Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

No attempts to 'shut down Opposition' in HoA- Speaker Willock

No attempts to 'shut down Opposition' in HoA- Speaker Willock

Speaker of the House of Assembly Honourable Julian Willock has shut down claims by Opposition Leader Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8) of attempts to suppress the Opposition in the House of Assembly (HoA).

Honourable Penn wanted to interject during the contribution to the Virgin Islands Investment Act 2020, during the Eleventh Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly on Thursday, August 19, 2021, of Deputy Speaker Hon Neville A. Smith (AL), but Honourable Smith did not yield.

Following Hon Smith’s wrap up, Hon Penn addressed the HoA on the matter.

“As the leader of the Opposition in this honourable house, I have a responsibility to this house; if the legislation is good, I will support it, if there are issues that I have with the legislation, I will voice my issues in this honourable house. I will not be intimidated to do otherwise.”

Honourable Penn called on the Speaker to be consistent in his rulings in the HoA.

“I want also, Mr Speaker, we have to be consistent in the things that we do, in the rulings that we do in this honourable house. We have to be consistent in terms of the rules that the Opposition has in this honourable house and we not continue to seem to attempt to shut down the opposition from speaking in this honourable house,” he pointed out.

Opposition Member and Fourth District Representative Hon Mark H. Vanterpool has praised the work and impartiality of Speaker Hon Julian Willock.


Opposition Leader's claims 'not accurate'- Hon Willock


However, the Honorable Speaker was not pleased with the accusation.

“I just want to say, Leader of the Opposition, I don’t take lightly with your accusation that there is some attempt to shut down the Opposition. That is not accurate, and I do not accept that. Standing Order 37. B, speaks to if a Member is unwilling to yield that he continues speaking unless the Speaker recognise the other person, that’s the Standing Orders.”

The Speaker then reminded the Opposition Leader that “A few days ago, you accused us of making up the rules as we go! Now we are sticking to the rules, and you have an issue.”

Hon Penn said all he was calling for is consistency in the Honourable Speaker applying the rules of the HoA.

“Not just rules for one set of members in this honourable house. There needs to be consistency in applying the rules in this house, and blind Bartimaeus could see what’s happening here,” Honourable Penn argued.

Hon Willock replied that he heard his argument, but if he [Hon Penn] was honest, he would agree that the “rules apply to everyone.”

Hon Vanterpool praises Hon Willock


Coincidentally, Speaker Willock had come in for praise at the same sitting by Opposition Member and Fourth District Representative Hon Mark H. Vanterpool, who praised the work and impartiality of Speaker Hon Julian Willock.

Hon Willock had at the time called for ‘Order in the House’ after Hon Vanterpool, during his debate on the Virgin Islands Investment Act, 2020, on August 19, 2021, was interrupted by Members on the Government side.

Hon Willock also told Hon Vanterpool to adhere to Standing Order 38.1.

“Mr Speaker, I always like you because you keep us in check when we get out of hand. Thank you very much,” Hon Vanterpool said.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
×