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Ex-Premier could attend HoA meetings virtually- Willock

- said Standing Orders of HoA allows for it to happen
Former Speaker of the House of Assembly (HoA) Hon Julian Willock has said the Standing Orders allows for former Premier Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) to attend meetings of the HoA virtually. Photo: GIS/File
Ex Premier Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), left, seen here with Clerk of the House of Assembly Mrs Phyllis Evans, centre, and Fourth District Representative Hon Mark H. Vanterpool, was recently released from detention in Miami; however, he is unable to leave the United States during his trial. Photo: GIS/File
Ex Premier Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), left, seen here with Clerk of the House of Assembly Mrs Phyllis Evans, centre, and Fourth District Representative Hon Mark H. Vanterpool, was recently released from detention in Miami; however, he is unable to leave the United States during his trial. Photo: GIS/File
Whether Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) may be allowed to attend sittings of the House of Assembly (HoA) in a virtual capacity may come down to the discretion of new Speaker Mrs Corine N. George-Massicote, right. Photo: YouTube/File
Whether Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) may be allowed to attend sittings of the House of Assembly (HoA) in a virtual capacity may come down to the discretion of new Speaker Mrs Corine N. George-Massicote, right. Photo: YouTube/File
SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI- In an invited comment, former Speaker of the House of Assembly (HoA) Hon Julian Willock has said the former Premier Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) may attend meetings of the HoA virtually.

Mr Willock noted that in 2020 an amendment was made to the Standing Orders (SO) in section 91 (2A) stating “where it is impracticable by reason of any emergency for the HoA to meet physically, the House may do so by electronic means”.

Rules allow for it- Julian Willock

In other words, the entire House can meet virtually or a Member who has an emergency can join the meeting virtually, once the Speaker has no objections. Further, the former Speaker noted that the only issue that can prevent Honourable Fahie from attending virtually is if a motion is brought to the HoA to prevent him from attending virtually.

In relation to the three consecutive sittings of absence in one session, as set out in SO 84 (1) and (2), all the former Premier needs to do is advise the Speaker that he cannot attend a meeting because he is being “prevented”, according to Willock.

The former Premier can do this via letter, a message to the Speaker or any other form of communications, including through his attorneys, to the Honourable Speaker, or a note to the Clerk to be advanced to the Madam Speaker.

Once he advises the Speaker he is safe?

“During my time as Speaker, I had a number of Members missing several Sittings and they would send me a message via their secretaries, the Clerk, a family member or most often the Member themselves via a WhatsApp message,” according to the now-former Speaker, who concluded that once that is done the Member cannot vacate his or her seat.

“Now if a Member is away from the HoA for over a year, even after informing the Speaker, that should get the Speaker’s attention and her discretion should be used to determine if that member is still eligible” Mr Willock noted.

Now, in terms of the Constitution, in section 66, there are a number of ways in which a Member can lose his or her seat following their election as a Member of the HoA, the former Speaker opined.

If a Member engages in Business with government and did not declare at the most practical time they can lose their seat, or if he or she is bankrupt or charged with a criminal offense and is sent to prison for it or has been declared insane, are other areas where the elected Member must be removed from his legislative seat, according to Mr Willock, who served as Speaker in the Fourth HoA from March 12, 2019 to May 15, 2022.

'Let's hear both sides'- Willock 

Mr Willock noted that “there should be no rush to have the former Premier vacate his district one seat” as the issue of an elected representative in our democracy “in a free and fair election must be sacred”.

He said while the United States Government's allegations against Mr Fahie are serious and must concern every Virgin Islander, we must wait to hear his side and not be so quick to cast aspersions on the former Premier. Mr Willock, the former outspoken Speaker, stated “the fact of the matter is that when Hon Fahie left the Territory in April he was the Premier.”

When pressed about rumours on social media that he is running for office, Mr Willock declined to comment but said he is still a member and supporter of the Virgin Islands Party.

31 Responses to “Ex-Premier could attend HoA meetings virtually- Willock”

  • lol… (17/06/2022, 13:26) Like (44) Dislike (0) Reply
    lol…
    • Madussa (17/06/2022, 22:06) Like (57) Dislike (1) Reply
      Fahie is shameless. Everyone will be meeting at HOA, and then he will come on screen to show his face that no one wants to see. Fahie should know he is no longer respected by the others, so he should just step down and worry about his case, because he has shown the people in his district that he was never looking out for them or the BVI, but just wanted to “TOUCH THE MONEY”.He let all of us down and now wants to act as though he is for the people. What a down right shameless man who cannot give up the attention he used to get. SMDH!
      • Smile (20/06/2022, 14:32) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        call him disgraced premier.. only a very select few want to see fahie...dem who he have someting over dem.
  • Windy (17/06/2022, 13:39) Like (10) Dislike (28) Reply
    Ok esteemed you tell them!
  • Cindy (17/06/2022, 13:59) Like (10) Dislike (33) Reply
    Julian is a sharp boy
  • Thoughts... (17/06/2022, 14:13) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    The gift that keeps on giving. SIGH!
  • please (17/06/2022, 14:26) Like (69) Dislike (4) Reply
    The only decent thing to do is resign. Just shows the true character of the man that he hasnt.
  • Is he a civil servant (17/06/2022, 14:28) Like (63) Dislike (4) Reply
    Should Fahie a civil servant be suspended from his duties? Usually civil servants in investigations or before the court get suspended until the matter is over. The is a massive case that may last for years so Fahie should ask to be excused and focus on his case and that would show more respect for his district the country his family and himself.
  • Fair (17/06/2022, 14:29) Like (9) Dislike (19) Reply
    This is very fair of him. He’s sending big boy the word of what exactly he has to do. This is how u hold people down without getting to involved. I like this guy.
  • brian hodge (17/06/2022, 14:38) Like (31) Dislike (2) Reply
    since wen he "hon" and then who care what he a say
    • Just saying (17/06/2022, 17:06) Like (6) Dislike (47) Reply
      JULIAN WILLOCK WILL ALWAYS BE MY SPEAKER BAM BAM
      • lol (19/06/2022, 07:03) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
        What a bam bam..Sister Nancy

        This woman never troubled no one
        I'm a lady, I'm not a man
        MC is my ambition
        I come from nice up Jamaica
        So bam bam, what a bam bam
        Bam bam dilla, bam bam
        Bam bam dilla, bam bam
        'Ey a mi seh what a bam bam,
        Tell 'em said what a bam bam
        Tell 'em, tell 'em
  • Bail (17/06/2022, 14:51) Like (33) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why complicate this further. Even if he can join HOA what about if he breach the bail conditions and the court put him back in jail can he join HOA sessions by Zoom? Waste of time discussing if he can join.
  • Carrot Bay (17/06/2022, 14:56) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    Hog city jack!
  • Well Well (17/06/2022, 14:58) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    OK. I understand that if there is an emergency a member can attend virtually.
    But however, we want to pull these strings ( why we are in what we are in now) so that no one gives a hoot as l;ong as some get theirs. all is good.
    DAMMMMMMD
  • Foolish wee (17/06/2022, 15:15) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr ex speaker which party does he belong to cause alll parties were desolve for the time being so when was he sworn in as a Unity party or Opposition so if your not nine the two tell us Mr Ex speaker who is he under
    So first thing he needs to be sworn in and surely he not hare to be sworn in under this Governor so all the big hot air bollom you chatting get him swere in first as either Unity or opposition or you can can go and grow some hair first ppl wake up and think about it
  • Scotland Yard (17/06/2022, 15:42) Like (10) Dislike (4) Reply
    i do not think it will be allowed because London wants andrew out of congress and our people do not have enough gumption to stand firm in certain conditions

    we stand firm when we cussing out our own people
  • rubber duck (17/06/2022, 17:04) Like (8) Dislike (37) Reply
    Hats off to the former speaker the only one speaking truth to power
  • Silent Majority (17/06/2022, 17:17) Like (43) Dislike (1) Reply
    What is his emergency?
  • ONE CROOK (17/06/2022, 20:52) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    Not because you hsve a right to do something makes doing it the right thing to do. Ill just rest this here.
  • question (18/06/2022, 06:46) Like (26) Dislike (0) Reply
    How does being charged with conspiracy with intent to supply sell drugs money laundering constitute an EMERGENCY?????
  • A Gee (18/06/2022, 07:22) Like (18) Dislike (2) Reply

    The noted amendment made to the Standing Orders (SO) in section 91 (2A) clearly refers to the impractible physical meeting of the HoA...., Not a member.of the said house.
    So we can now understand why the ex speaker was removed.
  • mr cool (18/06/2022, 08:11) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    people know what you wish for a story have two sides remember one vip member had said we are going to hell in a hand basket.we do forget a lot.



  • ... (18/06/2022, 11:07) Like (4) Dislike (21) Reply
    I hope Andrew takes them to court if they try and stop him from attending virtually bossie
    • Greg (18/06/2022, 22:15) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
      They will not try to stop him from showing his shameful face. The question is when he appears on screen, what does he plan to say to all of the BVI who trusted him. Will he start with an apology to all of us or will he have the nerve to start with a prayer to Satan, because he can't start with a prayer to God since God knows what he has been up to and has been using his name in vain telling the people to fast and pray. He should really be scared to keep messing with God while fooling the people who supported him in the past. God could strike him at any time, or maybe he really doesn't believe in God, so he feels nothing will happen to him. A bit narcissistic he is.
  • boi (18/06/2022, 21:50) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK YOUR WAY TO THE TOP , ( YEAH ) YOU HEARD ME , BUT YOU LET IGNORANCE / ARROGANCE GO TO YOUR HEAD IN THE HOA AND IT CRASHED ( BAM BAM ) SOME WOULD SAY IT WAS ( NO INTEGRITY ) SADLY ????
  • Damn (19/06/2022, 11:55) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who is he representing now the crime groups and drug groups
  • Linda (23/06/2022, 19:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    When he goes virtual, he will NOT apologize. To apologize means he is guilty. No way he will admit to that. I wonder what he will talk about and will someone accidentally pull the plug on the monitor while he is speaking or we have a power outage island-wide on purpose? Can't wait to hear his betrayal speech if he humbles himself to all of us. Who am I kidding? There will be no such speech about his caring about us. He always says "MY PEOPLE" when he begins his speeches. LOL LOL...NOT!


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