Speaker Moses promises to be ‘fair’
Giving her address at the opening of the First Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex today, June 23, 2015, Hon Moses, who Virgin Islands News Online first and accurately reported was going to be retained as Speaker, said she was honoured to once again be given the opportunity to be of service to the territory and promised to exercise patience and fairness in her execution of duties as Speaker.
Political pundits had often criticised Hon Moses during her first term as Speaker as they were of the opinion that she was ‘one-sided’. One talk show host, Julio S. Henry, was even brave enough to make his opinion public when he called into the Speak Out BVI radio show hosted by Doug Wheatley on ZBVI 780 AM on September 9, 2014.
Mr Henry had said he observed during a debate that the Speaker was keen on chastising the Opposition but didn’t do the same for Government legislators.
“That is not really her purview. She does not weigh in on the debate, she has no say in the debate. Her job is to accept the debate from both sides and close out the session. She didn’t do that…she went on and ridiculed the Opposition for how they went about their part of the debate. She told them how they were using the protection of the House to call people’s names and call people out,” he said.
“And the Speaker has been doing that for the whole duration of the Sitting. She never once, never once disciplined the Minister for Communications and Works for his behaviour in the House which was uncalled for and unbecoming for a Minister,” he said, referring to the behaviour of Hon Mark H. Vanterpool at a sitting in 2014.
Improve image of HoA
Also in her address, Ms Moses noted that during the recent ‘talking season’ there were not many favourable adjectives used to describe the House of Assembly and asked Members to work to improve decorum in the Honourable House.
It was while speaking at a Virgin Islands Party (VIP) campaign rally in North Sound, Virgin Gorda on Monday May 25, 2015 when now retired legislator Mr Ralph T. O’Neal OBE said the standard and the discipline of the House of Assembly have gone to the dogs. “We need to bring back [standards and discipline] because this is the House where we are passing laws and you can’t have that kind of behaviour."
Hon O’Neal’s comments are nothing new as others have publicly criticised the lack of decorum in the House of Assembly, even former legislator Eileene L. Parsons, a staunch supporter of the NDP. Performing the role of host of the programme NDP Radio, which was aired on a local station on October 15, 2012, Mrs Parsons said the behaviour of certain Members in the HOA was a “burning issue” for persons in the community and that it was “deplorable”.
She also claimed that members of the community have even indicated to her that they no longer tune in to the House of Assembly sessions because of their disappointment with the way business was being conducted in the HOA. “To me the House of Assembly has become a circus,” Mrs Parsons had bluntly stated.
Social commentator Donald E. deCastro described the behaviour of Members of the House of Assembly as “disgraceful”. “I don’t think I will comment on that because the House is disgraceful,” were some of the few words from Mr deCastro when asked to give a comment on the issue in October 2012.
During the Second House of Assembly, members from the Government side have been criticised for showing blatant disrespect, not only for members of the Opposition but for the House itself. Many radio talk show hosts had condemned the lack of decorum in the House and most recently Territorial At Large candidate R. Dancia Penn also highlighted the troubling issue while announcing her candidacy for the 2015 general elections.
I will work tirelessly
According to the Speaker, she has pledged to work with Members “tirelessly to assist you as together we work to maintain the integrity of each sitting and uphold the noble standard of this Honourable House.”
The Speaker also called for the business of the people to be conducted on time in the HoA, beginning promptly at 10am.
Hon Moses added that she expected the seasoned legislators to guide the new members in the HoA and encouraged that all members read and get to know the VI Constitution, the Standing Orders and all other rules governing the HoA.
Hon Melvin Mitchell Turnbull of the Second District and Hon Hubert O'Neal of the Ninth District are the newcomers to the HoA.
“The people who have called you to serve expect healthy debates and active participation in the lawmaking process of the territory.”
She also reminded them that the eyes of the people are watching to see how the business of the House is conducted and urged Members to at all times work for the betterment of their constituents and others who make the Virgin Islands their home.
“I pledge to always guide the process to help you accomplish your aim.”
The eyes of the world are watching
The Speaker of the House remarked that daily we are reminded that we live in a global world where we are connected by technology at our fingertips and the financial world is watching and reading about the Virgin Islands.
“At the end of your term what message would you have sent to the world about the Virgin Islands and what message would the world send to you about the conduct and progress of the House of Assembly? I trust you would have accomplished your mandate to engage in healthy debate and effectively work to shape the Virgin Islands into a better place to which all Virgin Islanders and residents can be justly proud.”
Meanwhile, Fifth District Representative Hon Delores Christopher was re-elected as Deputy Speaker.
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25 Responses to “Speaker Moses promises to be ‘fair’”
We do not believe her because she is not a f**r person.
That woman is so w***thless she did not even try to pretend to be fair last term so why should anybody be stupid enough to believe her this time.
when the vip had 11-2 and mr roy harrigan was speaker their behaviour
was the same.
go and get the tapes and review them again
and tell me what you see and think.
again. Get over it and let the people do their work. better still, you all who posting negative build a party and run for elections next time.
Fair to who t****r?