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‘Change of HoA Sitting had nothing to do with Hon O’Neal’s letter’ – Premier Smith

Premier Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith that the rescheduled date for the Ninth Sitting of the Third Session of the Second House of Assembly had nothing to do with a letter submitted to the Speaker of the House of Assembly by the Leader of the Opposition Hon Ralph T. O’Neal OBE (R9). Photo: VINO
On the same day that the notice of the postponement of the September 2, 2014 Sitting, Leader of the Opposition Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE had fired off a letter to the Speaker of the HoA Ms. Ingrid A. Moses about the illegal adjournment of the Eighth Sitting of the Third Session of the Second HoA, sine die when a quorum was lost during a recess on August 14, 2014. Photo: VINO/File
On the same day that the notice of the postponement of the September 2, 2014 Sitting, Leader of the Opposition Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE had fired off a letter to the Speaker of the HoA Ms. Ingrid A. Moses about the illegal adjournment of the Eighth Sitting of the Third Session of the Second HoA, sine die when a quorum was lost during a recess on August 14, 2014. Photo: VINO/File
Premier Smith said that the Sitting of the House of Assembly was changed from September 2, 2014 to September 11, 2014 because Government had matters to be added to the Order Paper. Photo: VINO/File
Premier Smith said that the Sitting of the House of Assembly was changed from September 2, 2014 to September 11, 2014 because Government had matters to be added to the Order Paper. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Premier Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith said that the rescheduled date for the Ninth Sitting of the Third Session of the Second House of Assembly had nothing to do with a letter submitted to the Speaker of the House of Assembly by the Leader of the Opposition Hon Ralph T. O’Neal OBE (R9).

Speaking at a press briefing held yesterday September 5, 2014 at the Government Administrative Complex, Premier Smith said that the Sitting of the House of Assembly was changed from September 2, 2014 to September 11, 2014 because Government had matters to be added to the Order Paper.

“The Sitting was withdrawn because [some] important Bills that were to be on the Order Paper were not ready,” said Premier Smith.

He said that the Leader of the Opposition in his letter expressed an opinion and that it had nothing to do with the change of the date for the Sitting.

Days ago the House of Assembly’s Public Relations Officer Linton V. Leonard announced a Sitting for 2nd September 2014. However, hours later another announcement came out notifying of its postponement until “further notice.”

On the same day that the notice of the postponement of the September 2, 2014 Sitting, Honourable O’Neal had fired off a letter to the Speaker of the HoA Ms. Ingrid A. Moses about the illegal adjournment of the Eighth Sitting of the Third Session of the Second HoA, sine die when a quorum was lost during a recess on August 14, 2014.

The decision to adjourn was taken by Acting Speaker at the time Honourable Deloris Christopher (R5). Premier Smith maintains that the House was properly adjourned according to the Standing Orders on August 14, 2014.

Hon O’Neal in his letter to the Speaker of the HOA dated August 27, 2014 and obtained by this news site said, “the matter was reviewed and research conducted and nowhere could I find a basis in the Standing Orders of the HoA or Erskine May which supports the action taken. I have also consulted with my colleagues and they have all corroborated my findings.”

21 Responses to “‘Change of HoA Sitting had nothing to do with Hon O’Neal’s letter’ – Premier Smith”

  • farmer brown (06/09/2014, 09:59) Like (21) Dislike (2) Reply
    Another ndp lie!
  • A Fahie (06/09/2014, 12:04) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
    Yes a lie from the pits of hell
  • kids (06/09/2014, 12:39) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply

    Hon s..th could tell a straight lie in your face tooo lie buddy

  • ReX FeRal (06/09/2014, 15:50) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    Its too bad our government contiunes to run the country like a headless chicken
    • ReX FeRal (07/09/2014, 19:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Ur not the real rex feral. Creatr ur own id fish cabeza
      • @ rex feral (08/09/2014, 07:26) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        that line is so tire with everyone saying who is real or not!!!! why ayo do not give your full name and address eh?
  • Lawyer (06/09/2014, 18:07) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    Dr. D Orlando Smith there are some things you just cannot defend. The elder states man and most experience politician to date in the Caribbean is saying that nowhere in the standing orders of the house or in erskine May can he find any basis for the illegal action on the part of the deputy speaker when she adjourned the house sine die without a quorum and here you coming talking bull that the house was properly adjourned according to the standing
    Orders. To add insult to injury you have the nerve to say that the reschedule had nothing to do with the Opposition Leader letter and try to give excuse for it's reschedule. Dr. Smith if it walks like a duck, look like a duck, chuck like a duck and smell like a duck it is a duck. In other words am saying to you, stop lying to the people, you are destroying yourself
  • mother hen (06/09/2014, 18:50) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    sounds kind of fishy to me
  • Shara Parlin (06/09/2014, 18:53) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    I any case no one really cares when the house of assembly meets again it has become a disgrace to we the people so they are better off not even meeting
    • zoe (07/09/2014, 23:46) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      The best comments in a long time because shara you speaking truth to power
  • smdh (06/09/2014, 19:27) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dr Smith just confirming that the NDP generally ignores the other members of the house as they do the concerns of the public. Let them try to ignore what will happen in the next elections. They haven't learned at all.
  • Danger ahead (06/09/2014, 20:29) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    The NDP have no respect for law & order nor rules. The last House Sitting was illegally adjourned. This must be rectified before a next Sitting is allowed to be held. If not all the business of the last Sitting & future Sitting are not valid & legal & can be challenged in Court. I hope NDP & the Speaker come to their senses.
  • sense (06/09/2014, 20:41) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    It is time for election. If that does not happen the Premier and his cabinet will destroy this country. We have to listen to too many lies. They care nothing about the people of this territory. They will spend every Penney traveling up and down. Now it is China. Who is going to benefit? Watch to see who have business with China. Time will tell. Tell the people the truth. Remember the world is watching.
  • Hope (06/09/2014, 21:23) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    I hope the NDP doesn't sweet talk the new HE like they did with the last one so that we the people can have someone helping the Opposittion by ensuring that we get good governance because the NDP are becoming bigger & bigger liars & dictators.
  • yea (07/09/2014, 01:16) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    WHat else you expect dr to say?
  • Love for My Country (07/09/2014, 08:38) Like (3) Dislike (10) Reply
    the NDP is still the best hope for the BVI
    • wize up (07/09/2014, 09:44) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
      I agree; long live the ndp...the vip had more than enough time to put the BVI on a better path to success....go talk that !!!!!!
  • ABC (07/09/2014, 22:20) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Dr. Smith is fully aware that the Speaker called a meeting with the Opposition to find a way forward after the debuncle committed by the Deputy Speaker. Dr. Smith is also aware that the Attorney General stated that the Deputy Speaker messed up and the way forward was unclear. There is no reason to defend an obvious blunder.
  • @ wize up (07/09/2014, 23:46) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Funny man go sit down
  • pic (09/09/2014, 07:24) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    And we are aware that the AG sat down there and gave no guidance to the Deputy Speaker like he always does. Waste of time. So if Deputy Speaker messed up the AG doubly messed down.


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