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Judge Jack ruling seen as ‘attempt to intimidate speaker’- Hon Willock

-asks why CoI Commissioner directed lawyers to make application if they didn't need to be called to BVI Bar
Speaker of the Virgins Islands (VI) House of Assembly, Hon Julian Willock says the ruling of Judge [Ag] Mr Adrian Jack in the BVI Commission of Inquiry (CoI) court case, is now being seen as an attempt to intimidate the Speaker of the House of Assembly (HoA) from ensuring the rule of law is equal to everyone. Photo: Internet Source/File
Hon Julian Willock was at the time speaking as a guest on the Monday, November 15, 2021, edition of the Umoja Show hosted by Cromwell Smith aka Ed Ju Enka on ZBVI 780 AM. Photo: Facebook/File
Hon Julian Willock was at the time speaking as a guest on the Monday, November 15, 2021, edition of the Umoja Show hosted by Cromwell Smith aka Ed Ju Enka on ZBVI 780 AM. Photo: Facebook/File
Attorney General Dawn J. Smith had refused to grant permission for Speaker Julian Willock to move forward with his application for an injunction against three UK lawyers accused of working illegally in the territory for the Commission of Inquiry. Photo: GIS/File
Attorney General Dawn J. Smith had refused to grant permission for Speaker Julian Willock to move forward with his application for an injunction against three UK lawyers accused of working illegally in the territory for the Commission of Inquiry. Photo: GIS/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI – Speaker of the Virgins Islands (VI) House of Assembly, Hon Julian Willock says the ruling of Judge [Ag] Mr Adrian Jack in the BVI Commission of Inquiry (CoI) court case is now being seen as an attempt to intimidate the Speaker of the House of Assembly (HoA) from ensuring the rule of law is equal to everyone.

Hon Willock was at the time speaking as a guest on the Monday, November 15, 2021, edition of the Umoja Show hosted by Cromwell Smith aka Ed Ju Enka on ZBVI 780 AM.

Were the Lawyers breaking the law? 

The Speaker had filed an injunction to prevent Bilal M. Rawat, acting as CoI Counsel, and Andrew King, along with Rhea Harrikissoon, acting as CoI Solicitors, from practising law in the VI, having not been called to the BVI Bar.

The lawyers were accused of being in breach of the Legal Professions Act of 2015.

The Speaker, however, withdrew his injunction after it was found that he needed the Attorney General (AG) Dawn J. Smith's permission to move forward. Hon Smith refused to give permission despite admitting that the trio needed to be called to the bar.

Judge Jack, said to be a friend of CoI Commissioner Gary R. Hickinbottom, then ordered that the Speaker should pay legal fees as a result of the withdrawal out of his pocket. The order came despite the Speaker, Hon Willock, filing the injunction in his capacity as Speaker of the House of Assembly.

It should be noted that the injunction was filed after an objection by the Speaker and his Deputy was made against the three applying to the bar after allegedly breaking the VI laws for months.

That matter on if they had broken the law was still to be decided on by the courts, however, the trio still returned when the CoI continued in September 2021, in the same capacity.

Objection & Injunction filed in Speaker capacity- Hon Willock 

According to Hon Willock, “On none of my applications ever, did we ever file to say this was in my personal capacity, whatever his [Justice Jack] interpretation was. I see it now and many people see it now as two things, judicial activism and an attempt to intimidate the Speaker,” he said.

Hon Willock hinted that the ruling coming from the Judge has a deeper meaning, “You got to pay it out your own pocket, you better withdraw that objection application,” he said.

Hon Willock, throughout both the objection and injunction matters, said his motive as the Speaker of the House was to ensure the laws of the territory are equal for all and is being followed by the same CoI investigating good governance in the territory.

Commissioner ordered the trio to apply to BVI Bar!

The Speaker said despite arguments that the trio was not practising law in the territory, the Commissioner, Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom, had directed that his three lawyers be called to the bar.

“Why then would he tell them to go and file the application?” Hon Willock questioned.

The Speaker also reminded that the Attorney General had said the three lawyers should have been called to the BVI Bar.

15 Responses to “Judge Jack ruling seen as ‘attempt to intimidate speaker’- Hon Willock”

  • vex (17/11/2021, 11:01) Like (8) Dislike (54) Reply
    Willock you the man
  • Dancing in the sunshine (17/11/2021, 12:14) Like (16) Dislike (43) Reply
    Hon. Willock is a true Virgin Islander and he stood up for his Territory in the face of the British Giant. A little man can stand up against Colonialism. We need to send a strong message to Britain that we are small but has the fortitude to stand our grounds. All those persons who are criticizing the Hon. Speaker need to look at the bigger picture. I will support Hon. Willock for his activism.
  • musa (17/11/2021, 12:58) Like (3) Dislike (12) Reply
    Stay safe hope for the best expect the worst.
  • Rubber Duck (17/11/2021, 14:20) Like (6) Dislike (38) Reply
    Julian Willock will go down in history as a national hero trust me
  • John (17/11/2021, 14:23) Like (17) Dislike (4) Reply
    Hon wilock let this finish and move on
  • Payable race (17/11/2021, 14:27) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Don't care how long darkness run the light will always conquer it
  • Cassie (17/11/2021, 15:16) Like (5) Dislike (29) Reply
    Babylon will fall. Burn them, we support willock.
  • Prickle pear spike hurts, so does Judge Jack's ruling. (17/11/2021, 15:40) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Jesus said, "it is hard to kick against the pricks.
    Wriggling against them maybe even worst.
    Who feels it knows it. Laying blame on Judge Jack's ruling does not ease the pain of those pricks.
    Am I right Hon. Speaker Julian Wilocks.
  • @ DANCING IN Ya,ALL ⛅ (17/11/2021, 16:01) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    yeah
  • cgb (17/11/2021, 17:20) Like (3) Dislike (20) Reply
    This is a good article, you're now getting a grasp of what really is the issue. Keep hot on them Speaker
  • BuzzBvi (17/11/2021, 17:55) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    I think the answer is they may now be called upon to act as Council and Lawyers in a court of law as opposed to just conducting an inquiry which is what they were doing before which did not require Council and Lawyers (except seemingly at great expense on the VI Government side) but when it gets to the next stage they will need to be.
  • usa (17/11/2021, 18:11) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
    pay your bill sir
  • @ moonLIGHT DAnCER (18/11/2021, 06:37) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I SEE U HAVEN'T FOUND THE GLOVE A*S YET
  • To Speaker (18/11/2021, 08:18) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Speaker said despite arguments that the trio was not practising law in the territory, the Commissioner, Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom, had directed that his three lawyers be called to the bar.

    “Why then would he tell them to go and file the application?” Hon Willock questioned.

    ANSWER: for when they need it!


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