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Special Select Committee members must ‘search their conscience’- Willock

- maintains he did not act without authorisation when Injunction against illegal CoI lawyers was filed
Former Speaker of the House of Assembly (HoA) Hon Julian Willock says the members of the Special Select Committee of the HoA who were tasked with deciding whether or not he should be left to pay legal fees out of pocket due to a discontinued Injunction against three Commission of Inquiry (CoI) lawyers, need to check their conscience and that their decision is misguided. Photo: GIS/File
 The Special Select Committee comprised (From left) Chairman Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) and Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3). Photo: VINO/GIS/File
The Special Select Committee comprised (From left) Chairman Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) and Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3). Photo: VINO/GIS/File
Andrew King, left, and Bilal M. Rawat, right, are two of the three UK lawyers accused of practicing law in the territory while not being called to the BVI Bar, a violation of the Legal Professions Act 2015. Photo: Internet Source
Andrew King, left, and Bilal M. Rawat, right, are two of the three UK lawyers accused of practicing law in the territory while not being called to the BVI Bar, a violation of the Legal Professions Act 2015. Photo: Internet Source
FISH BAY, Tortola, VI- Former Speaker of the House of Assembly (HoA) Hon Julian Willock says the members of the Special Select Committee of the HoA who were tasked with deciding whether or not he should be left to pay legal fees out of pocket due to a discontinued Injunction against three Commission of Inquiry (CoI) lawyers, need to check their conscience and that their decision is misguided.

Earlier this year, Judge Adrian Jack ruled that since permission was not received from the Attorney General the Speaker would have to pay costs out of pocket. The cost listed was $98,676.51 in legal fees incurred by the defendants.

Special Select Committee faults Willock

Despite evidence being produced to the contrary, the Committee in its Report released May 26, 2022, concluded that the Speaker should not have brought the proceedings against the lawyers for the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) and he did not have expressed permission to do so on behalf of the House of Assembly.

The Special Select Committee comprised Chairman Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) and Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3).

Appearing on JTV’s Big Story recently, Hon Willock recounted the matter and the subsequent decision of the Special Select Committee.

Members should ‘search their conscience’- Willock

"I will say to members to search their conscience. They have a decision, but I will still say to them to search their conscience because every member in the House knew that I could not have proceeded in filing an injunction without being given the authorisation to do so."

Mr Willock continued that in filing the injunction to prevent the CoI lawyers from working in the territory when they were deemed to be in violation of the Legal Professions Act, he was not trying to usurp anyone’s authority but was just defending the laws of the territory.

"I wasn't acting like a Minister. I was following instructions and it's clear."

Opposition Member Hon Julian Fraser RA, while giving advice to the new HoA Speaker recently, stated that some Speakers in the past have stepped out of their roles, thinking they are ministers.

It is unclear; however, whether Mr Willock was referring to the statement by Hon Fraser.

Willock calls out hypocrisy of HoA Members

Mr Willock emphatically stated, "There was not one objection all along in our legal strategy. There was a unanimous vote on everything. The only time when we lost two votes is when, I remember, when all the injunction matters came out and we had the thing that Willock must pay out of pocket, it was agreed in an informal meeting that we provide some support to Silk Legal."

Regardless of the Special Select Committee's findings, Mr Willock maintains that he has done no wrong.

Asked where things are now on the issue and getting the fees paid as instructed by the court of law, Mr Willock said, "The matter is in the courts and I wouldn't comment further. They, the committee, are claiming that I went around the Attorney General, which you and I know and the public know is not accurate."

13 Responses to “Special Select Committee members must ‘search their conscience’- Willock”

  • First Shot (27/06/2022, 10:54) Like (61) Dislike (3) Reply
    their conscience say, you pay.
  • hm (27/06/2022, 11:01) Like (9) Dislike (9) Reply
    need to check their conscience and that their decision is misguided.

    There was not one objection all along in our legal strategy. There was a unanimous vote on everything.

    Welcome to 2022 & He is still friendly with them appealing to their conscience (if they have one) while being thrown under the buss.
  • Move on (27/06/2022, 11:11) Like (28) Dislike (1) Reply
    If you insist on maintaining that the Court's judgment is wrong, just appeal and get a final decision one way or the other.
  • Barrister at Law in the UK (27/06/2022, 11:12) Like (5) Dislike (23) Reply
    This opinion base on the entire case. The ruling by the Juxge was an erronious act and is unlawful
  • one eye (27/06/2022, 11:13) Like (6) Dislike (27) Reply
    Everything will come full circle they did the esteem wrong
  • trevor (27/06/2022, 12:07) Like (26) Dislike (1) Reply
    Am I wrong or did the AG state she would not pursue this issue (perhaps because it was her office that dropped ball by not seeing need to swear them in initially) and yet Wiglock went ahead anyway.
    Pride before the fall
  • hog city (27/06/2022, 12:38) Like (5) Dislike (28) Reply
    We voting for Willock
  • @ HOG CITY (27/06/2022, 16:32) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    AFTER WHAT HE DID TO THE 3RD DISTRICT MEMBER , NOBODY WANTS TO ASSOCIATE
    WITH MR WHATEVER / EVEN SLOWAND-e SLAMMED HIM OR DROPPED HIM OFF LIKE GABBAGE ???? THEIR HANDS WERE TIED BEFORE , BUT AFTER THE BROWN BOMBER GOT TAKEN DOWN BY A STING OPERATION ,
    THE BIG YOUTH GOT A BREATH OF FRESH AIR AND STARTED FLEXING OFF ON THE WIGO AND A COUPLE OF OTHER HYPOCRITES
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (27/06/2022, 19:28) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    Even though the former Speaker Julian willock may ha, please take note that I have written may have, over step his authority in the move that he has been accused of of allegedly made. We must keep in mind that he was legally appointed as Speaker of the House under the former Premier Andrew A. Fahie.
    The former Premier Andrew A. Fahie had power over the for Speaker to not allowed what has allegedly to happened. He, the former Premier, Andrew A. Fahie did not.
    Over the many years of mismanagement of our finances by previous goverments that have cost us hundreds of millions of dollars, probably as much as two billions dollars. Why the is the former Speaker Julian willock, is being pressure to pay legal pay, and the others, particular political leaders not for to pay?
    If we were fair and honest people, we then will not be so eager to squash an ant, by overlook the damaged done to our economy over the years by the elephants.
    There is a saying of old still in forced even now: Kisses goes by favour.
    There are many church attendees that have heard and read the Lord's prayers, but disregards it's righteous principles. The Special selected Committee Members, if they haven't as yet read they should.
    We should not treated the former Speaker Julian willock as the black sheep.
    If he truly is, we all are, in many ways more than one.
    He/she without false stand up and be recognized.
    As the former Speaker of the House said, search your (own) conscience.
  • Forbidden Truth (27/06/2022, 21:10) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    The injunction should have stated. How can you conduct a CoI and people involved in the CoI are in gross violation of the Immigration and labour laws of the Virgin Islands? Roll a dam Dice...........No Dice.
  • (28/06/2022, 00:57) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
    He needs to run for office he does fight for we mr Willock has my vote any time
  • scooby (29/06/2022, 19:32) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Come and fix the problem created by you and your administration at red bay east end given u a solution for the fix anyway repay mr. Alphonso for his building and put the lot open for the fishermen to use????????????


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