First District Representative Hon. Andrew A. Fahie and Speaker of the House of Assembly locked horns today during the Third sitting of the Second Session of the Second House of Assembly. Photo: VINO/File

Earlier, Hon. Moses-Scatliffe had told Hon. Fahie that she would not amend the minutes of the last sitting of the HOA to include an addendum he requested be done.

Speaking during the confirmation of minutes segment, the Hon. Speaker said that having read the document submitted and also having requested a specific copy of the proclamation order, it was her ruling that “the addendum itself cannot be accepted as part of the minutes.”

Her reasons given were that the document submitted did not accurately reflect what took place at the HOA sitting on September 3, 2012; but more importantly, she added, based on advice given by her counsel, the practice of the prorogation of the House in the manner which the document submitted sought to question was consistent with the manner in which the House had been prorogued in the past.

The Hon. Speaker further indicated that based on this and other information; she could not accept the document as an addendum and that was her final ruling on the matter.

“The minutes as they are stand and this document that you have presented is not accepted,” she said to First District Representative, Hon. Andrew A. Fahie.

Adding a final note to her ruling, the Hon. Speaker also declared that she would not entertain any further discussions on the issue of the addendum and the prorogation order.

Later in the proceedings Hon. Fahie again had an animated discussion with the Hon. Speaker after complaining that he felt insulted by a comment she had made.

During the question and answer segment Hon. Fahie had asked Minister for Communications & Works, Hon. Mark Vanterpool to provide a detailed status report, inclusive of contract values, for each of the two contracts signed in September 2006 between the Government of the Virgin Islands (VI) and Global Water Associates.

The Hon. Minister responded by saying there was presently written communication received by the government of the VI from Global Water Associates which precluded him from answering the question citing Section 18 (6) of the Standing Orders of the House.

Hon. Fahie then expressed a need for clarity at the response given by the Hon. Minister.

"...The Member is saying that a legal matter between the Global Water Associates and the Government of the Virgin Islands right now, is that what the Member is saying?," Hon. Fahie stated.

Hon. Vanterpool responded by saying, "No Madam Speaker that´s not what I said; I said there is written communication directed to the government."

Hon. Fahie then explained his reasoning behind the question by quoting a section of the Standing Orders expressing that 16(1) states that anything that will prejudice the public interest cannot be discussed… he then corrected this to 18(6).

He then asked “Is the Minister saying that it is not a legal matter but it is a sensitive matter that has legal implications.”

At this time, the Speaker interjected and said because of communication received and based on the standing Orders, Section 18 (6) which she proceeded to read.

It was at this point that Hon. Fahie stood up to ask whether, as the matter proceeded, if the Hon. Minister would be informing the House when it was time to discuss the issue.

The Hon. Speaker interjected once more to take the Hon. First District Representative back to the Standing Orders, this time to 17 (h) “A question shall not solicit the expression of an opinion, or the solution of an abstract legal question, or of a hypothetical proposition.”

She then reiterated that she felt that all members needed to reacquaint themselves with the Standing Orders so that sittings are run expeditiously.

Hon. Fahie quickly responded to say “I take that as an insult, because we read it but I didn't expect to get an answer that it had a legal implication to this.” He added that “we’re talking about millions of dollars implication with the public’s money. Where must I go but here?... Now that I got the answer I will know how to handle myself accordingly so I won’t carry this any further.”

The Hon. Speaker then quickly defended her statement saying that she never for one moment insulted the Hon. First District Representative and couldn't have his statement stand as record." She noted that her aim was simply to avoid a prolonged discussion and also to set the tone of events for the sessions especially considering that they were only then at the beginning of the questioning process.