'No more fool talk': VG residents blast 9th District Rep @ public meeting
Meeting with residents of Virgin Gorda at the Catholic Community Centre last evening, October 25, 2017, Dr O’Neal had his hands full with residents who didn’t wish to hear what they already knew but were seeking answers and solutions to their plight following the devastation by Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017.
Of the many issues that came up was that of price gouging and residents were upset that Government has made no firm effort to protect consumers apart from asking businesses not to take advantage of consumers in their desperate situation.
The reality on the ground is that many businesses are not complying.
According to one resident at the meeting, if there was never a system in place for price control this is the time, as according to her, despite duty being taken off certain goods coming into the territory, the consumers are not benefitting from it.
Her comment drew a loud round of applause.
Being honest about the situation, Dr O’Neal said the “The problem with that is there is no law in place by any means by which we can control prices in the BVI.”
“Well make a law,” a woman responded.
“You are the government, get it in place, you are the Government,” a man joined in.
“The legislation is already written, it is already written, they don’t have the will,” one person was heard saying.
Blame the Governor
Dr O’Neal then appeared to shift the blame on the Governor, stating that when he had called a state of emergency after Hurricane Irma he had the power then to institute some sort of price control.”
“Don’t tell me that,” a man stated, noting that the state of emergency has long been lifted.
Dr O’Neal then continued to try to calm the situation as residents were not prepared to hear such excuses.
“With no legislation in place we realise there are some inadequacies…If there is no legislation in place we cannot demand that they sell certain items at a particular price. We are basically asking them in a very nice polite way to not raise their prices, and not taking advantage of the situation as it is now.
One resident told Dr O’Neal that the “legislation is there sitting in the AG’s chamber but you guys and ladies don’t have the political will or the guts to pass that law, put that law into place. It is there, it has been there for years.”
She further said the National Democratic Party and Dr O’Neal had consumer protection as one of their biggest campaign discussions, and it was them who had said the documents for consumer protection have been written.
“…but there are there just sitting there. Maybe by now Irma blew them away. You all need to find a way…”
Fast track Consumer Protection Law like Curfew Act- Opposition Leader
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has sympathised with the residents of Virgin Gorda, saying Government should have fast tracked consumer protection legislation just as it did for the Curfew Act 2017.
"We have been told for quite a while now that the legislation for price control is being drafted but timing is everything. If it is being drafted like we are continuously being told then the need to have had it fast track was now. This would have taken care of a all concerns of price gouging after Hurricane Irma. This was just as important or even more important than the curfew law that was passed seeing that the Virgin Islands Constitution somewhat already addresses the matter of curfew," Hon Fahie told this news site.
No more 'fool talk"
Residents also blasted Dr O’Neal and the At Large Representatives for being scarce in the Ninth District, including in Anegada following Hurricane Irma.
“I heard nothing of substance from Mr. Out of Touch today. You don't represent us, and you need not come over here trying to hold any more meetings without the at large members being present. They were voted into power by us too, and we haven't seen their presence anywhere in our district to answer the questions of the people. We have been doing this ourselves and will continue to do this ourselves with or without the help of the so called government,” a Pop Stevens posted on his Facebook page last night, October 25, 2017.
Mr Stevens said Virgin Gordians are not going to sit and take no “fool fool talk” from someone who can’t look out for his own district.
“What a waste of our time. He wants to get up on his pedestal and try to talk down to everyone attending. Well that didn't happen today. A meeting is supposed to be about having questions ask and getting answers. Not some ramblings by another absentee politician trying to save face,” Mr Stevens wrote.
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