Willock was removed for being too antagonistic — Malone
Former Speaker of the House of Assembly (HOA) Julian Willock was unceremoniously removed from his post by the current Government of National Unity and replaced with current Speaker Corine George-Massicote because of his attitude during the Commission of Inquiry (COI).
This is according to Territorial At-Large Representative Carvin Malone, who noted in an appearance on the Talking Points radio show that Willock appeared to be too ‘antagonistic’ during his appearance before the COI.
Willock hinted at the time that he was given little choice by the government and was asked to either resign from his post or face the prospect of being removed by members of the HOA.
“They just felt as if the Speaker was too antagonistic, as far as they were concerned,“ Malone stated when asked why the Speaker was removed.
“They felt as if ‘how dare he’ – as they put it – how dare he challenge the [COI] Commissioner, how dare he challenge the lawyers, how dare he file a [court injunction]?” Malone said.
When host Violet Gaul interrupted to remind Malone that the BVI is in a democratic society, Malone responded, “for us”.
Willock, who called himself a sacrificial lamb following his ouster, declined at the time to publicly give any reasons he was offered for his removal, despite his many protestations that he had done nothing wrong.
When pressed about who he was being sacrificed for, Willock said he would not betray the confidence of Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley and the conversation they had at the time.
Meanwhile, Malone also indicated that it was his closeness to former Premier Andrew Fahie that caused his own removal as a member of the Cabinet and Minister for Health and Social Development.
Willock hinted at the time that he was given little choice by the government and was asked to either resign from his post or face the prospect of being removed by members of the HOA.
“They just felt as if the Speaker was too antagonistic, as far as they were concerned,“ Malone stated when asked why the Speaker was removed.
“They felt as if ‘how dare he’ – as they put it – how dare he challenge the [COI] Commissioner, how dare he challenge the lawyers, how dare he file a [court injunction]?” Malone said.
When host Violet Gaul interrupted to remind Malone that the BVI is in a democratic society, Malone responded, “for us”.
Willock, who called himself a sacrificial lamb following his ouster, declined at the time to publicly give any reasons he was offered for his removal, despite his many protestations that he had done nothing wrong.
When pressed about who he was being sacrificed for, Willock said he would not betray the confidence of Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley and the conversation they had at the time.
Meanwhile, Malone also indicated that it was his closeness to former Premier Andrew Fahie that caused his own removal as a member of the Cabinet and Minister for Health and Social Development.
