly as he wears a long robs and curly wig? Good job he only wears li****ck at the weekends
Agree!
Anyone else just h*** his face… Along with his p***ous attitude. How far do you think that political stick is s**ved up his a**?
Why this self important baf*** don’t go hide himself somewhere. I am sick and tired of him trying to make himself more important than he is. What is wrong this man? Something is dreadfully wrong.
It is coming to theatre near you, stay tuned.
This individual is NOT even an Elected Official but yet he acting like he has the Power to represent the Government. Mehson sit down and hush yuh pa***t hole. Stop making the Government look like it’s being run by fools for which they are not. Tired of ignorant and arrogant m**es like him.
Out of line. The premier should be communicating with the UK not the speaker.
Womp Womp Womp Womp Woooooomp.
Respectfully.
DID HE ALSO MAKE IT KNOWN THAT IT WAS HIS NEWS SITE THAT ALLEGEDLY PRINT THE LEAK DOCU….
Ok Mr.Bossman, you had your time to be queried and to respond – you did. Give it up now boss allow the light to shine on others for a moment – Eat some humility pie…..
And by the way, that robe is not meant to be worn as an everyday garmen when not on in-house business. Please have a seat.
letter is on point we all know the COI is like fake news
I found that Sarah Knock lady to be very disrespectful as I listened to it live. She should be the one we complain about. As a woman she made us look bad. She was emotional and full of theatrics. Hardly the professional I expected her to be in representing the people of the VI. The AG would have never been so thrashy and tacky in her arguments. I’m thinking we are wasting $5 million if this is who is representing us.
The speaker need to shut it.
Julian Willock, Thinks because he wears a white wig that he is above everyone else and we all must bow to him. Doesn’t he know that Dominic Raba is keeping a close eye on what’s going, I think that the COI is the best thing for the BVI, I also think Sir Gary Hickinbottom and his lawyer are doing a fine job. One last thing Willock said that he copied the letter to the Secretary-General of CARICOM, Irwin LaRocque, that reminds me of the time when Andrew Fahie complained the UK to the UN, Are these guys out of their minds,this is UK business and there is nothing wrong going on here, so Julian Willock suck it up no one can help you if CARICOM give you some hope I am sorry for you.
A lot of people expressed concern about this man when he was appointed Speaker of the HOA, Andrew Fahie chose to ignore these concerns. Fahie must now pay for his friends ign****ce and ar****nce
the same three a** blogging against willock will not fly.
The fact is Julian Willock speaks for so many of us he is always the man with a plan.
Foy made the best choice he is the best speaker we have had in a long time. God bless or esteemed speaker
You think its only 3 people who are blogging against willock?!! Threeeeee????.. What about the likes and dislikes on your comment…. They have many phones between them huh?… The man is a li9$+|(k wearing h$g… Complains about the Uk then complains to them hehe…They need to respond and say All the elected officials havent complained but you who claim to run the house who was appointed by an official seems to want more respect than them it seems… I’ll tell you what we will donate a better w%9 to you and hopefully that should be okay until we are ready to deal with you.
Fahie – you either agree with him or you fire him. Make a decision. He is embarrassing us all and you would do well to show that he does not speak for the Territory but gagging him, At the moment he is making you and us look bad. It’s ridiculous how ridiculous this person is.
Are u Sure he got b***s, i heard he has the other thing.
You poor little lamb. Did the nasty man bully you? Did he make you cry a little bit? Did you do a little do do? Have a nice biscuit and you will feel a little better you prat. Let the big boys do their thing and don’t upset yourself with things you don’t understand.
KNEW WHO THIS WHATEVER IS AND STILL PROVIDED A PLATFORM AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR TAXPAYERS $$$$ TO EXPRESS SPOILED CHILDISHNESS, * HE EVEN HAD TO STEP IN / WITH THAT SENERIO WITH VANTERPOOL ( LOOK WHAT WENT DOWN WITH THE 3RD DISTRICT SHOWDOWN ( SNAKE IN THE GRASS
All Dominic Raab has to do is watch and listen to the video of Willock’s COI appearance, self inflicted injury.
Jealousy is a bitch they all want to sit were willock is set of white people
Thou doth protest too much.
Just wondering how the full of steamed one, can produce all these documents and send them to so many outlets. But they cannot copy for the COI of which they already agreed to. 5ml will turn to 10ml and in the crapper it goes!
“Big” so called competent law firms that cannot make copies to prove their clients innocence. But can make infinite copies to make a moot point.
Smfh
THE LORD SEES AND KNOWS EVERYTHING / DIDN’T YOU KNOW THAT ( OR ITS JUST YOU SELF PRAISING YOURSELF ) AS USUAL,,?
The Speaker, in his quest to make himself appear important is making himself look so stupid. Does he thinks that by writing a letter he is intimidating anyone? I am certain that Raab just laughing at him, after calling Hickinbottom and Rawat about the same letter. This letter confirms how disconnected he is from the reality, poor ting, he nor the rest of them understand whose court they on. The thing is that they are always wining and complaining, I thought that they were bad, and if Hickinbottom is a visitor, the Speaker with all his “power” and badness should have been able to put him out.
I am sure that just out of curtesy the only reply he got was, “Received with thanks” he aint getting another acknowledgement.
Thanks, I’m sure Raab needed a good laugh.
We the people of the bvi strongly support our speaker and encourage him to keep the fight up we got you Mr. WILLOCK WE DO
YOU WILL HAVE THE LAST LAUGH AS ALWAYS THE COI HAS THREE LAWYERS BREAKING THE LAW WHO IS INVESTIGATING THAT!?
What you see here with the comments and thumbs up/down feature from the organized white expat group are pure hatreds for that Black man, plain and simple. Watch them place a hundred thumbs down on this. Oh no, we love Willock, we have Black friends@ Yeah right.
@Anonymous, let me fix your comment for you:
What you see here with the comments and thumbs up/down feature from the organized thieves who have been robbing this country blind and are now provoking racial tension as a distraction away from their corruption, plain and simple. Watch them place a hundred thumbs down on this. Oh no, we love corruption, we’re on the gravy train and we dont mind stealing from our Black friends and keeping them impoverished.
It seems that Willock and Fraser have many pseudonyms…
WE HAVE A HERO IN THE MAKING ( SOMETHING LIKE A ( NOEL LLYOD ) TYPE FIGURE , SO I GUESS HE PREPARING FOR HIS JOURNEY INTO THE BVI HISTORY BOOKS / HIS OWN PARK AND STATURE OF HIMSELF , SO LEAVE THE ESTEEMED ALONE
Ha ha haw… Hahaha haha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Haha ha ha ha ha ha!
Julian Willock is one of we a son of the soil we love him and very happy with his speakership bam bam bam
If the FCO is fair they will take up this letter as thoes were my thoughts
Good thing the COI is live and recorded for the public. Had it not been the case, I would have not known better and believed this man for what he was saying. He always got to make himself a papisho.
@ PERHAPS,WE’LL PUT THE PARK IN YOUR FRONT YARD.
Where to go from here with this?
Maybe I just hang my head in shame…
All of this much ado about nothing, over the fact that you were in breach and you do not wish to be told so? Why? You are above the law? the BVI laws? The same ones you say you are in the house to uphold? To restore honor too? Those laws?
Go have several seats with your ridiculous pompous behavior! You set the tone for your hearing before you actually took the seat!
Ms. Smith Penn, was told on several occasions during her run on speeches that it was not the time or the forum for it and that an avenue for her to air those concerns was provided for her to utilize. What was it about this that was hard to understand?
All of your concerns and hers and Ms. Knocks, could have been heard ad nauseum, but you guys thought you had a platform to act like spoil brats and so you took it.
After hearing about Ms. knocks I went to listen to her and understood that she thought she could direct the course of matters and was summarily dressed down for her attempt, which was good for her because she asked for it! And lead herself to her own dressing down to boot!
Why can’t the AG produce the report on the leaked document, if per her testimony, they have such an excellent tracking system of who handled the documents and when, therefore leading one to the obvious conclusion that you have identified the guilty party, but you are withholding the information because it is one of them!
Talk that and take several seats.