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COVID-19: HoA Speaker supports ‘mandatory vaccination’ in VI

- says exceptions should only be given for medical & religious reasons
Speaker of the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA) Hon Julian Willock says he supports mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for all in the VI, with some specific exceptions. Photo: GIS/File
Hon Julian Willock, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, has said while he has listened keenly to the national debate about being vaccinated or not, he revealed that his view is that vaccination is the ultimate protection against the COVID-19 virus. Photo: GIS/Facebook
Hon Julian Willock, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, has said while he has listened keenly to the national debate about being vaccinated or not, he revealed that his view is that vaccination is the ultimate protection against the COVID-19 virus. Photo: GIS/Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI– Speaker of the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA) Hon Julian Willock says he personally supports mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for all in the VI, with some specific exceptions.

The Speaker's comments came during the first virtual 10th Sitting of the 3rd Session of the 4th House of Assembly on July 29, 2021, during Announcements to the HoA.

Hon Willock said while he has listened keenly to the national debate about being vaccinated or not, he revealed that his view is that vaccination is the ultimate protection against the COVID-19 virus.

“I speak here for myself to say, I fully support vaccination, as while it cannot prevent you from getting COVID-19, all the research and statistics have proven in a compelling way, that those who are vaccinated have an over 90% chance of surviving the deadly disease.”

View on vaccination is 'personal' - Hon Willock 

While expressing condolences to those who lost loved ones as a result of the virus, Hon Willock said further that his view is that if for medical or religious reasons one cannot take the vaccine, that decision must be respected.

“However, I strongly believe, taking the COVID-19 vaccination should be mandatory for all others,” he said.

The Speaker reiterated that his position on mandatory vaccination is personal and is not the view nor policy of the HoA or the Government of the day.

“Two exceptions; medical or religious reasons. If one does not fall in any of those two categories, it is my humble position that taking the vaccine should be mandatory,” Hon Willock reiterated.

48 Responses to “COVID-19: HoA Speaker supports ‘mandatory vaccination’ in VI”

  • 2years max (06/08/2021, 12:12) Like (45) Dislike (14) Reply
    Take your jabs and keep quiet because the vaxes will soon be silenced
  • Remember St. Vincent (06/08/2021, 12:20) Like (98) Dislike (29) Reply
    Make it mandatory and all hell will break loose in this place. Do people's bodies belong to you? The government? I rebuke you in the name of Jesus!!
    • Darwin (06/08/2021, 21:46) Like (15) Dislike (25) Reply
      Let the unvaccinated die if that is their choice. Who cares? Improve the gene pool.
      • NezRez (07/08/2021, 16:05) Like (12) Dislike (5) Reply
        @ Darwin, you are one evil person. you too can die with your stupid self, vaccinated or not. Being vaccinated doesn’t mean you can’t catch it and die. Stop being such a asshole and hope you don’t catch it, just like I hope no one else catches it. What a self centered piece of crap you are.
    • Rubber Duck (07/08/2021, 10:25) Like (5) Dislike (26) Reply
      Jibberish and spells aren’t going to help. Forced vaccination won’t either. Are there going to be patrols taking people off the streets and holding them down to be jabbed ? No.

      But strict rules will encourage vaccination. No jab no job in all occupations. No jab , no travel, etc.

      Treating smokers like pariahs has worked to reduce the number killing themselves with nicotine.

      We should do the same with the unvaccinated.
      • Madissa (08/08/2021, 10:49) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
        @ Rubber Duck, you sound like a mentally disturbed person. Please get some help. What you are hoping to see is the communist destruction of the BVI. Did it ever occur to you this virus was deliiberate to lessen the population?
        • @Madissa (08/08/2021, 18:00) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
          If, as you say, "the virus was deliberate to lessen the population", wouldn't that be an argument for the vaccination rather than against it? SMH.
  • Hmm (06/08/2021, 12:50) Like (35) Dislike (7) Reply
    I need a list of excusable religions to choose from thanks.
    • Rubber Duck (07/08/2021, 09:34) Like (5) Dislike (15) Reply
      You will have to search hard. All the usually far out religions like Jehovas Witnesses and Seven Day Adventists support vaccination and encourage it. Only a very few fringe nutters are against it. As well as some individual idiots like the ones we have here.
  • goat (06/08/2021, 12:51) Like (69) Dislike (13) Reply
    An angry people is A dangerous people.Becareful what you say.
  • Fudging things (06/08/2021, 13:08) Like (24) Dislike (58) Reply
    How many people in this Country would fall into the category of “religious” reasons to decline vaccination? And what is the “religious” reason for declining to be vaccinated? Public Health measures, including vaccinations, support the greater good of the Community. I can’t think of something that would be more pleasing to God. That we care for our neighbors as ourselves.

    Saying you can’t take the vaccine for religious reasons is a cop out. Don’t blame your lack of understanding of science and Public Health initiatives on God.
    • the rock (07/08/2021, 07:14) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
      Only 2 denominations are against the jab-- 7th day Adventist and Jehovah witness all other pastors are on board so alot would not be able to use the church as an excuse, lol!
  • House Speaker Hon. Julian Willock, you have disagreed with God, in that He gave man freedom of choice. (06/08/2021, 13:11) Like (68) Dislike (11) Reply
    Your suggested mandatory vaccinate plan, in my honest and wise opinion, is anti-free choice, and anti-democratic, but rather a dictatorship plan.
    If a person or a group of persons chose to commit suicide, God will warn them not to, but He will not demand of them to mandatory obey by force.
    I urge you Hon. House Speaker not to go any further down this path. Why? Becauss you are wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. Stay within your boundary.
    Freedom of choice is one of many Godgiven right of man.
    Let us continue to encourage people to act wisely, but we should be careful not to overstep our bounds, even in our honest attempt to help save our own, our families, our friends, and, our neighbours lives.
    ( note: I am a native black skin man, 72 yrs old. I believe in christians principles over man's hit and miss political opinions.)
    Avoid
  • Dino (06/08/2021, 13:30) Like (73) Dislike (18) Reply
    Don't be fooled ppl, they are testing the waters.
    These past 18 months were not as much about covid19, which is nothing more than a bad flue, but about control and reset. Just like the spider who slowly poisons its prey to death, the governments of the world are slowly curtailing the freedoms of their citizens in the name of so called safety. After 18 months of fearmongering, many ppl succumbed but there are still many who refuse to be shackled. We are quickly approaching a tipping point. Once they take your freedom, they won't give it back to you without a fight. And if it comes to that, they always have the highest ground. Better do something about it now, while we still have some freedom. Wake-up, before the dream becomes a nightmare!
    • To Dino (06/08/2021, 15:52) Like (13) Dislike (45) Reply
      Your thinking is from the The Stone Age!

    • Bad flu? (06/08/2021, 18:27) Like (22) Dislike (17) Reply
      Tell that to the families of the unfortunate victims who died because of Covid19. They will slap some common sense into your head
  • pat (06/08/2021, 13:55) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    Esteem I with you on this one
  • Dont like the mandotary (06/08/2021, 14:52) Like (17) Dislike (28) Reply
    It is Neccesary for certain workers to be fully vaccinated, the Nature of their job require that they be fully vaccinated....i think it is necessary for all front line workers to be fully vaccinated so they can carry out the function of their job without been looked at as a health risk by client and customers....
  • Vaccine Deaths (06/08/2021, 15:05) Like (65) Dislike (12) Reply
    Can the ministry of health or any government official please tell us how many people died in the BVI who took the vaccine since the roll out. Where are the statistics and no cover ups. Vaccine deaths matter.
    • @vaccine deaths in the bvi (06/08/2021, 19:07) Like (17) Dislike (35) Reply
      There haven’t been any. And you are an idiot for even asking this. The only deaths in the bvi have been from people who were NOT vaxxed. Side effects have been minimal. But don’t take my word go ask one of the thousands who’ve taken the. Jab here.
      • liar (07/08/2021, 07:30) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
        Last night the CMO says that three person died who only took the vaccine in less than a week but their dead were blamed on covid..
        • @liar (08/08/2021, 20:23) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
          You must listen to comprehend which means to understand. If they only had their first dose and contracted covid shortly after, the first dose didn’t have sufficient time to build up enough antibodies to help fight the disease. In addition, they may have had underlying health issues that contributed to their very sad demise.
          A reminder, the Delta variant has not started spreading amongst our population yet, if you think 37 deaths were a lot, God forbid we have to deal with the deaths from Delta. Embrace your loved ones because, if they aren’t vaccinated, your time left to spend with them on this earth could be limited. We just don’t know who will be hit with the dreaded Delta variant. It’s so sad, we could be getting vaccinated to save ourselves, our parents/grandparents, loved ones and friends. Who wants to have to live with the guilt of knowing they could have been the one who spread the virus to an elderly person who depended on us to keep them safe. Check the latest news coming from the USA, they are saturated with the virus and hospitalization and deaths are rising and out of control. Only a matter of time for us.
      • Tired of the LIES (10/08/2021, 17:49) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Oh yes they have been deaths of persons who were FULLY vaccinated. Some friends that I know that were very close to me too. You must stop believing everything those lying politicians and head Dr. Is saying. They trying to get everyone to get vax that they will LIE and feed you with it too.
  • hmmm (06/08/2021, 15:22) Like (42) Dislike (3) Reply
    I hope the government mandates exercise and a high veggie diet while they're at it.

    I hope they don't stop there. Mandatory sunshine quota and meditation hour.

    Please ban all corn beef and cheetos and any process food or junk foods from being imported.

    Shut down Scatos and tell VQ to stop selling pizza. Ban oil and flour and cheese so the people can't make the junk food.

    Tell us all what how to live. What is right and wrong. Who to worship and what to believe. We are just avatars for the beautiful ones.

    Just let me have two grammes of soma instead of one.
  • Bvi Vincy spirit (06/08/2021, 15:25) Like (17) Dislike (8) Reply
    From them done violate the curfew we the people don't need to study it also. Come out and be ye free my people
  • Science (06/08/2021, 15:33) Like (10) Dislike (26) Reply
    Finally I see one educated man here
  • stop (06/08/2021, 15:43) Like (23) Dislike (28) Reply
    @Remember St. Vincent, If you think this will be like St. Vincent you are dead wrong if mandatory vaccination is passed in the BVI that ship will be here before it's passed so if you think all hell will break loose in this place think again.
  • @Stop (06/08/2021, 16:54) Like (32) Dislike (7) Reply
    Years ago when Noel Lloyd and his group of local patriots mobilized and lead the ppl of BVI during the Positive Action Movement, the UK sent troops in the area. The local patriots not only were not intimidated but persisted in their just fight and prevailed. An example to follow.
    "Fear is the only thing to fear!" F.D. Roosevelt
  • Get in there (06/08/2021, 17:01) Like (10) Dislike (25) Reply
    Start with anyone who shares nut job anti vaccine conspiracy theories on Facebook and do it in public.
  • Civilised (06/08/2021, 17:02) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    We know how to behave our selves we don't need to be policed. It is mandatory that our Government do the right thing and we would not have protesters on our streets. We dont need civil unrest.

    Take note the man said this is his personal opinion. He is not the government and should not have any influence on their decisions either please stay in your lane I beg you.
  • Young concerned citizen (06/08/2021, 19:08) Like (26) Dislike (11) Reply
    Whether you make it mandatory or not, I know I will not be taking it and many other close relatives of mine. We should not me allowing a few people to decide what goes in our body. This is not democracy, this is communism in a different form.
  • 38 (06/08/2021, 19:24) Like (34) Dislike (4) Reply
    If I don’t want to get vaccinated I’m the one to be scared not the vaccinated. Why are you government officials so concerned about people’s life? Take your jab and encourage/ brainwash people to take but don’t try to force people into taking vaccine. If we are not scared for our lives why should you be scared for us???
  • @ CIVILIZED (06/08/2021, 19:24) Like (6) Dislike (5) Reply
    IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE BY NOW WHO IS REALLY RUNNING THE COUNTRY , THEN I SUGGEST YOU GET WITH THE PROGRAM
  • THE TIP TOE (06/08/2021, 20:01) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
    Everything that is hidden will soon be revealed. Sorry for the victims.
  • The fevik (06/08/2021, 20:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Loose
  • FRANCE (06/08/2021, 23:33) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Little France...
  • Natural Immunity (07/08/2021, 07:38) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    And for the thousands of us that have already had the virus and now have natural immunity?

    Why would we still need a vaxx that:
    1 Doesn't stop you from getting it
    2. Doesn't stop you from spreading it

    Yes, yes, I know , it stops you from dying. Which is excellent except for the fact that THOUSANDS of us have had it and are still alive and well.
  • Herd immunity (07/08/2021, 09:48) Like (2) Dislike (10) Reply
    If the government is so serious about “mandatory” then they should lead by example and make it mandatory for all government employees or test every week. Take the lead. The government of St. Kitts and Nevis, Turks and Caicos and Cayman Islands made it mandatory for all work permit holders, that’s why their vaccination rates are high. The majority of Virgin Islands population is work permit holders. Government can start there and if you don’t wish to take it, then you are free to pack up and leave.
    • P nut (07/08/2021, 12:53) Like (2) Dislike (6) Reply
      The majority of Virgin Islands population is work permit holders. Government can start there and if you don’t wish to take it, then you are free to pack up and leave.
      When the majority leave you would have to get more ppl to come in to take those jobs
  • support (07/08/2021, 10:09) Like (1) Dislike (13) Reply
    its time to blame the unvax for all the covid related deaths and economic loss.
    • @support (07/08/2021, 14:25) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
      There lies one of the biggest problem, many of the vaccinated truly believe that they cannot get this virus and spread it to others.
    • really dumb (07/08/2021, 15:12) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
      @support. How can you blame the unvaxed for spreading the covid when they don't have it.

      Education is key
  • Stupes (07/08/2021, 15:33) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Is time you all stop with the stupidness. If you educate the people and they choose not to vaccinate that's their business but to force that on somebody, infringes their rights as an individual. I took my vaccine and sat my arse down. If they want to take it good, if they don't, so be it.
  • 201 (07/08/2021, 18:31) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Check agenda 201 u see who calling the shots
  • wow (08/08/2021, 19:36) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    He approves sluxing on peel leee but that don't make it everyone choice


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