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Resident initiates online petition to remove Speaker

Just days after being sworn in as Speaker of the Fourth House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands, Honourable Julian Willock has found himself on the wrong end of a petition aimed at ousting him from Office. Photo: VINO/File
It is believed however that the petition is being promulgated by sympathizers of Mark H. Vanterpool, who ran and won the Fourth District constituency but subsequently indicated publicly and by way of writing to the Clerk of the HoA, his intention to resign. Photo: VINO/File
It is believed however that the petition is being promulgated by sympathizers of Mark H. Vanterpool, who ran and won the Fourth District constituency but subsequently indicated publicly and by way of writing to the Clerk of the HoA, his intention to resign. Photo: VINO/File
Resident initiates online petition to remove Speaker. Photo: Team of Reporters
Resident initiates online petition to remove Speaker. Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Just days after being sworn in as Speaker of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) of the Virgin Islands (VI), Honourable Julian Willock, has found himself on the wrong end of a petition aimed at ousting him from Office.

The online petition which is being led by an individual identified as Devon Daniels, up to posting time had mustered a meager 49 signatures.

Immediate Effect

The petition purports that Speaker, Hon Willock, “has not only been controversial for the start but has serve (sic) as an embarrassment to democracy and neutrality."

According to Daniels in his petition, the Speaker, Hon Willock, “has demonstrated that he has no impartiality, holds personal grudges and will use his position and power as speaker to exact bias, take revenge and cause confusion.”

Daniels, in his petition, has since called for support to “call on the Governor and the Premier of the British Virgin Islands to revoke his appointment with immediate effect.”

It is unclear what prompted the unprecedented action against the Constitutional Office holder or why the course of action was adopted since the Constitution spells out the process for removal from Office.

Sympathizers

It is believed however that the petition is being promulgated by sympathizers of Mark H. Vanterpool, who ran and won the Fourth District constituency but subsequently indicated publicly and by way of writing to the Clerk of the HoA, his intention to resign.

Hon Willock has since accepted the resignation letter but Governor, His Excellency, Augustus J. U. Jaspert has since declined to call by-elections to identify a replacement since the resignation letter was deemed invalid.

Mr Vanterpool, was supposed to have addressed his letter to the Speaker of the HoA and not the Clerk. Hon Willock has since stood his ground and has called for the matter to be adjudicated in a court of law

20 Responses to “Resident initiates online petition to remove Speaker”

  • Hold strong Willock (29/03/2019, 18:55) Like (91) Dislike (25) Reply
    Take this thing to the courts.
    Mark started this. The man did not even show up to be sworn in. Let the Courts Decide.
    • Well Sah (01/04/2019, 14:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      i hope you remember fahie asking everybody to give willock a other chance but mark change his mind and look how he behaving.
  • fscts (29/03/2019, 18:58) Like (16) Dislike (25) Reply
    Wasting their time
  • this is good (29/03/2019, 19:39) Like (56) Dislike (12) Reply
    We must be getting real old very quickly ,just the other day the former speaker of the house decided without any provocation that the governor who is the queens representative was not allowed to be sworn in her house and he was not sworn in the house of Assembly and those that is challenging Willock did not say a word because it was one of theirs ,well Willock please stand up because you have backers never in the history of our country did we ever experience anything like this and it’s up to you to find out and set the record straight going forward and if they don’t like it let them stay where they are going backwards like the last set but we are going forward ever backwards never and like I said you have backers
    Thank you the people has spoken .
    • wize up (29/03/2019, 20:42) Like (39) Dislike (4) Reply
      @ this is good: I personally have no issue with #4 being sworn in however this is the first time in VI History so a judicial finding or ruling on this matter might be the best way forward in the event such an issue ever arises you can make reference to finding the court....as you noted the former political leadership blatantly refused to swear in the same governor at the house of assembly(it was traditional) very man mouth shut: after the August Flood and the 2017 hurricanes the NDP refused assistance from the United Kingdom: NDP even held a special sitting of the house at save the seed to diminish the powers of the governor so NDP could alter the hours of the curfew that were established by the governor(every man mout shut)...Daniels have a domestic right because this territory abides under a democratic system(but to display such level of stupidity is off the chain) in true democracy the people turns to the court system for clarity on particular issues: for those worried about the court cost(the pier park is out 40 million of your tax money) 10 million in consultant fees: 7.2 million(where are our aeroplanes)..those are factual examples for you to ponder upon(I gone strip club for a few???!
  • wize up (29/03/2019, 19:40) Like (53) Dislike (8) Reply
    Just a question: where was this Daniels Character while the people of this territory tax money was being mismanaged: for eight mucking year not one peep from mr Daniels....mr daniels you sound like a puppet(which ndp afflilate pulling your string)....brother Daniels you could be never be fully functional: where were you while the National Democratic Party was going with your tax money,not one word from you to remove them from their political office....try relax yourself
  • sally (29/03/2019, 20:34) Like (23) Dislike (9) Reply
    The Speaker back is against the wall. Let the court decide, the cost would be much less now than 5-10 years from now.
  • Really Really (29/03/2019, 21:56) Like (17) Dislike (19) Reply
    It seems to little old me that this is a colossal waste of time and resources. The resignation of Hon. Vanterpool was not valid. The Speaker has been advised of this by many I am sure. So why go to the courts to hear it again? Can't the Premier put on his big boy pull ups or something and call off this id--- who is going to cost us money that the Hon. Premier says he has not found as yet? The Bible says there is a time and a place for everything under the sun. The time is ripe for this new Government to focus on the job at hand, building back the country one brick at a time, rescuing civil servants from the hardships under which they are working in their damaged and limited work environment, rebuilding our roads. With so much to do, we cannot afford this particular fight to the courts up to Privy Council when it is trivial and stupid. I agree that a grown a-- man like Hon. Vanterpool should know by now, at his age, what he wants and this flip flopping is quite unbecoming, but this is just in an effort to punish him. He has a right to change his mind. It is a right that all of us have. This foolishness being played out will certainly assist voters, along with the other foolishness to come, it seems, since the crap started so early, to change their minds about having voted in this new Government. People need representation. Like it or not the people of the Fourth District voted for Hon. Vanterpool in a high margin of victory. Mr. Speaker and Hon. Premier, get over it and get pass this nonsense. Get to work! No time for little boys playing marbles now. You are in the big leagues. You applied for this position and was voted in by the majority. It boggles the mind sometimes the decisions we make and singing their is no money. Rebuild the High School with the money you will spend on this foolishness.
  • Charley Rose (29/03/2019, 23:53) Like (39) Dislike (12) Reply
    I am not a fan of the Hon Speaker, however, I must say that he has a valid point in his argument. We are beating ourselves To be naïve and loose focus in the argument will be a travesty. Had Hon Vanterpool expressed his desire to resign with his colleagues they would have advised on the appropriate action to be taken. I want to support the Speaker's view and let the court decides the outcome of matter.
  • bvi (30/03/2019, 00:14) Like (37) Dislike (21) Reply
    We the people are with the esteemed speaker
  • sign me up (30/03/2019, 03:29) Like (27) Dislike (23) Reply
    Where do you find this petition on line?
  • Ques (30/03/2019, 11:12) Like (8) Dislike (22) Reply
    Wil lock is a Virginisander. Do not mess with our people who belong to this soil.
    • So VIslander .... (30/03/2019, 13:04) Like (19) Dislike (9) Reply
      Interesting that this Virgin Islander should turn to the courts to guide him in his quandary. As this was the same Virgin Islander when the court summons him to answer a case against him, he did not show up (several times this Virgin Islander did not show up)

  • devon (30/03/2019, 12:11) Like (14) Dislike (13) Reply
    https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/revoke-appointment-of-julian-willock-as-speaker.html
  • 411 (30/03/2019, 12:30) Like (26) Dislike (11) Reply
    Let Mark cart he ass. He come wild he big announcement bout he resigning for personal reasons. Well he either was lying or the reasons not personal again. He had an agenda from the get go. Shows he very unstable. So the people was important, then they not that important again, now they important to u again??? Scatter your @$$. We the people of D4 don’t want you, note the people of this country. U wanted to go, days right after all the pomp and circumstances of the election, just go. PLEASE GO! WE DO NOT WANT YOU.
  • Eagle Eye (30/03/2019, 12:52) Like (11) Dislike (8) Reply
    Agree it should go to court under one condition.if willfrock wins El Marko must resign likewise if El Marko wins Willfrock resigns,simple.
  • Chairman (31/03/2019, 09:26) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    it hurting the former chairman seeing the sea cows bay man up in the house of assembly: this whole petition thing sounds like a con-plan(will this Daniels person standup and be fully recognized by the people of the territory or continue to hide like a jive turkey) don’t get upset with me just my personal opinion:
  • The Reaper (31/03/2019, 10:16) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    All of you no better. So call born here Thank god Expats came to over shore. family make children with they own family. Disgusting!!!!!!! Don’t let me drop the soap. Mr Hon Mark has done nothing wrong. The big thing is. when England say The same sex marriage , Have to pass I hope he kick up A was Storm like..We are not Independent country ..Play with England u all see what happening......Sam talking but he is a D from America ..Wait Willock. The Quiet Storm Is Coming


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