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House of Assembly meets March 1, 2018; Throne Speech will be read

The current situation in the House of Assembly building in Road Town. It is expected to be refurbished in time for the March 1, 2018 sitting of the Virgin Islands House of Assembly. Photo: Team of Reporters
Governor, His Excellency Mr Augustus J. U. Jaspert aka 'Gus', seen here conversing with members of the community following the Swearing-in Ceremony on August 22, 2017, will be delivering the traditional Speech from the Throne when the House of Assembly meets on March 1, 2018. Photo: VINO/File
Governor, His Excellency Mr Augustus J. U. Jaspert aka 'Gus', seen here conversing with members of the community following the Swearing-in Ceremony on August 22, 2017, will be delivering the traditional Speech from the Throne when the House of Assembly meets on March 1, 2018. Photo: VINO/File
Repair works are ongoing at the Virgin Islands House of Assembly in Road Town, Tortola. Photo: Team of Reporters
Repair works are ongoing at the Virgin Islands House of Assembly in Road Town, Tortola. Photo: Team of Reporters
The repair of the House of Assembly is being done by local contractor, Roy A. Garraway of Quality Construction Ltd. Photo: Team of Reporters
The repair of the House of Assembly is being done by local contractor, Roy A. Garraway of Quality Construction Ltd. Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Construction workers are busy further restoring the damaged House of Assembly Chambers in Road Town to host the First Sitting of the Third Session of the Third House of Assembly (HoA).

Some work was done on the building for the lying in state of late Legislator Omar W. Hodge, who died on December 20, 2017 and was buried on January 18, 2018.

The next meeting of the HoA will take place on Thursday March 1, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. and it will mark the return to the Parliament Chambers following the Hurricanes of September 2017 that destroyed the building, leaving just the frame standing.

The House had no home and met in two locations; at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom and the Arbitration Centre located on Wickham’s Cay II, Tortola.

The repair of the House of Assembly is being done by local contractor, Roy A. Garraway of Quality Construction Ltd.

First time Governor invited; Snubbed for his Swearing-In

At the March 1, 2018 session, the United Kingdom appointed Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert aka ‘Gus’, who the National Democratic Party, along with the Speaker of the HoA Hon Ingrid A. Moses, barred from being sworn in at the Chambers on August 22, 2017, forcing him upstairs to the High Court, will deliver his first Speech from the Throne.

The Speech, which is written by the Government of the day, represents the Administration’s legislative agenda. It is usually a laundry list of Bills to be passed, with little or nothing happening, and it’s more of a tradition in the Westminster system form of Government than things being put into action.

The session is expected to be carried live on radio.

13 Responses to “House of Assembly meets March 1, 2018; Throne Speech will be read”

  • next (19/02/2018, 12:54) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Who cares?
    • I do because we need to stop (19/02/2018, 14:46) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      As annoying or as self-centered as our politicians can be we should care.

      The house of assembly is usable after 6 months. Recovery has been slow and exhausting. We should be glad to see some progress because on September 6, the place looked like Ground Zero and a lot of people were feeling hopeless.

      We're adapting a British tradition in a British Territory that is hardly British culturally. We should care about our cultural identity. We're West Indian and we're British and we seem to not know what either of those identities entail.

      Our governor was disrespected for no reason but ego and now the same politicians that disrespected him rely on his liaison between us and our mother country to get help and to inform them on our needs. They should be ashamed for doing that and we should be ashamed for letting them do that.

      Our politicians disrespected our governor. Our kids don't respect their parents. No one respects the law. We don't respect each other. Everyone wants respect and demands it but no one gives it. And now some people think the only way to get it is by violence, force and tyranny.

      This 'who cares?' mentality is what got us to where we are. It starts out with the small things and then turn into the big things. Apathy isn't the right strategy for development.

      We should care about what we're doing and what we're saying because what goes around comes around and our children are watching and learning. If we keep with this 'who cares?' mentality, we shouldn't be surprise in 20 years when not a damn body cares except the crippled old people left in the dirt and the dead young people in the grave.

      There's no need for cynicism in everything.
  • Yes (19/02/2018, 15:21) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    how come the speaker allowing this?
  • Diplomat (19/02/2018, 17:04) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
    A useless and archaic process. What it is the value in having the Governor deliver a throne speech that he/she (snap! Have we ever had a woman administrator or governor?) did not draft? For example, the last governor (Duncan) took issue with the funding allocation to the RVIfPF in the budget and used the power given to him in the constitution and appropriate more money( $1M+) for RVIPF; the NDP government was dissed and embarrased. Who negotiated this colonial control nonsense? The Premier should present the annual budget to the HOA for discussion and approval. The constitution should be amended taking the universal power away from the governor. The local government should authorize, appropriate and control funding raise from local revenues. The people need to hold government responsible and accountable. There needs to be one government; it appears to be 2 governments operating on parallel tracks. Dysfunction. Further, get rid of the continuous and annoying Madam or Mr. Speaker noise. It is as annoying as raking finger nails across a black board .
    • Disinterested (20/02/2018, 07:45) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Diplomat, agree about the constant and repeated bellowing of Madame Speaker. It is like worshipping. What is the Speaker’s role? The Speaker is simply being the gate keeper; nothing more. Madani Speaker, Madame Speaker, Madame Speaker, Madame Speaker and on and on is annoying as hell and turns people off. At the beginning of a discussion, give the customary and professional recognition and move on. Of course, it is appropriate to use the proper address at strategic points.
  • zoe (19/02/2018, 18:08) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Gus should give them a taste of their own medications
  • Boo (19/02/2018, 21:14) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Where are the voices for independence?
  • Eagle Eye (19/02/2018, 23:40) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    The house of assembly is a place where a few politicians are just angry with themselves each other and the people
  • Hope. (20/02/2018, 06:19) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
    Hope the back benchers recognized their power and rise up...
    • @ hope (20/02/2018, 10:05) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      them less two faced people like the one from the 8th who wants to play both sides
  • HOT SPOT (21/02/2018, 08:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    WHY AER THE ROADS IN THE EAST SO TERRIBLE
  • HOT SPOT (21/02/2018, 08:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    WHY AER THE ROADS IN THE EAST SO TERRIBLE
    • Shoe got dirty (17/03/2018, 19:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The road is like that because the leaders must have a plan to put country above self and treat every.body.equal to much hands spoiling.the pot in tortola every body.want to drive.with out doing the test I want to know who.really is the boss in.this.little.country lets be realistic with.treating everyone the way we want to.be treated


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