There is a ‘cultural lack of respect’ for HoA Members- Speaker Willock
It was during the Sixth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands on September 2, 2019, that Second District Representative Hon Melvin M. Turnbull had shared that he was somewhat embarrassed after being randomly selected for airport security search at the Terrance B. Lettsome Airport on Beef Island while departing the territory recently on official government business and noted that he was going to bring the matter to the Committee of Privileges.
And now Speaker of the House of Assembly, Honourable Julian Willock has cited the issue as one of “a cultural lack of respect” for members of the HoA.
According to Willock, he has been a victim of this ‘lack of respect’.
‘Not asking any special privileges’
Speaking on the “Big Story” with host Cathy O. Richards on JTV on Wednesday, September 18, 2019, Hon Willock recalled recently arriving at the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport, along with a senior member of the judiciary, and witnessed an officer at the airport walking the member of the judiciary to the front of the line while he was made to tow.
In his interview with Ms Richards, Hon Willock said, “One of the things that I have a pet peeve with is ensuring that members are respected. They are elected, their office should be given that respect.”
Fingering what he sees as a possible root cause, Hon Willock said there is a cultural lack of respect for Members of the House of Assembly, “Whether it’s the thirteen elected or myself as Speaker or the Attorney General, the fifteen of us.”
According to Hon Willock, that is something he wants to see corrected, “that members are given due respect, that members are treated with the same courtesies that are extended to the judiciary branch, same courtesies that are being extended to the Governor, our Members are elected, they belong to the legislative branch of government and they must be treated as such.
“Now we are not asking any special privilege. All I am saying is that members must be respected, their Office of Speaker, the Office of Opposition Leader, the Office of the Premier, the Member for the Fourth District, the Member for the Sixth [District] all should be treated with courtesy and respect,” he insisted.
Hon Willock also alluded to instances of HoA Members appearing at public events and not being given the necessary courtesies.
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29 Responses to “There is a ‘cultural lack of respect’ for HoA Members- Speaker Willock”
I am not sure why members of the House of Assembly think that they should be entitled to bypass the immigration and customs inspections, or wait in line for those inspections. Are they so important in their own opinions that they can't line up with the common man.
The fact that a member of the HoA has to line up like everybody else is not a sign of disrespect - indeed it would be disrespectful for a member of the HoA to expect to be bumped to the front of the line, or not to be inspected.
Perhaps if our HoA members remembered that they are the servants of the people, and not demi-gods for 4 years, then the people's business might be done more efficiently and effectively.
Now go run with that you hater, that is why you out looking in!!!
The elected members of the the BVI HOA and the other legislatures of the governments of the Eastern Caribbean are elected for terms of 4 years or less and only tend to travel in the EC during their short terms. Hence these individuals are mostly unfamiliar to custom and immigration officials due their short elected terms.
You people are so retart
YOU Have a Dam right to DEMAN RESPECT IN YOUR HOME LAND
If you want to compare the Judiciary and the HOA, lets do.
The Judiciary actually have the professional coutesy of informing the Immigration and Customs Departments when they expect resident and visiting judges/justices.
The resident judges are met by their protocol officers, who have established professional relationships with officers at the ports.
On the other hamd, the members of the HOA travel, and they expect officers at the ports to telepathecally know that they are on a particular flight or ferry.
While the office should be respected, the holder of the office should equally display humility, in that way, you will garner the respect desired.
To whom much is given, much is required...Just a tip!
Come on, the election is over and vip is in all the way and they or Willock are going no where anytime soon now take that to the bank
Maybe you all should see your time in line as an opportunity to help to welcome our guests...the responsibility is not just Immigration and Customs officers ONLY! Just a thought.
All house of assembly members deserve our collective respect
at other BVISLANDERS.