Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, Mr Ray Harris, said he finds it comical that persons would believe progress is not being made in law reform. Photo:GIS

Host of the Umoja Talk show, Cromwell Smith, said that the law reform commission's role is not to enact legislation. Photo: VINO/File

Harris was speaking as a guest on the Umoja show aired on a local radio station last evening, September 20, 2012. 

Harris said that the commission has worked on sixteen projects and expressed that thousands of hours have gone into these projects. He noted that of the ten years that he has been on the commission, he has missed a total of 4 days due to illness adding that none of those days included any meetings or engagements. “That’s the commitment I’ve had,” he said.  

 “You better believe the concept of [us] not drafting the law… comical, we’re drafting the law,” he stated, “my legal officers and myself work tirelessly.” 

The Law Reform Commission head explained that “when you’re doing reform it’s a little different.”  “The day to day drafting,” he added “is significant, there are many Ministries, many portfolios”. He also noted that under each portfolio there are many laws to be implemented. 

Whenever these laws need amending they are sent to the AG’s drafting unit. 

Addressing a possible reason for the misconception, Harris said, “We put it in, but I think if the laws had been enacted, I don’t think anybody would be making the statements that they are making.” 

He disclosed that the commission “doesn’t bring it to cabinet… as long as it doesn’t get to cabinet it’s not going to be dealt with.” 

“If it had gone to cabinet and then gone to the house,” he said, “you would have found that more of these laws have been enacted.” 

Host of the Umoja Show, Cromwell Smith aka Edju En Ka then said in an attempt to add further clarification “You are a law reform commissioner and your role is not to enact legislation… the fact of the matter is that the government is not enacting laws.” 

Edju En Ka added that “there are ten sets of laws, sitting on the shelf, yet to be enacted.” He declared that of the sixteen pieces of legislation that the commission had worked on, only six were enacted. “That has nothing to do with the Law Reform Commission.” 

Harris said afterwards “Many Virgin Islanders came [to the commission] and gave of their best… therefore I’m sure in time… all those things will be passed” 

Harris then expressed that he felt that perhaps when he was gone some of it would be enacted, adding that “I don’t think we would have wasted our energy at all.”