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UK now awaiting outcome of CoI to address bills holdup- Hon Willock
The Speaker revealed the details in a Monday, April 26, 2021 speech where he said United Kingdom (UK) Secretary of State Dominic R. Raab had spoken about the bills in a letter to Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) and raised points that contravened Article 73 of the United Nations Charter which speaks on the UK having a modern partnership with the VI based on mutual respect and free political aspirations.
UK linking Drugs Act to CoI - Hon Willock
“Suffice it to say, I have recently had sight of a new letter from the Right Honourable Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Affairs Dominic Raab. He has failed to clearly outline how the two bills fall within the scope of Article 79 (2) of the Constitution.”
Hon Willock said instead, Hon Rabb is now linking the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Amendment Act, to the Commission of Inquiry even as the Bill was passed some six months plus before the CoI was launched.
“The failure of the Office of the Governor to raise objections or concerns during Cabinet has caused a great deal of time, money and other resources to be wasted, and constitutes the very maladministration issues that the Commission of Inquiry is supposed to look into.”
Hon Willock indicated that both bills would have first come to ex-Governor Augustus’ attention when they were first discussed at Cabinet, thus giving him an opportunity to indicate his objections or concerns at that stage.
Ex-Governor had many opportunities to object to bills beofre passion
“Indeed, it was also the Governor’s prerogative at the time when the individual bills were first placed before the House of Assembly to indicate any concerns, or objections, within the parameters of his discretion,” Hon Willock said.
“The Governor could have taken the opportunity in the first instance to object (at the cabinet-level), he could have done so in the second instance (at the first reading), but only after the House of Assembly had expended time, resources and money, debating and passing the bill did he decide to raise his objections.”
Hon Willock said controversial ex-Governor Jaspert also did not respond to his direct inquiries as Speaker of the House on the subject, except in one case when he responded to Premier Andrew A. Fahie while he was away on leave.
Is Constitution being suspended? Hon Willock asks
Hon Willock questioned that, "By virtue of the Commission of Inquiry taking precedence over the Constitution of the Virgin Islands, the question we may now ask, is our Constitution being suspended?"
Politicals pundits, including former Turks & Caicos Islands Premier, Michael E. Misick have claimed that the VI CoI is a conclusion already written.
Speaker Willock's concerns point to uncertainty over the outcome of the CoI, where many have called it a fishing expedition by the UK.
The CoI also comes at a time when the VI has been expressing strong sentiments of self-determination ahead of its overdue Constitutional Review with the UK.
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14 Responses to “UK now awaiting outcome of CoI to address bills holdup- Hon Willock”
That’s what the COI is about.
Secondly the drug’s amendment act will work in favor of the youth & many other demographics it should not to be equated with allegations or politicized.
We depend on people in authority to work on behalf of the people whether that is the Local government or the UK government.