HoA to meet Dec 21, 2015; Another Censor Motion in the making?
The Order Paper for the Fifth Sitting Of The First Session Of The Third House Of Assembly (HoA) was released to the media late today, December 17, 2015.
One of the many items on the Order Paper and the other documents obtained by our news site, which caught the attention of our newsroom, is a motion to be moved by the Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton.
Limiting debate in HoA; Is that censorship?
The Territorial Member is the Chairman of the Standing Select Committee of the HoA, which is charged with the responsibility of reviewing and updating the HoA Standing Orders.
Part of the Standing Orders Committee proposal to the HoA for the December 21, 2015 Sitting is to limit the time Members have on debating a Bill, Motion, Resolution or speaking under Other Business.
Some Members view this as censorship and a backward step in doing the people’s Business and a challenge to democratic principles. The other Members of the Committee are Leader of the Opposition Hon Julian Fraser RA, (R3) Deputy Speaker of the HoA, Hon Delores Christopher (R5), Education and Culture Minister Hon Myron V. Walwyn and Senior Legislator Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1).
According to our news room’s sources within the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), the Amendment to this portion of the Standing Orders did not enjoy unanimous support from all Select Committee Members.
Pecuniary Interest changes coming!
It is our newsroom’s understanding that there is also a proposal to make amendments to the portion in the Standing Orders on Pecuniary Interest. It remains unclear if the changes are to strengthen or relax the rules.
Prior to the 2015 General Election, the Virgin Islands Party Opposition accused controversial Minister for Education and Culture Hon Walwyn of violating this section of the Constitution related to declaration and permission from the HoA to do business with Government. They alleged that the pecuniary interest was for having two companies, which he had direct interest in, doing business with the House of Assembly.
It was later discovered, following a question in the HoA, that another company, Orion Law, was also doing business indirectly with a Government Statutory Body, the BVI Health Services Authority. The then three Opposition members accused Hon Walwyn of a breach of Section 67 of the Constitution because two of his companies, MVW International Ltd., and the Pub Ltd., were doing Business with the House of Assembly by providing food without, what they reported as, getting permission from the HoA.
The Opposition, who petitioned Governor John S. Duncan OBE, claimed that it was a contractual agreement which they said was a breach of Section 67 of the Constitution and wanted Minister Walwyn to step down in line with Section 67 (7) of the Constitution.
It remains unclear if the Standing Select Committee Motion being put forward by Committee Chairman Hon Skelton will remain on the Order Paper on Monday, as there are conflicting reports from two Senior NDP Parliamentarians.
25 Responses to “HoA to meet Dec 21, 2015; Another Censor Motion in the making?”
It has the radio stations
It has townhall meetings
It has the social media
So hope is not lost.
HOA is not giving lost of hope.