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D4 saga is ‘a pissing contest’ - Elton Callwood

- Says Mark H. Vanterpool's intention was to resign & Court should have honoured that
Social commentator Elton Callwood is calling the entire debacle, between House of Assembly Speaker Julian Willock and Fourth District Representative-Elect Mr Mark H. Vanterpool, a pissing contest, meaning a competition between rivals to determine superiority and predominance. Photo: VINO/File
Mr Callwood said there is a possibility that Mr Vanterpool did not want to readdress the letter to Speaker Willock, hence the change of mind. Photo: VINO/File
Mr Callwood said there is a possibility that Mr Vanterpool did not want to readdress the letter to Speaker Willock, hence the change of mind. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – With the case surrounding House of Assembly (HoA) Speaker Hon Julian Willock Vs Fourth District Representative-Elect Mark H. Vanterpool heading to the Court of Appeal for the final decision, social commentator Elton Callwood is calling the entire debacle a "pissing contest", meaning a competition between rivals to determine superiority and predominance.

Mr Callwood expressed his views on the Thursday, May 16, 2019, edition of ‘Hard Talk’ on Tola Radio VI, where he told Host Julio S. Henry with guests Ramoamasagana Pemberton aka ‘Masa’, that Mr Vanterpool’s intention was to resign, and therefore the court ruling should have honoured his intention.

Vanterpool wanted to resign – Callwood

“I am not going to speak on knowledge of court or legal precedence, whether she [Justice Ann-Marie Smith] had the right or not [to declare Mr Vanterpool be sworn in], I don’t know. What I know, a ruling was made based on an intention, the intention that I see was Hon Vanterpool had no intention of retaining his seat as Representative of the Fourth District when he tendered his resignation

According to Mr Callwood, “It went to court. I feel the question should have been asked, what was your intention when you wrote the letter, and in truthfully he would have had to say to resign.”

The outspoken Mr Callwood further questioned, “What made you change your mind? That’s where the issue is… you said in your press conference, you spoke to the people and you had a change of heart, is it that you had a change of heart or is it that you didn’t want to have to readdress a letter to the Speaker.”

Calling the situation embarrassing, Mr Callwood said there is a possibility that Mr Vanterpool did not want to readdress the letter to Speaker Willock, hence the change of mind.

VI Now a Laughing Stock

“At the end of the day, whatever the personal or petty reasons may be or frivolous in that sense, we are now a laughing stock,” he said.

Even as the At-large Representatives are responsible for all the districts, Mr Callwood said the people of the Fourth District has no representation three months after elections, “that is totally unacceptable,” he said.

“And this from the time it happened, I said to myself, this going to end up at the Privy Council, and I feel it is going to end up at the Privy Council,” he told the listening audience.

“So here we are, boasting internationally about stable governance… when we promote tourism, when we promote financial services and there’s nothing that resembles stability in the action that’s going on now… all to me it is, is a pissing contest,” Mr Callwood said.

12 Responses to “D4 saga is ‘a pissing contest’ - Elton Callwood ”

  • Tax Payer (20/05/2019, 17:46) Like (34) Dislike (5) Reply

    I am sick of both of them and their drama. The premier is soon to be added to the list.

  • Quiet Warrior (20/05/2019, 18:25) Like (11) Dislike (8) Reply
    D4-elect Mark Vanterpool intended to resign some 8 days after being elected; election was held on 2/25 and resignation letter submitted on 3/5. True, the decision should have been decided on intent that was clearly obvious. On another note, despite the D-4 saga, D-4 has representation through the 4 at large reps, Premier and Deputy Premier.
    • @ Quiet Warrior (21/05/2019, 00:05) Like (10) Dislike (9) Reply
      Unfortunately the AG, Governor, and High Court disagrees with the intent argument. By the way please recognize that the speaker too agrees. If he did not he would not have asked for the letter to be perfected in the first place. It was the speakers intent to receive a perfected letter paving the way for him to rejoice but GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY to do so Mark then tossed the now famous curve ball. That's what's hurting but keep on fighting speaker, the government bank accounts good for it.

    • @ Quiet Warrior. Think (21/05/2019, 09:37) Like (2) Dislike (7) Reply
      If The Premier send a letter to Olivine asking her to be Speaker but Olivine is off Island and her son sent the letter back to the Premier Olivine didn't get the letter. Then the Premier changes his mind and choose Willock... So because he intended to give Olivine the Job then changes his mind because olivine never got the letter of intent. Does that means Olivine has the right to be speaker.... The issue is not just intent but the letter never reached to the source or authority it intended or addressed to so that letter is not valid. .I Use Olivine She was my choice for Speaker..Humble. Die hard. Knowledgeable. This issue would have been over in a respectful and professional way and everyone will get along...
  • enough (20/05/2019, 23:18) Like (20) Dislike (8) Reply
    The court spoke - it is now finished. Let Hon. Vanterpool take his seat in HOA this is enough and we the people tire.
  • the end (20/05/2019, 23:54) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    "Mr Callwood said the people of the Fourth District has no representation three months after elections, “that is totally unacceptable,” he said."

    Well since the speaker enjoys accepting unacceptable things why not accept Marks change of mind?

    On another note we know that this case will only end up at privy council if the speaker looses again. Then we know that the matter will revert to HoA if yet again the speaker looses. So, why go around the mulberry bush enriching attorneys ( the only true winners) along the way? REMEMBER the money spending part of this began only after the speaker advised that the matter had to he settled in court and advised the provided Attorney General that he would not require his services in the matter.
  • Jaigon (21/05/2019, 09:10) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Some people sometimes put themselves in the limelight to be seen, heard and want to be important but they sometimes have their secret agenda and skeletons in their closet. This dude received government money years ago to install cabinets/lockers at the ESHS but the cabinets/lockers are yet to be installed. Can he tell the public why and what became of the cabinets/lockers.
  • Backup Squad (21/05/2019, 10:10) Like (7) Dislike (6) Reply
    After 20 years as an elected official and don't know how to resign? Rubbish. We want our 7.2 million, The 41.0 million and the 8.0 million and the constitution loop hole fixed before any swearing in of anyone belonger or else.
  • tretretrete (21/05/2019, 13:14) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    When they appointed Marlon as opposition leader Mr Vanterpool wasn’t please so that was the reason he came out and he resigned
  • wize up (22/05/2019, 01:11) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    only about 10 of 300 voters From that district actually showed up in protest: excepted to have seen far more persons on 17 May Assembled at court house, as a matter of fact there far more police than protesters: the protesters simply vanished within 2 hours: the exercise was a waste of time because the man still was not sworn in: the premier spoke about another sitting in June will the handful show up again and disrupt the flow of traffic because that all they accomplished
  • ccc (22/05/2019, 01:29) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    With mark and Myron gone the country has some hope
  • Sick and tired!! (23/05/2019, 02:31) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    One of things That pisses me off about this entire mess is our young people are watching and reading our interactions. Right now all were’re teaching them is despite a process we as adults can’t come to a sound solution!! This back and forth between so called adults is embarrassing!! #next!!


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