“The Hon Julian Willock is not to be played with… we don’t have nothing else to say on that topic. Mark show up think he was the big boss but Willock… he had he gavel ready for Mark,” Host Kaream K. Pickering aka 'Picko Moff' said on the April 2, 2019, edition of ‘Hard Talk’ on Tola Radio VI with guest Cindy R. Rosan-Jones. Photo: Facebook

Radio hosts and social commentators—in the Post-Mortem of yesterday’s events—are dissecting a defining moment when House Speaker, Hon Julian Willock shut down opposition inquiries in relation to Mark H. Vanterpool and the empty District 4 seat. Photo: VINO/Facebook

Opposition Leader, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) had sought to query of the Speaker what obtains with the seat, with further questioning about what advice was received from the Attorney General, Mr Baba Aziz on the matter, to which the Speaker immediately shut the inquiry down.

Willock Vs Vanterpool 

“The Hon Julian Willock is not to be played with… we don’t have nothing else to say on that topic. Mark show up think he was the big boss but Willock… he had he gavel ready for Mark,” Host Kaream K. Pickering aka 'Picko Moff' said on the April 2, 2019, edition of ‘Hard Talk’ on Tola Radio VI with guest Cindy R. Rosan-Jones.

 “Willock had he big gavel letting Mark to know you ain't going be sworn in, this is my house… and what I say goes… the Governor don’t got no say in here,” he told his listening audience.

The conversation soon veered into whether the House Speaker was correct in his approach towards Hon Penn, regarding his inquiries, a whether the Opposition Leader was just in his questioning. 

According to Moff, “Hon Penn was trying to do the right thing,” however, he said the matter was already clear before the sitting on what the Speaker’s position would be in relation to the issue.

House Friction

“Do you think he [Hon Penn] was trying to create some friction? Because to me that was already cleared up before they got to the house… that he wasn’t going to be sworn in, he said why, and so forth,” guest Rosan-Jones further questioned.

Moff replied, “He wanted the hear then and there, out of Willock's mouth why he ain't going swear in Mark Vanterpool… but he already say why he ain't swearing he in, so we ain't got to go down that road,” he said. 

Meanwhile, in media release late Tuesday afternoon, April 2, 2019, Mr Vanterpool has since indicated that he has taken legal action against the Speaker, which will see a judicial review of the matter at the High Court, set for Wednesday April 10, 2019.