‘If we sticking to rules of HoA come with factual answers’- Hon Fahie
It was on March 8, 2018 during the continuation of the First Sitting of the Third Session of the Third House of Assembly that Opposition Leader Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) vented his frustration with the ruling party after its Members sought to pull out the rule book in an attempt to evade questions.
“I approved the working group”- Dr Smith
Earlier, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) had stated in response to a question by Hon Fahie that there exists a “working group” or interim development agency that was approved by the Premier to assist the Disaster Recovery Coordination Committee (DRCC) headed by Mr Broderick Penn.
Premier Smith, responding to a follow up question, also said the ads that went out for positions for the agency came through the working group rather than the Department of Human Resources for Government.
Hon Fahie then asked that since the Premier created the working group and it wasn’t approved by Cabinet, whether it would be “acting contradictory that the agency, board and all of that have to be approved by the House but by the time it reaches the House the working group would have already established everything and the House would just be rubber stamping it?”
According to the Premier, the working group “matter for membership is with Cabinet at the moment and once those members have been, once those ads have been filled they will go to cabinet…”
Hon Fahie then wanted to know if Cabinet was going to selected the CEO of the Agency.
Asking too many questions!
At this stage, Minister for Communications and Works Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) interjected: “If I may ask please, how many questions have been asked as follow ups on this question?”
House Speaker Hon Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe reminded Hon Fahie he is only allowed two questions as follow ups.
Rules are rules but Hon Fahie was annoyed for different reasons.
“They are not giving me a chance, Madam Speaker, I don’t understand it,” as an inaudible tradeoff with Minister Vanterpool then ensued.
“You are fully aware in the Standing Orders that it is two supplementary questions are allowed, and you are also a member of the Standing Orders Committee,” Hon Moses-Scatliffe then stated to Hon Fahie, noting that she had been very relaxed in allowing him to ask the questions until Hon Vanterpool queried how many were asked.
Can’t get any answers
“I thank you, but also we should have an obligation to this House and to the people. If we are going to stick with everything [rules] then come with factual answers. That is also a key. And, Madam Speaker, it is not only the follow ups, the supplementary, every rule known to man this morning they keep getting up, getting up, I can’t get any answers to any question. So what they want to do? Just run the people’s business and we don’t get to ask anything over here?"
The NDP Government has been guilty in the past of bringing many half-truths and outright lies to the House of Assembly on many important matters affecting the Territory, including on the Airport Expansion Project, BVI Airways deal, Tortola Pier Park Project, the Elmore Stoutt High School Wall and the UK Framework for the BVI Recovery Plan.
“You can’t ask in Questions and Answers, you can’t ask under Any Other Business, you will be limited, so what we coming here for?” Hon Fahie asked before moving on to another question.
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19 Responses to “‘If we sticking to rules of HoA come with factual answers’- Hon Fahie”
I need all 13 out and a new 13 in
1 man = one vote at the polls under govt name
#NuffSaid
That country knows nothing about the constitution and the clear separation of powers. That's why these leaders are so crooked.
In America congress is congress. The executive is the executive. The judiciary is the judiciary. There is no overlapping. That's why the President can never overrule what congress says in terms of making laws. That's why the president can be impeached and be held accountable for his actions. Tortola? Different bomba claart story. Strrps