Did CoI strategically omit documents for Speaker Willock?
Honourable Willock made the revelations at a press conference today, June 30, 2021, alongside Silk Legal Attorney, Richard G. Rowe, so that the record can be set straight regarding the evidence presented to the CoI.
Hon Willock also revealed that upon finding new evidence of his compliance with the Register of Interests Act, he is yet to be provided an opportunity to present his evidence before the Commissioner.
In essence, the CoI has to date not provided an opportunity for the speaker to bring forward new evidence, which the Speaker regarded as concerning.
Declarations in 2019
"My first letter on my anniversary, the day I was l sworn in... was miraculously left out of my bundle," Hon Willock revealed.
The Speaker appeared before the CoI as a witness on June 18, 2021, in one of the most viewed hearings to date, as part of the CoI live hearings.
"The letter from the Registrar of Interests telling me that while she received my letter, I needed to fill out a form, again... miraculously left out of my bundle."
"But what appeared in my bundle was me filling out a form a couple of months later," Hon Willock detailed, which revealed that the CoI may be cherry-picking what to bring to the public records and what to omit.
Honourable Willock during the hearing of June 18, 2021, also raised concerns over documents being omitted from his lawyer's bundle, to which the Commissioner downplayed the issue, indicating that the missing documents were 'not important.'
“I can’t believe you sit there and say that is not important… my lawyer is given a bundle with documents missing, and you don’t see that as important?,” Hon Willock asked the Commissioner.
He continued, “It speaks volumes about this process Commissioner, and you're going to have to convince this country that you have a transparent process [and] it’s not a fishing exercise.”
Declarations in 2020
Hon Willock during today's press conference also revealed that on March 12, 2020, he wrote the Registrar indicating that there was no change in his 2019 declaration, however, he received correspondence that a form must still be filled; and this was done on March 18, 2020.
He said that on March 19, 2020, his form was sent to the Registrar of Interests, given that the Registrar had indicated that her office was closed for repairs for two days, as such, information should be sent after March 16, 2020.
"But even before that, I sent a letter on March 12, the anniversary date indicated there was no change, so again it shows goodwill [and] intention not to violate the act," he said.
After compliance with the orders of the Registrar, Hon Willock further revealed that it was not until July 22, 2020, that the Registrar indicated that she did not receive the information.
"I brought to my Secretary's attention, and what we did, we copied the same information and send it back to the Registrar of Interests."
The Speaker said this time, he made sure that the documents were signed for, to ensure that the documents were received by the Office of the Registrar; all of which were omitted by the CoI on the public records during his hearing of June 18, 2021.
Declarations in 2021
Hon Willock said that in 2021, on receipt of a reminder letter on February 24, 2021, his declaration was made on March 3, 2021.
The Speaker affirmed that all along he had shown good faith and good intention to comply with the Register of Interests Act; however, the CoI chose to ignore those details and paint a different picture.
"What is important here and what was strategically left out during the public hearing by the one-man commissioner Mr Hickenbottom was that each of the anniversary date in question... there was information sent to the Registrar of Interests," he said.
Speakers wants opportunity to present new evidence
Hon Willock further clarified that it was the CoI who gathered the information, given the Commission had received the authority via amendments to the Register of Interests Act to get the information directly from the Registrar.
"It's curious for me, that you were so gung ho to see me, threatening that I was in contempt... ok, you so anxious to see the speaker, here is new evidence, where is your anxiety now to see me? It has suddenly disappeared? However, I will not speculate on motives," Hon Willock said.
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15 Responses to “Did CoI strategically omit documents for Speaker Willock?”
our people were removed from slavery
these islands were labeled a bird sanctuary
our people were removed from grant in aid
sure nuff the british are back and this time the mindset is not physical slavery however economic slavery is the order of the day
will we see a better BVI or another south africa
they borrowed it and it wasn't repaid by the British taxpayers until 2015! They did that over 30 years before the US abolished slavery.
Just so you know....
Why wouldn't you like us to be like South Africa? It is a free independent democracy.
If you learn nothing from history let me tell you when enslaved people have thrown off their shackles and it’s not pretty for the masters.
Deadly slave rebellions occurred in these islands and would have continued until the system broke. When the slaves out number the masters the masters have to constantly watch over their shoulder and when the slaves are feeding them they watch what they eat carefully.
You can not make slaves of humans and expect no resistance.
He was one to set the record straight and when they tried to take advantage of him multiple times he let them have it. No it’s not going to go down that way.
Showande brought up what they don’t want to talk about in answering his questions they won’t bring him back either.
Willock didn’t accept being in breach without seeing the information for himself and now to find out as he originally thought he’s not in breach.
That means the COI team was TRYING to bully him and get him to prematurely accept wrong information put before him! Aren’t they supposed to find out the truth not make it up according to what they want to hear????
They already have the speaker going here and there as if he’s a school boy.
Willock is no fool.
It seems to me that you people believe that the COI does nothing wrong only the government. You people need to be objective and recognize that people do make mistakes especially the people who conducting the inquiry. They are not above the law.