The HOA recently passed a motion to establish a select committee that essentially seeks to examine whether Willock should pay legal fees incurred in an aborted court injunction, or whether the burden should be passed to taxpayers instead.

Two opposition members — Marlon Penn and Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull — along with a lone government member, Shereen Flax-Charles voted against the initiative. The Opposition praised Flax-Charles for the courage she displayed in breaking ranks and voting against her own party’s motion.

But during the debate, Dr Wheatley said: “One member spoke about courage. Voting against exempting the Speaker; that doesn’t take courage.”

Dr Wheatley argued instead that it took courage to stand with the Speaker in the face of vociferous Opposition from residents and colleagues in the HOA.

He told the HOA that the easy thing to do would be to say, ‘Speaker, you on your own’.

According to the Deputy Premier, things that actually take courage include standing up to the UK and the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (COI).

He noted that calls for a COI into the Boris Johnson-led UK government were rebuffed. He suggested it was unfair the UK government could defer a COI on itself while still insisting on one for the BVI.

The Deputy Premier said persons should see the bigger picture and focus on the real enemy of inequality.