Tabloid BVI Beacon goes to court for information that is already public
Julian Willock
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – In what most persons in the legal fraternity of the Virgin Islands described as “interesting” and having their “own malicious agenda”, the local Tabloid, the BVI Beacon went to high court yesterday Thursday March 24, 2011 to request information that is already in the public domain on court websites.
The Tabloid’s Business Editor Jason Smith and Editor Freeman Rogers, two white Americans, were seeking the judgment in the case for judicial review by the esteemed Permanent Secretary Julian Willock of the Ministry of Communications and Works.
The highly effective Willock was sent on leave last year from his PS post on the only basis of an article in the same tabloid written by another white American Mason Marcus, who according to reports reaching VINO, has ‘skip town’. The article claimed Willock had persons from one of his companies working without work permits.
Willock, according to VINO’s sources, sought and obtained Judicial Review into the way he was treated by government in sending him on leave on the only basis of the Tabloid report and setting up a committee to investigate the Tabloid’s false allegations. The issue of natural justice was one of his many focuses.
However, Willock and his Attorneys from Farara Kerins, according to VINO’s sources, were able to satisfy the court that there were grounds for Judicial Review. Justice Rita Joseph-Olivetti agreed with Willock and his Attorneys and handed down her judgment last month in favour of such a review.
The article had appeared in the BVI Beacon which led to Mr. Willock being sent on leave.
It is well known that all court judgments according to section 4.1 of the Rules of the Supreme Court 1970, entitles the public to access the documents. It said; “any person shall, on payment of the prescribed fee, be entitled during office hours to search for, inspect and take a copy of any of the following documents filed in the Registry”.
Therefore, it is very clear that the document could have been obtained without going to court. Further, Willock’s Attorney had already written to the Registrar of the High Court in a letter obtained by VINO dated March 21, 2011 registering no objections to the local Tabloid, the BVI Beacon from getting the information.
A court officer who spoke on condition of anonymity told VINO that “they very well know that the information could be obtain online so, I am not sure what the motive was for them coming before the judge”.
A search by VINO confirmed that Judge Rita Joseph-Olivetti judgment was online on the OECS Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court some five days after it was handed down making it very much available to the public.
It is unclear why the two Tabloid workers, Rogers and Smith went to court as they could not be reached for comments after repeated calls by VINO.
It was in July of last year the Tabloid wrote in a three page article accusing the highly respected Permanent Secretary Willock of having persons work without work permits, an allegation disputed by the Labour Department. The Labour Department wrote the Tabloid before the libelous article was printed advising them that the company Willock owns had all his work permits in order.
Minister for Communications and Works Julian Fraser RA, and many residents have called for Mr. Willock to return to his post. Honourable Fraser told the Virgin Islands Parliament last year that the article about Willock was “garbage” and “rubbish”.
VINO caught up with Willock who said that he was on his way to the airport and had no comments and referred all questions to the Law Firm of Farara Kerins.
Others have said that the article published by the Tabloid about Willock was not only false but politically motivated, outrageous, racist and a weak and deliberate attempt to undermine Willock’s good character as well as his personal and professional integrity.
The owner of the Tabloid, the BVI Beacon is a Russell Harrigan who is an opposition National Democratic Party political activist.
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17 Responses to “Tabloid BVI Beacon goes to court for information that is already public”
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now now now why are you all surprised? We all know why they went to court…they just trying to make news…..
Mr. Willock boy the beacon really after you..but keep on your knees to Jehovah
same thing me say. Why they are the only one after this matter and going all the way to court??? inquiring minds want to know ummmmmmmmmmmmm
i thought this mess was over and Mr. Julain was back to work….why we still wasting time on this crap people?
I just learn from an insdier that Mr. Willock is not suing over the findings of the report but the process as he may not even be aware of what the report said. So come on…. fair is fair. How can you investigate a man aaaaaaaand not interview the man who is the subject of the investigations??????
Look trouble in my little Tola
seems like they are getting rid of all these Permanent Secretaries…school children dem said another one will fall soon
No justice no peace……Justice and fairness for our BVI prince or we will march!
every body has the right to go to court…maybe when they went on line the informtion was not there..so get off your high horse
can someone in their right mind explain to poor me, why was a duputy sec on a committee to investigate a PS???she must be an NDP……free Willie
because no one else wanted the job and that Deputy Secretary loves to be in thing and likes to thing that she is important….
Church out! Look where you all gone! Ms. Stoutt said she has a calling from god so let her do her do…but I agree she loves the spot light.
If is Julian willock they trying to mess with then they are in for a long, long fight yall. I know Willock and we went to school together from primary school up and trust me he aint easy….them have a fight on them and he does not loose…ha ha ha he he
IS IT HIS OWN FRIENDS LIKE THE BOW TIE MEN WHO TRYING TO KNOCK HIM OUT SO HE NEEDS TO START THERE
Yea his own boys Archer, Lettsome and Neil Smith are the ones who wrote the paper for his compulsory leave. His own pals turn against him so he better back off the “white” boys and place his fire power where it is deserved…..
this sounds like breaking news to me deman….but what about the DG is she part of the plot?????
do not go there
Willock do not give up. I know you will return to work and clear your name, as evil, white supremacy, wickedness and injustice could never, never, never, prevail over justice, and prayers.