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Vanterpool resignation invalid, No By-election – Gov Jaspert

Governor of the Virgin Islands, His Excellency Mr Augustus J.U Jaspert in a release today announced that following legal advice, the resignation tendered by District 4 representative, Mark H. Vanterpool is invalid and there is no need to call a by-election. Photo: VINO/File
“I am aware of the Honourable Speaker's [Julian Willock] latest statement relating to representation in the Fourth District. This rightly recognises that I value democracy tremendously and the role it plays in good governance and improving the lives of the people of the Virgin Islands,” the Governor said in a release sent out today, March 25, 2019, via the Government Information Service (GIS). Photo: VINO/File
“I am aware of the Honourable Speaker's [Julian Willock] latest statement relating to representation in the Fourth District. This rightly recognises that I value democracy tremendously and the role it plays in good governance and improving the lives of the people of the Virgin Islands,” the Governor said in a release sent out today, March 25, 2019, via the Government Information Service (GIS). Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Governor of the Virgin Islands (VI), His Excellency Mr Augustus J.U Jaspert in a release today announced that following legal advice, the resignation tendered by District 4 Representative, Mark H. Vanterpool is invalid and there is no need to call a By-election.

I Value Democracy – Gov Jaspert  

“I am aware of the Honourable Speaker's [Hon Julian Willock] latest statement relating to representation in the Fourth District. This rightly recognises that I value democracy tremendously and the role it plays in good governance and improving the lives of the people of the Virgin Islands,” the Governor said in a release sent out today, March 26, 2019, via the Government Information Service (GIS).

He continued, “I have received correspondence from the Honourable Speaker that sets out his views on whether the seat is vacant.  I am also aware that the question of whether the Fourth District seat is vacant is being contested by the Member-Elect of that district.”

The governor noted that with all matters, he will remain neutral and impartial and will be guided by the Constitution and the appropriate legal framework. 

Legal Advice

Yesterday, March 25, 2019, the Speaker, Hon Willock issued a statement noting that formal correspondence has been sent to the Governor twice and that he is awaiting a date for the By-election.

“I have received legal advice that has been copied to the Honourable Speaker, advising that the resignation of the Member-Elect was invalid on the basis that the Member-Elect has no constitutional right to resign prior to being sworn in. Therefore, at this point, I do not intend to issue a writ for a by-election,”  the Governor noted.

The Governor further said that the swearing in of the Member-Elect, Hon Vanterpool is a matter for the House of Assembly (HoA) to determine, "having regard to the will of the electors in the Constituency".

22 Responses to “Vanterpool resignation invalid, No By-election – Gov Jaspert ”

  • ccc (26/03/2019, 18:23) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    well sah get out the pop corn
    • Hold strong Willock (27/03/2019, 00:10) Like (51) Dislike (31) Reply
      Mark made a public resignation. No one forced him. If he is serious about being a representative of the people let him present himself in a by-election. He is erratic and will not last out the four years. We deserve better.
    • 4th district (27/03/2019, 15:43) Like (3) Dislike (7) Reply
      Willock stop actong like a damn child, lets movr the hell on, wha happen, your fraid Hon Vanterpool!
  • okay (26/03/2019, 18:25) Like (81) Dislike (63) Reply

    This is good news because Willock ia being childish.

  • lol (26/03/2019, 18:25) Like (44) Dislike (37) Reply

    Take that. 

  • wize up (26/03/2019, 18:28) Like (27) Dislike (15) Reply
    look story: in 2019 and we as an aspiring territory still resorting to His Exlency the Governor to mend fences: I recall the days when you saw and hear the Governor only during the Queen’s Birthday Celebration when he came out dressed in all white to inspect the guard of honour...how sweet it tiz!!!!!
  • Local (26/03/2019, 18:48) Like (61) Dislike (38) Reply
    Willcok, please remember your pledge to be fair and transparent. You hold an extremely important position in the house which can pave the way to determine a transparent and fair government, please do the people’s job and show the doubters you can be a great speaker. Do not let down the vip and the people.
  • ABC (26/03/2019, 21:33) Like (34) Dislike (40) Reply
    Hold your ground jw
  • My Take (26/03/2019, 21:34) Like (27) Dislike (3) Reply

    “No More Status Quo!”- The status quo has failed us. Today we have an “Unconventional Government” with “BUSINESS UNUSUAL.”

    I have listened and observed- I am in agreement with the in-depth perspectives of Mr. Doug Wheatley and Mr. Claude Skelton-Cline.

    Allow the “Proper Democratic Process” to work correctly, the way it was intended to work, without the usual few selected influencers of the past.

    Change for future prosperity is incomplete unless it passes through the crucibles of struggle and experience.

    Better days to come for eventual future generations toward self-determination.

    And for those who think, bloggers with interruptive perspectives to the status-quo should not contribute. We love you to, because we know the worst kind of human beings are those who do not know themselves and their innate capabilities to determine their destiny. LOVE OVA EVIL EVERYDAY.
  • Wendy (26/03/2019, 21:34) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
    "The swearing in of the member elect,is a matter for HOA to determine"...Having regard for the will of the electors,,,..'
    In other words,you cannot get a divorce if you d id not exchange marriage vows.
    • Oh please... (27/03/2019, 16:44) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      If you announce that you are leaving the relationship. You are not entitled to beg your way back in. Especially after you made a public spectacle of it. Its called dodging a bullet.
  • trrefdrfds (26/03/2019, 21:41) Like (8) Dislike (18) Reply
    How many times you have to write a letter to resign? If he was a Virginislander everyone would have been at his throat. How long are we going to allow persons to come here and disrespect us.? Time for Virginislanders to speak up and say we have had enough? That is why we must make sure that in updating our constitution we get in Only Virginislanders can run for elected office. Now the governor must seek advice from UK.
  • Shock Wave (26/03/2019, 22:18) Like (21) Dislike (10) Reply
    All through the Campaign Trail Hon. Mark was telling his opponents "Go Siddung" Now look how Hon. Mark Siddung on he own now He Bawling to Siddup Again. HON. MARK VANTERPOOL BOY GO SIDDUNG
  • wize up (26/03/2019, 22:24) Like (18) Dislike (2) Reply
    just a small side-bar: will the governor call an investigation in the pier park because the governor not calling a by-election....it is amazing the governor going after 0ne Millions dollars: whereas there is serious discrepancies surrounding the pier park to the tune of 40 million dollars...it pays to be family to the right people(40 millions dollars is by far more money than 1 million)...the more you live, the more you learn
  • we the people (27/03/2019, 04:49) Like (27) Dislike (33) Reply
    The governor out of place!
    • @We the People (27/03/2019, 07:24) Like (20) Dislike (16) Reply
      In what way? All he has stated is what the books say. The Governor does not subscribe to opinion, he subscribes to the facts. If he begins to support any one side of the debate then we have lost the neutrality of the crown representative here and we would be in bigger trouble. The facts state that his resignation was not valid. If the speaker is still of the opinion that MV shouldn’t hold office for obvious reasons, it is up to MV, the other members of the house and the speaker to hash out their differences and come to a decision. Go to the table like adults and discuss the grievances.
  • Real Talk (27/03/2019, 06:18) Like (22) Dislike (18) Reply
    Please get over you all selves what the fear his government in. Just get on with the country business and swear the man in.

    We have bigger issues to deal with on how this government plan to run the country forward.


  • bvi (27/03/2019, 07:23) Like (20) Dislike (14) Reply
    What kind of advice is being given that substitutes for logic?
    He won a competition for a prize
    Elections office declarers the results official
    Before receiving the prize he says I don want it, essentially opposing and denouncing the election office decision
    Talks begin about staging another competition for the prize
    The denouncer then says I want the prize
    Governor is advised to prepare to give the prize, stopping plans to remedy the denounciation
    What kind of precedent is being set here? Even though in the alternate, if the resignation was ineffective there should be a harsh penalty for not reporting to be sworn in with the opposition. After all if one doesn't show up for a new job there is an implied rejection.
    It follows then that
    Every person who rejects OBE MBE and other empire designations can in retrospect say they will take it
    People who didn't spend all their scholarship monies should go back demand the balance
    And of course all who didn't show up for new jobs should appear at any undisclosed later time to claim their prize

    Mr governor the AG and any lawyer is simply an advisor never a substitute for a fair judicial process. The speaker should hold ground then let the matter end up going for judicial review.

  • talk (27/03/2019, 09:01) Like (7) Dislike (8) Reply
    Through all this an important point that the Speaker is not being honest. He himself wrote to Hon. Vanterpool saying that he accepts his letter however he need to do a next letter addressed to the Speaker.

    So let him go ahead and listen to Claude but Judicial review that alone will hang himself. The courts will see that he do agree with what the constitution says how the letter must be addressed.
  • Kalman (27/03/2019, 20:16) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    Nonsense. Add deportation to the charge. Failure to show up as he did in the past. Disrespect to the 4th district and I want the 41 million before swearing in.


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