The Ninth Sitting of the Second Session of the Second House of Assembly resumes today July 9, 2013. The controversial Bill, 'Authorisation of Surveillance Devices Act, 2013' will continue in the committee stages. The public remains sceptical about the Bill and there has been no public consultation or meetings on same. Many are raising privacy and civil rights issues while looking for the balance to fight crime in the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File

The United Kingdom appointed Governor William B. McCleary is a strong supporter of the ‘Authorisation of Surveillance Devices Act, 2013’, legislation to give the police power to tap phones and install cameras. Many claimed that they do not trust this governor or Ag. Police Commissioner David Morris with this power. Governor McCleary has a history of blatant violation of the rights of civil servants, and has a laundry list of court cases against him ranging from unfair dismissal to challenges to his power as Governor. Photo: VINO/File

The HOA is expected to resume its Committee deliberation on the controversial ‘Authorisation of Surveillance Devices Act, 2013’ as the only person questioned before the House Committee on the Bill so far is Ag. Police Commissioner David Morris.

Procedures in Committee stage of the House of Assembly (HOA) are not open to the public.

The House of Assembly adjourned early on Friday July 4, 2013 as some members were eager to attend the graduation exercise of the Bregado Flax Educational Centre (BFEC) on Virgin Gorda.

The proposed ‘Authorisation of Surveillance Devices Act, 2013’ seeks to give security agencies the legal authority to use listening devices and Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras to help fight and prevent crime.

There remains debate in the community as to whether phones, both landline and mobile, are already being tapped. There are also many questions from both sides in the House of Assembly about the rights and privacy of the ordinary citizens and how the law would be enforced.

The session is expected to start at 10 A.M. and will be broadcast on CBN Channel 51 when the members come out of committee stage.

See previous article posted July 4, 2013

HOA ends early; to resume on July 9, 2013

The resumption of the Ninth Sitting of the Second Session of the Second House of Assembly convened on July 4, 2013 and continued in the committee stage a little after 10:15 A.M.

The Virgin Islands Parliament is considering the controversial ‘Authorisation of Surveillance Devices Act, 2013’.

Today, the only one questioned before the House Committee on the Bill was Ag. Police Commissioner David Morris.

Procedures in Committee stage of the House of Assembly (HOA) are not open to the public.

The HOA is expected to resume its Committee deliberation on the Bill on July 9, 2013, as some members were eager to end the session to attend the graduation exercise for the Bregado Flax Educational Centre (BFEC) on the sister island of Virgin Gorda.

The HOA meetings are held at its Chambers in Road Town, the capital city on the main island of Tortola.

See previous story posted July 4, 2013:

House of Assembly resumes today July 4, 2013

-Controversial ‘Authorisation of Surveillance Devices Act, 2013’ Bill continues in committee stage!

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The Virgin Islands’ Parliament, called the House of Assembly (HOA), will resume today, July 4, 2013 after a 6-week recess.

One of the pending Bills to be considered by the 13 legislators is the controversial ‘Authorisation of Surveillance Devices Act, 2013’.

The proposed legislation seeks to give security agencies the legal authority to use listening devices and Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras to help fight and prevent crime.

In other words, the Bill when passed, will authorise phone tapping of citizens of the Virgin Islands among other things.

There remains debate in the community as to whether phones, both landline and mobile, are already being tapped.

Last month, a prominent local defense Attorney told this news site, “I have been in court on more than one occasion and saw some evidence presented by the Crown and that type of evidence could have not been obtained without the interception of telephone calls.”

The people and their rights-many do not trust the governor

Many in the community, while supporting the intention of the Bill, does not trust the current governor William B. McCleary or the state police with such power under the current Acting Police Commissioner David Morris.

In addition, many citizens have often accused the United Kingdom appointed Governor of blatant violation of their rights and the Virgin Islands’ Constitution. Currently, there is a laundry list of cases before the court against the Governor for civil rights violations, unfair dismissal and challenging his power to make certain decisions.

Many have said both publicly and privately that to now give Governor McCleary this additional power, knowing his alleged oppressive history, is very dangerous for residents and even now with him staying in the Virgin Islands for an extra year- until August of 2014.

Mr McCleary has already come out publicly in support of the Bill by claiming that it is necessary.

However, there are many questions from both sides in the House of Assembly about the rights and privacy of the ordinary citizens and how the law would be enforced.

No consultation with the Public, TRC shut out!

Thus far, there have been no public meetings or consultation over the ‘Authorisation of Surveillance Devices Act 2013 now before parliament’. The legislators seem to be relying on the testimony of Ag. Police Commissioner David Morris- another controversial figure.

Last month, the Chief Executive Officer of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) Guy L. Malone told a local online news entity that he was never consulted on the Bill. Mr Malone’s agency is responsible of all telecommunications matters in the Virgin Islands.

The resumption of the Ninth Sitting of the Second Session of the Second House of Assembly will be carried live on CBN Television Channel 51.