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Mark H. Vanterpool invited to be sworn in to HoA

-@ July 16, 2019 Sitting of the House of Assembly
Mr Mark H. Vanterpool, in a letter dated July 10, 2019 and seen by our newsroom, was invited by the Clerk of the House of Assembly (HoA), Ms Phyllis Evans, to attend the Fifth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) of the Virgin Islands on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 for the purpose of being sworn in. Photo: VINO/File
According to a letter dated July 10, 2019 and sent to Mr Mark H. Vanterpool, Clerk of the House of Assembly (HoA), Ms Phyllis Evans said she was directed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Julian Willock, to attend the Fifth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) of the Virgin Islands on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 for the purpose of being sworn in. Photo: VINO/File
According to a letter dated July 10, 2019 and sent to Mr Mark H. Vanterpool, Clerk of the House of Assembly (HoA), Ms Phyllis Evans said she was directed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Julian Willock, to attend the Fifth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) of the Virgin Islands on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 for the purpose of being sworn in. Photo: VINO/File
The Fifth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) of the Virgin Islands on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 will likely see the swearing in of Fourth District Representative-Elect Mr Mark H. Vanterpool into the HoA. Photo: VINO/File
The Fifth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) of the Virgin Islands on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 will likely see the swearing in of Fourth District Representative-Elect Mr Mark H. Vanterpool into the HoA. Photo: VINO/File
Provided Mr Mark H. Vanterpool, centre, doesn’t have another sudden change of heart, it will be some four months after he was re-elected as the Representative of the Fourth District that he would be sworn in as a Member of the House of Assembly on July 16, 2019. Photo: Facebook/File
Provided Mr Mark H. Vanterpool, centre, doesn’t have another sudden change of heart, it will be some four months after he was re-elected as the Representative of the Fourth District that he would be sworn in as a Member of the House of Assembly on July 16, 2019. Photo: Facebook/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Fifth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) of the Virgin Islands on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 will likely see the swearing in of Fourth District Representative-Elect Mr Mark H. Vanterpool into the HoA.

Mr Vanterpool, in a letter dated July 10, 2019 and seen by our newsroom, was invited by the Clerk of the HoA, Ms Phyllis Evans, to attend the sitting for the purpose of being sworn in.

“Pursuant to Standing Order 10(2), I have been directed by the Speaker of the House of Assembly to summon you to attend the Fifth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly which has been scheduled for Tuesday, 16th July, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. at the House of Assembly Chamber in Road Town.

“This summon is inviting you to be sworn into the Fourth House of Assembly,” the letter stated.

Provided Mr Vanterpool doesn’t have another sudden change of heart, it will be some four months after he was re-elected as the Representative of the Fourth District that he would be sworn in as a Member of the House of Assembly.

Background 

On March 5, 2019 Mr Vanterpool tendered his resignation in a letter to the Clerk of the HoA asking not to be sworn in and that he no longer had an interest in representing the people of the Fourth District. The letter was addressed to the Clerk because at the time there was no Speaker. 

Mr Vanterpool had subsequently been told by the Attorney General Baba F. Aziz that his letter was invalid because it was sent to the clerk, and not the Speaker, according to Sec 67 (3) A of the Virgin Islands Constitution. The new Speaker in the person of Hon Julian Willock was sworn in on March 12, 2019 and the clerk handed the letter to him.

No vacancy in D4 

The Honourable Speaker accepted the resignation letter and advised the Governor, Augustus J. U. Jaspert, of a vacancy in the Fourth District. Mr Vanterpool then challenged the matter in court and sought an Injunction and Judicial Review on the Speaker’s decision. Both failed. 

In another decision, a Judge ordered that Mr Vanterpool be sworn in to the HoA and the Speaker appealed; however, recently had the appeal withdrawn.

The Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), who had been tight-lipped on the matter, stated recently that he had asked the Speaker to reconsider his position and to swear in Mr Vanterpool.

The Premier noted that the matter had divided the country and requested that Hon Willock bring an end to the saga.

However, the Premier made it clear that it was still a matter for the Speaker. When contacted today, Saturday July 10, 2019, Honourable Willock declined to comment.

The Sitting will be carried live on CBN Radio 90.9 FM, CBN-Television Channel 101 on Flow TV and it can also be followed live online at www.cbnvirginislands.com

See letter (below) sent to Mr Mark H. Vanterpool today, July 10, 2019 by Clerk of the House of Assembly (HoA), Ms Phyllis Evans.

21 Responses to “Mark H. Vanterpool invited to be sworn in to HoA”

  • Oh No (10/07/2019, 19:18) Like (4) Dislike (19) Reply
    Father send help
  • i from here (10/07/2019, 19:47) Like (6) Dislike (34) Reply
    Are you people crazy do not do it!!!
    • Yo (11/07/2019, 04:33) Like (15) Dislike (8) Reply
      lol, lol, lol take that God don't sleep, go out with a bang Hon Vanterpool!
  • wize up (10/07/2019, 21:23) Like (12) Dislike (17) Reply
    so what about the pier park
  • Yo (11/07/2019, 04:34) Like (20) Dislike (16) Reply
    what about the peer park--its beautiful, cant you see?
  • Concern Citizen (11/07/2019, 06:16) Like (10) Dislike (24) Reply

    Mr need to be sworn into balsam ghut don’t sworn him in sworn him a round trip to Balo we want back the millions you and your cronies embezzles from the treasury

    • asking for a friend (11/07/2019, 10:39) Like (5) Dislike (10) Reply
      Where is the governor and when the m n m boys going be locked up?
  • Ask Allen w (11/07/2019, 06:25) Like (13) Dislike (4) Reply
    So he escaped jail as politicians never go to jail
  • stupid (11/07/2019, 08:59) Like (14) Dislike (8) Reply
    Anyone try to beautify the place people take them down. You should be thanking Mr Vanterpool for the pier park , what else is going on in the bvi. The. The best thing ever, whether he thief or not. At least there is something to show. So ungrateful set of people. Can someone please tell me what can compare to the pier park in the entire bvi?
    • wize up (11/07/2019, 15:37) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
      @ Stupid: we had a BVI long before the pier park there is no question about the pier park: some are simply questioning the funding associated with the pier park(big difference) as a people we reserve the right to hold those we vote into political leadership of the British Virgin Islands to very high standards and accountability of the tax payers money:where is the issue??? It is nothing personal
  • Thankful (11/07/2019, 09:02) Like (21) Dislike (8) Reply
    We need Mark Vanterpool, there is no opposition and he’s needed, can anyone tell me what is really going on in bvi? It seems there is not even a government. I guess everyone is sleeping.
  • Arip (11/07/2019, 09:49) Like (17) Dislike (4) Reply
    This is great news. Let’s get down to the people’s business.
  • Force hand (11/07/2019, 10:39) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    Very sad day for the bvi the esteemed speaker sell out
    • wize up (11/07/2019, 12:50) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
      @ force hand: there is more than one way to skin a cat: you catch more flies with honey....be of good courage my Idren
  • chad (11/07/2019, 12:49) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    Seeing the speaker has done the right thing,you all fussing. Mr Vanterpool will be sworn in because the electorate spoke in the first place and not because the speaker changed his mind. They elected Mr Vanterpool. Like someone said let us get along with the country’s business
  • thank you (11/07/2019, 19:08) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Its finally over. We can now move on to do the people's business..
  • vex (12/07/2019, 00:15) Like (3) Dislike (7) Reply
    Mark needs to go sit down
    • i yo (12/07/2019, 05:30) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      and you need to get your a$$ up, its as easy as that, havr a nice day!


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