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Speaker’s impartial rule now in question?

Speaker’s impartial rule now in question? Photo: VINO/File
The ability of the Speaker of the House of Assembly—Ms Ingrid A. Moses Scatfliffe—to preside over its sittings as an impartial adjudicator, is being called into question—in light of in light of reports, she will be running for Office, as an At-Large Candidate, on the National Democratic Party’s ticket. Photo: VINO/File
The ability of the Speaker of the House of Assembly—Ms Ingrid A. Moses Scatfliffe—to preside over its sittings as an impartial adjudicator, is being called into question—in light of in light of reports, she will be running for Office, as an At-Large Candidate, on the National Democratic Party’s ticket. Photo: VINO/File
The issue was raised by popular commentator and radio personality and host of Honestly Speaking, Mr Claude O Skelton-Cline, during his Tuesday, September 11, 2018. broadcast. Photo: VINO/File
The issue was raised by popular commentator and radio personality and host of Honestly Speaking, Mr Claude O Skelton-Cline, during his Tuesday, September 11, 2018. broadcast. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The ability of the Speaker of the House of Assembly—Ms Ingrid A. Moses Scatfliffe—to preside over its sittings as an impartial adjudicator, is being called into question—in light of in light of reports, she will be running for Office, as an At-Large Candidate, on the National Democratic Party’s (NDP) ticket.

The issue was raised by popular commentator and radio personality, host of Honestly Speaking, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline, during his Tuesday, September 11, 2018, broadcast—hours after news broke that Ms Scatliffe, would form part of the NDP’s elections slate.

Dissolution of Gov’t

Referring to the imminent sitting of the House on Thursday, September 13, 2018, Mr Skelton Cline, questioned whether current the Speaker, Ms Moses-Scatliffe, “will be allowed to sit in that place with this kind of announcement.”

He said, “if we are going to deal with the whole issue of governance and if we are going to have a level playing field throughout then we are calling upon the persons, the fiduciaries responsible for this,” to make a public pronouncement.

Mr Skelton Cline, again predicted a November poll for the Territory, saying it would be no surprise if on Thursday’s sitting of the House of Assembly, there is in fact a dissolution of the sitting government, paving the way for General Elections.

NDP AL Team

Ms Scatliffe is among the four At Large Candidates, who were nominated by the NDP’s Executive Committee, on September 10, 2018.

The others are Ms Sandy M. Underhill, and Mr Trefor A. Grant along with NDP Chairman and Co-Leader of Government, Honourable Myron V. Walwyn (AL).

Ms Underhill is the Principal of the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) while Mr Grant holds a Consultancy with the BVI Tourism Board and is also the Chairman of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee.

23 Responses to “Speaker’s impartial rule now in question?”

  • vi (12/09/2018, 09:54) Like (28) Dislike (6) Reply
    She has to step down from the position now
    • @vi (12/09/2018, 13:18) Like (1) Dislike (14) Reply
      Speaker is not a Civil Servant
      • All Government employees.. (12/09/2018, 15:11) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
        The Tradition is that all government employees are required to resign their government jobs before they commit to politics. I don't know if its a law but its a tradition and all Caribbean countries up hold that tradition..
    • No (12/09/2018, 19:16) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
      The speaker can be chosen from an elected member of government or otherwise qualified person, if she has to step down does that mean the deputy speaker cannot be the deputy?
  • BRAD BOYNES (12/09/2018, 11:52) Like (15) Dislike (9) Reply
    The speaker is known and has shown herself to be impartial before all this. Seven years running. What's new? Thought u had to retire from government if you are going to be a contestament in an election. Hmm.
    • @Brad Boynes (12/09/2018, 13:17) Like (3) Dislike (14) Reply
      You guys are tooooo 1sided! She should resign but not V Wheatley, K Rymer and L Hodge Smith? All according to this news site, NDP Government workers are confirmed as VIP District Candidates.
      • BRAD BOYNES (12/09/2018, 14:44) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
        All of them need to resign or retire. I did not say the others need not resign or retire. Sweat the small stuff.
      • l (13/09/2018, 09:24) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
        They don't have to resign until they are officially nominated.
  • qc (12/09/2018, 12:29) Like (38) Dislike (2) Reply
    she has never been fair to the opposition
  • facts (12/09/2018, 12:54) Like (40) Dislike (1) Reply
    SHE IS THE SYMBOL OF BIAS SHE MUST STEP DOWN
  • Sarah (12/09/2018, 13:30) Like (26) Dislike (0) Reply
    She has never been fair to anyone all her life.
  • Diaspora (12/09/2018, 13:51) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Speaker of HOA should be non-partisan, an umpire that calls balls and striks, not a partisan hack. His or her role and responsibility is to fairly and equitably managed the rules of HOA without regard whether the member is government or opposition. Did the current Speaker tarnish her reputation and credibility with the obvious leaning towards government? Nonetheless, should we blame the player or the game? The government of the day appoints the Speaker and Deputy Speaker so who will they be loyal to? You dance with the one that brought you to the dance. The solution is changing the way that the Speaker is appointed. Perhaps, a bipartisan committee can be employed to select the Speaker. This may not even be consistent with the West Minister System but may be they should be put on the ballot; process can be put in place for removal for obvious bias.


  • Get real.. (12/09/2018, 15:05) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
    There is no speaker no where in the world that hired by government get paid by government is fair.. They.as a matter afact majority of us will always lean on the side where our salaries come from.. She should. Have resign as speaker before the announcement to Run as a politician..
    • @Get real.. (12/09/2018, 20:30) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
      Who made the announcement? Was an announcement made? I swear I saw LEAKED somewhere in the headline of the story from the first site with the news. Something being leaked without confirmation is now an announcement? SMH
  • chad (12/09/2018, 18:42) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Has the principal of ESHS resigned from her position?
  • Mirror (12/09/2018, 18:45) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let’s be honest, this current Speaker was never “impartial”. We are talking about a person who is in a work partnership with the soon to be leader of the same party she is running for.

    She is a lawyer in he exact same firm as well.
  • karma (12/09/2018, 20:42) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    B V Islanders your country is under serious attack, its like cancer eating it from the inside. That's what you get for being wicked.
    • Karma my back foot! (14/09/2018, 10:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Your country is in bigger commess so HUSH and return quietly.
  • ReX FeRal (12/09/2018, 23:42) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    @ get real. Fair point but there are some virginislanders who can be hired by government and still be fair and impartial calling a spade a spade if the electorate is how estate with themselves or not. I know of three persons who are like that.
  • LBJ (13/09/2018, 04:08) Like (7) Dislike (7) Reply
    Why wouldn't she keep her post as Speaker? She has not made any such declaration that she is running for political office. The news put out an unsubstantiated story with zero evidence that any of these people are running. No official documents have been registered and they have not made any public statements themselves. Until such time the story is just fake news and they all can continue to do their jobs.

    Until she says it with her own mouth or official documents are filed, this is just a rumor and tabloid news. Yall too quick to believe every headline you read without facts!
    • Disinterested (13/09/2018, 07:10) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
      The Speaker has not denied the news story. She needs to either embrace or deny the story. If the tory is true, she should resign.
      • LBJ (14/09/2018, 08:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Can you imagine if we all had to reply to and admit or deny every tabloid that is written about us? Nonsense!

        How about the media do their jobs and do real research and journalism instead of rushing unsubstantiated stories?


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