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Hon. Vanterpool: Gov't is too big…needed to reduce size!

Should the Law Reform Commission office be shut down? Ray Harris wants out
Minister for C&W Mark Vanterpool (right) during the presentation by the Law Reform Commission before that SFC said government was too big and we needed to go through this excise to see how we could begin to reduce the size, however, Deputy Premier & Minister for NR&L Dr. Pickering noted that in the absence of the Premier, he would not want the record to reflect that, this is a policy decision that has been made by the Government.
Attorney General Christopher Malcolm Phd., said speaking on the behalf of the Law Reform Commission's Chairman Mr. Ray Harris, that Law Reform is an unending exercise and that there is always room and scope for law revision and consulting exercises. Dr. Malcolm also told the SFC that Mr. Harris wrote a letter indicating that, as of that time, he did not wish to extend his contract.
Attorney General Christopher Malcolm Phd., said speaking on the behalf of the Law Reform Commission's Chairman Mr. Ray Harris, that Law Reform is an unending exercise and that there is always room and scope for law revision and consulting exercises. Dr. Malcolm also told the SFC that Mr. Harris wrote a letter indicating that, as of that time, he did not wish to extend his contract.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Appearing before the 2012 Standing Finance Committee (SFC), Attorney General Christopher Malcolm Phd., on behalf of Ray Harris, Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, was grilled about the status of the Law Reform Commission and whether it was still needed.

The Attorney General (AG) informed members that the current Chairman’s contract would be expiring in April and there were questions as to whether or not he would be seeking to extend it. The AG said that Mr. Harris wrote a letter indicating that, as of that time, he did not intend to do so. He indicated to the SFC that Mr. Harris was ill and was also off-island at the time of his presentation before the Committee.

The Minister for Communications and Works Mark Vanterpool asked the Attorney General to explain whether the Law Reform Commission was close to being completed. To this, Dr. Malcolm stated that Law Reform is an unending exercise and that there is always room and scope for the law revision and consulting exercises. He told the SFC the real question is, whether or not there were intentions to have it on an ongoing basis, or on a more periodic basis, bringing their resources as and when significant reform exercise are needed. The AG said in every democracy, if your laws are to remain up-to-date then there must be a law reform.

Honourable Vanterpool inquired whether the bulk of the reform that was being worked on in terms of the long outstanding issues were being fixed and if indeed most of it was finished. The AG expressed that since the 2007 Constitution there were a number of laws that needed to be up-dated. Some of them needed to be revised significantly in order to bring them in line with the fundamental rights of the Constitution. Dr. Malcolm, a Jamaican national, stated that significant work still remains to be done and that it comes back down to logistics and how you do it.

Vanterpool: Government is too big & we needed to go through this exercise to see how we could begin to reduce the size of this government!

The Minister for Communications and Works Vanterpool told the SFC that he had been looking out for some areas in the budget where Divisions and Departments may be significantly reduced with austerity measures and this looked like one based on what he was hearing. The fourth district representative said, “half a million dollars needed to go somewhere else”.

The Member for the third district Hon. Julian Fraser RA queried whether the Minister for Communications and Works suggested the amalgamation of the Law Reform with the Attorney General’s Chambers. To that, Minister Vanterpool stated that he was suggesting based on what he was hearing about the Commission’s work being finished and that Government needed to close that division. Mr. Vanterpool said, as the AG suggested, the Territory needed some law revision work done but it can commission the work on an as need basis. He expressed that Government tends to lean too much in luxury and letting things stay where they are.

Territorial At Large member Archibald C. Christian expressed that the work of the Commission is well documented and that the Commission has done an excellent job from inception. He expressed his concern that his colleague and himself were trying to find the most cost effective way to ensure that Government runs efficiently.

However, the Minister for Works Vanterpool said that he did not have any apologies for what he said. He stated that he was saying that Government is too big and they needed to go through the exercise to see how they could begin to reduce the size of government. Minister Vanterpool said that it is too big and there were areas where it has set up for specific purposes and the Law Reform Commission has achieved its purpose. He further explained that it has further purposes to achieve in the future, but as of now they needed to determine as a Government that it needed to be shut down and that the expenses should not be shifted all over the place because Government don’t have the money. The fourth district representative told the SFC … “we should stop trying to facilitate things that are not necessary and start seriously thinking about reducing the size of this Government.”

Meanwhile, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Resources and Labour Dr. Kedrick Pickering interjected by saying that in the absence of the Premier, he would not want the record to reflect that this is a policy decision that has been made by the Government.

21 Responses to “Hon. Vanterpool: Gov't is too big…needed to reduce size!”

  • civil servant (07/04/2012, 09:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ummmmm there we go again the ndp after the civil service
  • critic (07/04/2012, 09:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    mark confusing me....he's now talking about down sizeing government and he recently hired a bunch of kids in his department...what is it?? or maybe he is mixed up with kmark
  • S (07/04/2012, 10:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let them send home locals they will see. They are playing the a$$ with their head on. Gov't well have money, they already rob us of our increment that we already incrued. If they so bad off, then the ministers and all heads of department should take a blasted pay cut. Getting paid for loving in their house. Junior staff are paid less than $30,000 and they do majority of the work. Seems like they looking problems in this place.
    • the rock says (07/04/2012, 14:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      i cant believe vino printed your sorry ... blog!
    • Precious (08/04/2012, 12:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Did you really read what you wrote? You need to retake English Composition and work on your spelling. I do not work for government but, while I agree the ministers could eliminate some unnecessary allowances, if government employees like yourself worked on professional development, you would not be stuck were you are. Many of you complain and do nothing to improve yourself. Besides, everyone knows the government does not pay much. You can't change that so change your attitude.
    • Blog (10/04/2012, 13:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      If your blog is any indication of your ability to make meaningful contributions, perhaps you didn't deserve an increment
  • up town (07/04/2012, 11:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ndp showing themself they doing just what funny man said they will do during the campaign! Ayo tek dat
  • Employee (07/04/2012, 12:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We need to continue to pray for our country and the leaders of this land...that they will make the right decisions and not go around like chickens without head making foolish decisions. Because at the end of the day, we all still have bills to pay and children to take care of. To top it off they spoke about cutting increments by 50 % and up to now some of us still can't a penny since the year started.
  • x (07/04/2012, 13:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    see Mr. Mark does not understand the importance of our laws and these complex issues...I am not surprised..Good intervention Dr. Pickering...set the record stright
    • man down (07/04/2012, 19:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I have always admired Dr. Pickering. He seems to be the one that is mature and has a level head between the wild and hot headed radicals like Mark and Myron. Thank god for Doc Pickering keep helping the Johnny come lately to settle down.
      • Dr. Pilly (07/04/2012, 21:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        i concerd with man down...
      • THE ROCK SAYS (09/04/2012, 06:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Hon, mark and Hon myron to u dudo head..every party needs a bully and hon mark and hon myron are ours...get use to it !
  • Lawyer (07/04/2012, 17:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    How could any government suggest working without a law reform commission? Does mark understand that law reform is an on-going process? Does he know anything about law? Is he running a supermarket? Every democracy needs a law commission. I suggest that he takes a crash course in law.
  • she the cat mother (07/04/2012, 18:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am confused as the jamdown man speaking out of both sides of his month one time its endless the other time its on a need by need basis...
  • Jay (07/04/2012, 23:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    vino you are the best I just love your headlines...keep the excellent work up...the haters will fall one by one. As for Hon. Mark walk slow take your time.
  • jack (08/04/2012, 07:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I understand where mark was going he looking for an extra half of a million to spend and nothing wrong with that!
  • Hush (08/04/2012, 07:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hush all you silly mouth, Mark this is just 5 of the same fools booting, no one cares about the country. Have anyone ever seen piglets on them mother thats how some of you are .
  • on point (08/04/2012, 19:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    i understand your point now Mark
  • MAN (08/04/2012, 20:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mark you cut the size of Government by growing the Private Sector with common sense.
  • taxpayer (09/04/2012, 22:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mark can talk what he wants but I'll wait to see the day when Dr. Smith will agree to cut the civil service. Mark is still of the belief that he is operating a super market. He needs to wake up and smell the coffee.


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