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Speaker Willock’s legal costs have not reached $7.2M! - Premier Fahie

- said Hon Willock was forced to seek independent legal representation since AG had already given legal advice to Hon Vanterpool
The Leader of Government Business Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has said the Speaker of the House of Assembly (HoA) Hon Julian Willock, right, was forced to seek independent legal representation since the Attorney General had already given legal advice to Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), right. Photo: VINO/File
Attorney General Baba F. Aziz was himself sued as an independent party in the case between Mark Vanterpool vs Speaker of the House of Assembly’. Photo: GIS/File
Attorney General Baba F. Aziz was himself sued as an independent party in the case between Mark Vanterpool vs Speaker of the House of Assembly’. Photo: GIS/File
Although presented with an opportunity to withhold information regarding who was footing the bill for the Speaker of the House of Assembly (HoA) Hon Julian Willock for his court battles with Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) over the latter’s resignation as an elected representative and then changing his mind and requesting to be sworn in to the HoA, Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), in photo, opted to divulge the requested information to the public during the Sixth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands on July 31, 2019 . Photo: VINO/File
Although presented with an opportunity to withhold information regarding who was footing the bill for the Speaker of the House of Assembly (HoA) Hon Julian Willock for his court battles with Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) over the latter’s resignation as an elected representative and then changing his mind and requesting to be sworn in to the HoA, Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), in photo, opted to divulge the requested information to the public during the Sixth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands on July 31, 2019 . Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Although presented with an opportunity to withhold information regarding who was footing the bill for the Speaker of the House of Assembly (HoA) Hon Julian Willock for his court battles with Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) over the latter’s resignation as an elected representative and then changing his mind and requesting to be sworn in to the HoA, Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) opted to divulge the requested information to the public.

Speaker was forced to take independent counsel

Premier Fahie, in responding to a question on the matter by Leader of the Opposition, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) during the Sixth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands on July 31, 2019, said the legal fees for the case between ‘Mark Vanterpool versus the Speaker of the House and the Attorney General, Interested Party’, is being paid by the Government of the Virgin Islands.

The Leader of Government Business explained; however, that the Speaker was forced to seek independent legal representation since the Attorney General had already given legal advice to Hon Vanterpool.

The Premier also reminded it is a matter of public record that Hon Vanterpool submitted a letter of resignation to the Clerk of the House dated March 5, 2019 and that he then issued a statement on his personal Facebook page apologising to his constituents and committee members and followed up with a video blog explaining he had resigned due to personal reasons.

Unprecedented unconstitutional crisis

Hon Fahie reasoned that with Mr Vanterpool subsequently changed his position and asked that he be sworn in as a Member of the House.

“This created an unprecedented unconstitutional crisis as the Speaker had already accepted his resignation. Mr Vanterpool filed two claims against the Speaker with the Attorney General as an Interested Party. Unfortunately the Attorney General could not represent the Speaker because he had given certain advice to Mr Vanterpool.”

Furthermore, Hon Fahie said the Attorney General was himself sued as an independent party in the case.

“The Speaker was then compelled to seek independent legal representation to avoid any conflict of interest and ethical issues that could arise.”

Further, Hon Fahie said the novelty and complexity of the issues raised justified the retention of an independent council for the Honourable Speaker “as we were in unchartered constitutional waters.”

“The matter was of immense importance to our constitutional democracy and Mr Vanterpool had retained distinguish British Queen’s Counsel to advocate his case. It was therefore appropriate for the Speaker to be represented by Senior Counsel.”

The HoA was also told that Mr Vanterpool’s first case for judicial review was dismissed by the High Court on April 13, 2019 with no orders as to cost but his second claim was allowed; however, the court is yet to rule on the question of legal costs.

Speaker’s legal fees nowhere close to $7.2M

At this point, Hon Fraser interjected on a ‘Point of Information’ that with the issue of the court yet to decide on legal fees it was inappropriate for the question of costs to be addressed in the HoA.”

Before Deputy Speaker Hon Neville A. Smith (AL) could have given his decision, Hon Fahie responded, “Mr Speaker, the member is correct but I am not going with this no further. I will tell the people what happened, how it happened and where, when and who and how much.”

He then disclosed that the legal fees incurred to date is $270,526.90 of which $130,525.20 has already been paid. “Because as the Member rightfully stated, the matter is still in court but there are certain fees that will be paid straight up.”

Hon Penn then suggested that the cost against the Government could reach close to half a million dollars.

“So you are saying Premier that [with] the issue of costs still in the courts essentially [the] cost could go up to an additional $120,000 based on my understanding of what Hon Vanterpool paid for his legal case if he is awarded costs. So that is about $490, 000, close to half a million dollars to the people,” Hon Penn opined.

Premier Fahie whipped back: “No, it wouldn’t be as much as the $7.2M for the plane that we haven’t found yet,” referring to the collapsed deal between the previous National Democratic Party (NDP) Administration and BVI Airways that cost tax payers some $7.2M and no direct flights to the VI from the mainland, USA as was promised to the people.

Hon Fahie reiterated that there was an incurred cost to Government because there was a conflict between the Attorney General and the Speaker.

“If there was no conflict then there would have been no bill here as the Attorney General would have been representing the Speaker, but since there was a conflict the Speaker had to get independent legal attorney…which has cost the tax payers some money.”

Regarding the total legal fees to be paid by Government, Hon Fahie said, “Whether it would be more or not I don’t want to pre-empt the courts.”

“So the amount we have is $270,526.90, not no half a million, and the amount paid is $130,525.20, whether it would go down or whether it would go up, whether it would stay the same I cannot tell this Honourable House now…but what information I have now I have provided,” Premier Fahie stated.

15 Responses to “Speaker Willock’s legal costs have not reached $7.2M! - Premier Fahie”

  • foxy (01/08/2019, 19:26) Like (15) Dislike (10) Reply
    VIP all the way
  • Holly (01/08/2019, 20:49) Like (18) Dislike (13) Reply
    Whateva! All of you guys are the same.
    • Outspoken (01/08/2019, 23:28) Like (14) Dislike (8) Reply

      @ Holly, at least the VIP is showing some level of transparency in comparison to the NDP who was lacking in that regard. The former Premier bows out of politics and up to now he has not give account to the people of this territory how our $7.2 million disappeared except to say it’s an investment gone bad. This matter should not be put to rest until we get answers. Over $40 million overspent down on the pier park, but up to now no one can explain what it was over spent on. School children says a former Minister and his then PS had companies in disguise that were benefiting from contracts. Ask the ugly man from Water & Sewage who was laying those pipes down Fort Burt.

    • wize up (01/08/2019, 23:29) Like (20) Dislike (3) Reply
      @ holly: best comment ever and 1000000% on point(every last one of them)...let dem talk dat
    • @ holly (02/08/2019, 15:11) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
      Not at all vip not thieving like ndp was
  • Lord o (02/08/2019, 06:56) Like (5) Dislike (9) Reply
    Seems like Andrew is the only one with Wisdom. Calm and common sense. Bringing this stupid ego battle to an end and save tax payers money was the right thing to do. I applauded Andrew... It was in the lawyers interest to keep it going. Its like a big pay day for them lawyers
  • Voters (02/08/2019, 07:27) Like (10) Dislike (10) Reply
    We SUPPORT the esteemed speaker bottom line
  • @outspoken (02/08/2019, 08:09) Like (20) Dislike (6) Reply
    O please why can’t we move on. Every news is about NDP my God, if they were so bad no one would remember them. Transparency my foot we will soon see the real VIP it’s very early and I don’t see what the good they doing and trust me they have no plans to move ahead just bashing and bashing, move on and get the country going
    • @@outspoken (02/08/2019, 10:04) Like (19) Dislike (4) Reply
      I so agree with you. It seems that the VIP only interested in doing exactly what the NDP once it is kept under $7.2 million. I saw that $7.2 million as unfortunately a deal that went bad. The reporting of the issue and the contractual obligations were not solidified. It cost the public purse a whole lot of money. But for this new Premier who campaigned on that, where a group of white men scammed us for over $7 million, every single day for months, reciting it over and over to now be justifying his how should I put it less than honest cronyism and overspending is totally surprising. The lawyer fees are overly exorbitant period. No justification for that since the AG, who was not Hon. Vanterpool's adviser, was available and gave sound advice. Wonder what the hourly rates were for these lawyers. We are in for a rough ride these four years. Transparency has now been made into an ugly word because wrong is now justified once "transparency" is shown. Well I never wore rose coloured glasses, I always saw this lot for what they are. I can do what I want and it is called Transparency, but when others do it, they are being corrupt. God do not sleep.
    • @ Outspoken (03/08/2019, 12:17) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      No money to move on NDP crooks steal all
  • foxy (02/08/2019, 15:12) Like (4) Dislike (8) Reply
    That money for legal fees is peanuts compared to what went missing in the last 8 years
    • @foxy (02/08/2019, 17:21) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
      Well seeing that we are only 5 months in, the speed they are on the NDP's record won't stand long. They will take it to a new high. And you know what, while terrible thieving white men ran away with the $7.2 million and the NDP's intentions were Honourable, our own local politicians and their friends and family are taking us out in a transparent, dishonourable way. It is okay for them to give themselves huge contracts. That is transparency. Hon. Walwyn sold a plate of food to 13 politicians when House is sitting, that is Corrupt. Hon. Malone can be the happy recipient of contracts even from his own Ministry to his company, but that is transparent, because he brought it to the house and told us about it. I remember the buzz words from the elections very well, and one was "Only the NDP and their family and friends are eating and doing well." Well, I guess life truly is a cycle because the VIP Ministers, family and friends are having steak every night, but that is just transparency. In this little country we better call a spade a spade so that we can sleep at nights comfortably in our beds. We cannot all afford security or put security on the Government tab. Example set, example follow. The young people are watching and by the grace of the God in whom I trust I hope they are learning nothing from these examples.
  • wize up (02/08/2019, 17:06) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    I am stunned when some among us gets somewhat upset when the matter of missing money under the former government comes up: the concerns about missing money in our country under the N.D.P is not any propaganda: why some of you want this conduct remove from the books: I say to those with valid concerns continue to talk the ting: in private sector businesses such level of Financial unaccountability usually finds CEOs off to jail however politically speaking missing money is a good thing....
  • wow (02/08/2019, 23:08) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    I wish that our duly elected representatives (on both sides of the House) would stop playing tut for tat and reacting like little children. They need to stop “throwing words” and behave like adults who, as they would have us believe, have the best interests of this territory and all of its people (not NDP only, not VIP only) at heart.
    • wize up (03/08/2019, 09:16) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ SMH: the day your wish comes true the world might come to an end!!! but from your lips to God’s ears.....


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