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CoI: Premier to move Motion to exempt Speaker from paying legal fee

- Hon Willock maintains he filed case agsint three CoI lawyers in his official capacity as speaker
Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has moved a motion to amend the HoA order paper of October 28, 2021, to include a motion to exempt House Speaker, Hon Julian Willock from having to pay legal fees in the Court case against the thee CoI lawyers. Photo: VINO/File
Andrew King, left, and Bilal M. Rawat, right, are two of the three lawyers currently assisting the UK-sponsored Virgin Islands (VI) Commission of Inquiry (CoI) and have been 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 lawyers currently assisting the UK-sponsored Virgin Islands (VI) Commission of Inquiry (CoI) and have been 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
DUFF’S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI - Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has moved a motion to amend the HoA Order Paper of October 28, 2021, to include a Motion to exempt House Speaker Hon Julian Willock from having to pay legal fees in the Court case against the three CoI lawyers.

The amendment was made at today’s House of Assembly sitting at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff’s Bottom, Tortola.

House Speaker Hon Julian Willock, along with his Deputy Hon Neville A. Smith through the law firm Silk Legal, had filed an injunction against Bilal M. Rawat, Andrew King, and Rhea Harrikissoon, who are currently assisting with the work of the United Kingdom-sponsored Virgin Islands (VI) Commission of Inquiry (CoI) in the Virgin Islands.

The Speaker and Deputy had accused them of practicing law in the territory and doing so while not being called to the Virgin Islands Bar, a violation of the Legal Profession Act 2015.

However, Hon Willock subsequently withdrew his application after it was found that Attorney General Dawn J. Smith did not grant consent for him to move forward with an injunction that had already been filed in the court.

As a result, legal expenses were incurred by the defendants for the injunction, Justice Adrian Jack who presided over the case had said that the only thing missing to enable the injunction to be heard was the consent of the AG, as Hon Willock had no legal standing to carry forward the injunction on his own. 

Defendants claiming $$$ 

According to court documents, the defendants are claiming $71,388.59 in court costs and the Attorney-General is claiming $6,084.

While the Speaker has always maintained that he had brought the case in his official capacity, the Judge noted that Mrs Fiona Forbes-Vanterpool of the AG's Chambers had claimed there was no agreement between the Speaker and Government regarding legal expenses.

Meanwhile, the motion as amended on the order paper is yet to be moved or debated in the House of Assembly. 

The Speaker has since lambasted the Attorney General, Hon Smith for allegedly misleading the court in claiming that he was not have been acting in his ‘official capacity' when he filed the injunction against the lawyers.

20 Responses to “CoI: Premier to move Motion to exempt Speaker from paying legal fee”

  • BuzzBvi (28/10/2021, 16:26) Like (61) Dislike (2) Reply
    COI doesn't really need any other evidence than this.
    • My hope. (29/10/2021, 00:36) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
      There is more than enough evidence to prosecute some people, so I do hope the COI reccommend prosection and the attorney general coorperate....A strong message need to be sent..these nonsense cannot continue
  • Here we go.... (28/10/2021, 16:41) Like (61) Dislike (1) Reply
    Agreeing to pay fees after the fact to help your good friend? Agreement and contracts should be made before hand, did you learn nothing through this COI process ?
  • musa (28/10/2021, 16:49) Like (64) Dislike (1) Reply
    More reasons for new leadership
    • Blindman (28/10/2021, 17:32) Like (5) Dislike (46) Reply
      @musa stop the noise VIP back again we know what we getting , we dont have time to guess what or who will bring . This is VIP time sit back relax and enjoy the ride this is no conventional government for this era its fearless government to take through these rough times.
      • Reply (29/10/2021, 06:42) Like (2) Dislike (13) Reply
        What is the big deal about ? I am confused let my people go the esteemed is one of us
        • RealTalk (29/10/2021, 13:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          You full of bull If you does eat bread. It seems you does get it hot all the time and well buttered if necessary.
  • Disgrace (28/10/2021, 17:09) Like (75) Dislike (2) Reply
    People are hungry, schools are is chaos, and all the HOA can talk about is paying the Speakers legal bill and giving themselves a pay rise. Disgrace!
  • Ghost (28/10/2021, 17:20) Like (36) Dislike (1) Reply
    Heavenly Father, Help us the people.. How can a motion like this be Right?.. All I’m seeing is that these Governments are squandering the Government purse (our monies).. but yet some of us don’t want the COI..
  • Rubber Duck (28/10/2021, 17:21) Like (2) Dislike (31) Reply
    This is much to do about NOTHING
  • josiah'sbay (28/10/2021, 17:52) Like (7) Dislike (18) Reply
    So many people of the VI have more self hate than self betterment. They would ratter tear it down than fix it up.
  • oh boy (28/10/2021, 19:02) Like (27) Dislike (1) Reply
    only in the BVI you can see this crap
  • schupes (29/10/2021, 08:35) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply

    So who is getting the $71,000? Is it going into those crooked commissioner's pockets? To &*f with the darn petition too. I am not looking stupid affixing my name nor signature to that crap

  • tony (29/10/2021, 09:01) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    You guys think this is a joke, go pay it yourself !!!
  • TO WILLOCK (29/10/2021, 09:37) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    GO PAY IT YOURSELF MS!
  • Mersha (29/10/2021, 10:25) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    so if he is exempted from paying his legal fees...who will be the one to pay it?
  • Disinterested (29/10/2021, 10:55) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I'm TOTALLY disinterested in having one thin dime of my tax dollars going to pay for nuisance lawsuits filed by the esteemed loose canon.
  • @ tony (30/10/2021, 20:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    HEY BRO I HEAR YOU , BUT POWERS THAT BE COULDN'T CARE LESS HOW MUCH WE HOLLER OUT / THEY HAVE THE POWER TO USE OUR TAXPAYERS


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