2017 Budget Debate Day is February 23
It was our newsroom that first and accurately announced the Budget Address date for the 2017 spending Bill which was January 16, 2017 and that the House of Assembly’s Standing Finance Committee had concluded its deliberations on January 27, 2017.
Now word reaching our newsroom from our senior National Democratic Party (NDP) sources close to the Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith Administration is that the 2017 Budget Debate will take place in the House of Assembly (HoA) on Thursday February 23, 2017.
Elected Members are to receive their summons within the next 24 hours.
It is unclear how long the debate will take, but it’s the goal to wrap it up in two days, according to the same source.
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) presented a $323M Budget that called for higher taxes on most if not all services of Government, along with other rate hike on the private sector, which includes higher business fees.
History made with new Opposition Leader
History will also be made as this is the first time that a new Opposition Leader will change before an election or without a Member of the sitting Opposition crossing the floor. Controversial Governor John S. Duncan OBE, whose critics have labeled as ineffective and has little or no regard for the constitution or good governance, ousted Opposition Leader Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) on Monday February 6, 2017.
The United Kingdom appointed Governor replaced Hon Fraser with Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) based on Mr Fahie being elected as Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party. Many in the legal fraternity said this was unconstitutional as set out in section 70 1 and 2 of the Virgin Islands Constitutional Order 2007.
While the Governor has some discretion, they wonder, if this was an appropriate exercise of the discretion. According to many in the legal fraternity, it may set a wide precedent and it would mean for example, that if an Opposition Party with only two Members who cannot agree changes its party leader six times before the House of Assembly is dissolved for a next general election that the governor may feel obliged to disrupt the HoA to revoke an appointment six times.
25 Responses to “2017 Budget Debate Day is February 23”
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You can put VIP in tomorrow and we will still have issues with Schools, Healthcare, Sewage, Electricity, Water, roads and infrastructure, foreign investment, Airport and Seaport expansion etc. to deal with. Tell Andrew to explain to the good people what he will do different to NDP and where he will find the money to do all those things. Since everything seems to be wrong, ask the others what they will do right.