{"id":214894,"date":"2024-10-29T03:32:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-29T07:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=214894"},"modified":"2024-10-28T18:50:54","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T22:50:54","slug":"attorney-confident-as-judge-reserves-decision-in-captain-willocks-defence-force-dispute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/attorney-confident-as-judge-reserves-decision-in-captain-willocks-defence-force-dispute\/","title":{"rendered":"Attorney Confident as Judge Reserves Decision in Captain Willock\u2019s Defence Force Dispute"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Justice Jan Drysdale today reserved her judgment in a contentious case involving Captain Javonson Willock and the Antiguan Defence Force. Captain Willock, represented by Attorney Wendel Alexander, has alleged a prolonged campaign by Defence Force leadership to undermine his career and strip him of his indefinite commission, granted by the King of England through the Governor General.<\/p>

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During the trial, Alexander painted a picture of an ongoing \u201cwar\u201d between Captain Willock and the Chief of Defence Force, suggesting that a substantial amount of government resources had been used in attempts to force Willock out of the service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He detailed how Defence Force leadership sought to downgrade Willock\u2019s commission to a short-term one, which would enable his eventual dismissal.<\/p>

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Alexander explained that his client had been denied promotion to the rank of major, despite possessing all necessary qualifications and seniority. <\/p>

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According to Alexander, Willock, who holds a degree in Human Resource Management with distinction from the University of the West Indies, has repeatedly seen others with fewer qualifications and less experience promoted over him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The attorney argued that the Chief of Defence Force has made it clear that Willock will never receive another promotion so long as he remains in charge.<\/p>

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\u201cCaptain Willock is being treated as a troublemaker because he\u2019s not afraid to challenge these injustices,\u201d Alexander stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that this label of \u201ctroublemaker\u201d appears to stem from Willock\u2019s insistence on addressing the issues that have plagued his career and his outspoken approach to perceived wrongdoing within the Defence Force.<\/p>

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One of the core legal arguments presented by Alexander hinges on the sanctity of Willock\u2019s indefinite commission. Alexander argued that any attempt to alter this commission with a post-dated policy rather than a statutory change is illegal, asserting, \u201cA policy cannot override a statute. Captain Willock\u2019s indefinite commission cannot simply be altered by policy\u2014it\u2019s a matter of legislation, and any change would require action in Parliament.\u201d<\/p>

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Drawing on Shakespearean analogies, Alexander described the Defence Force\u2019s alleged attempts to limit Willock\u2019s career as efforts to \u201ckill him in the shell.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He cited past incidents, suggesting that the Chief of Defence Force\u2019s rise to power has brought about a shift in how senior personnel are treated, with Willock now facing unfair treatment from someone who once attended evening classes alongside him at Antigua State College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alexander is confident of a favorable outcome for Captain Willock, based on both the submissions made and the responses given by the Defence Force\u2019s legal representation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He indicated that the attorney representing the Office of the Attorney General faced significant challenges in responding to key questions about Willock\u2019s treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Justice Drysdale\u2019s pending judgment is expected to set a precedent regarding the authority of Defence Force leadership and the legal boundaries of indefinite commissions granted to officers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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