Willock responds after Fraser slams nameless foe over resignation talk

Willock

Former Speaker of the House Julian Willock is crying foul following a statement from Third District Representative Julian Fraser who recently condemned moves by an ‘unnamed contender’ he alleged has been campaigning while telling residents that this was his (Fraser‘s) last term in office.

Fraser said he was concerned that a “so-called, would-be candidate” was misusing his name in their promotions, giving the appearance of an endorsement of sorts while suggesting that Fraser would no longer be running for office.

He urged the pretender to discontinue using his name and said it was obvious that people were being offended. “I want to tell the people of the Third District that I’m the person they elected to serve and until and unless I say otherwise, anything you hear is just hot air,” stated Fraser.

Although the veteran lawmaker declined to reveal the name of the person he said had been campaigning on his resignation, a swift response came to the claims in the form of an early-morning statement from Willock to today.

Willock accused the Third District Representative of attacking him over his attempts to further Fraser’s legacy. “Yes, I have said that I am building on Fraser’s legacy [but] that does not in any way mean that he is no longer running for office,” Willock argued.

According to Willock, building on Fraser’s legacy meant that Fraser’s now-discontinued programmes in the Third District over the years are being emulated through small contributions to the community.

Willock said he continues to show Fraser, his longtime friend and mentor, the highest regard and respect. This includes invitations extended to Fraser to job fairs that Willock is holding that had been discontinued by the Third District Representative.

Some of Fraser’s colleagues in the House of Assembly, Willock said, have even chastised him over someone doing work in his district and “acting like the District Representative.”

Willock did not refute those claims but said these were the same ‘questionable figures’ that refused to accept Fraser as Premier after the 2023 general elections.

“On a personal note, I wish to state that Fraser has opened a lot of doors for me and I will never forget his kindness to me both personally and in my career as a public officer,” Willock wrote.

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