UPDATE: Premier Smith denies Govt ‘walked out’ of HOA
However, Premier Smith has denied that it was a ‘Walk out’.
It all happened in the midst of Representative for the Third District, Honorable Julian Fraser RA, making his presentation on the No Confidence Motion he moved at the tenth sitting of second session of the second House of Assembly.
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr Smith and Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering were the first to leave the room without seeking a break through the order of Protocol. They allegedly called the other Ministers and back-benchers out of the session even when Hon. Fraser was still on the floor. This action left only four members sitting in the House and forced the Speaker, Hon. Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe, to recess.
According to law, there must be at least seven members present to constitute a quorum for the Sitting of the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands.
According to Premier Smith, he and his ministers took a break out of the House of Assembly for a short discussion among themselves and, according to him, this does not constitute a ‘Walk out’. However, Hon. Fraser told Virgin Islands News Online that there is no other name that can be given to the action of Dr. Smith and his team.
“If the entire Government walks out they break the quorum without notice, without seeking a recess they are actually engaged in because that is what caused the quorum to be in place, so they walked out, they walked out and left the opposition sitting there,” insisted Hon. Fraser.
Hon. Fraser described the action of the Government as an attempt to be disruptive through interruptions. “They are trying to avoid a motion of no-confidence where the facts are coming out and they thought that if they do that kind of interruption they would distract me.”
He said he was at the stage of talking about the violation of the Protocols for Effective Financial Management of which he said there are many violations. “..and they are contending that they haven’t violated the Protocol but I know what I know and its up for the British Government to determine whether there are violations or not,” said Hon. Fraser.
Representative for the First District, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie was also flabbergasted by the Premier’s denial of having staged a ‘Walk out’ by the Government. “Government abandoned the post as a Government by walking out of the House of Assembly in an unruly manner and that in itself constitutes a walk out.”
He said the NDP Government of the Virgin Islands does not want to be challenged on any issue. “And if this is allowed to continue this will erode the very fabric of democracy this Territory has taken so many years to build up,” concluded Hon. Fahie.
See previous article posted July 26, 2013
NDP Govt walks out on No Confidence Motion
The National Democratic Party (NDP) Government of Premier Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith walked out of the tenth sitting of the second session of the House of Assembly today, July 26, 2013 as Third District Representative Hon. Julian Fraser RA was presenting his Motion of No Confidence against the current administration.
Earlier, the Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering, had objected to Hon. Fraser allegedly moving his motion while presenting from a script. Hon. Fraser said he was only reading extracts to support his presentation.
Shortly after the Speaker of the House, Hon. Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe, called for an adjournament as she said there was not a quorum for it to continue.
The House resumed about 10 minutes after but only for Hon. Moses-Scatliffe to call for a 15-minute adjournment.
See previous article posted July 22, 2013
VIP Opposition files Motion of No Confidence in NDP Government!
-Motion accuses the Dr Smith Administration of failing to stimulate the economy, violations of the Protocol and lack of leadership
The tenth sitting of the second session of the Second House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands should be one of the hottest yet, as the Virgin Islands Party VIP who sits in opposition has filed a motion of no confidence against the Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith’s Administration.
The motion is on the agenda, according to the order paper for this Thursday July 25, 2013 sitting obtained by this news site. The Motion stands in the name of Third District Representative Honourable Julian Fraser RA.
According to the Motion of No Confidence in the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government, it sets out that the current Government has been experiencing harsh criticism from residents including those in business for its policies and practices.
The Motion of No Confidence in the government also speaks to the NDP’s violations of the Protocols for Effective Financial Management. The motion describes the violations of such rules as abuses that are “flagrant and gaining attention.”
Since taking office in 2011, many residents, talk show hosts and the Opposition in Parliament have reported to have lost confidence in the NDP government over many issues, from its spending practices, alleged victimization of civil servants and others, playing politics with the awarding of scholarships and the education system, not doing anything for local businesses, giving contracts to family, friends and cronies, not listening to the cries of the people and allegedly engaging in many conflicts of interest.
While the motion is expected to be defended as the NDP has a majority in Parliament with 9 seats out of 13, many political commentators are waiting to see if the 4 member opposition will all vote for the Motion which is expected to be seconded by Opposition Member and First District Representative Honourable Andrew A. Fahie.
A Motion of No Confidence is a parliamentary motion which when passed would demonstrate to the head of state or Government that the elected Parliament no longer has confidence in one or more members of the appointed or elected government.
Public Reactions to vote of no confidence
Social Activist, Talk show host, businessman, Farmer and former Chief Immigration Officer Edmund Maduro said while he knows the motion of no confidence will not pass because the government has the majority, “he knows for sure the people have no confidence in this government”.
He said the Motion of No confidence needs to add, lack of an Agricultural Policy, lack of water for Farmers and the NDP Government doing nothing for the little man.
Mr. Maduro, who many farmers accused of selling out to the NDP and taking a consultancy contract as alleged hush money not to criticize the government, lashed out at the Government.
He claimed this is the worst government he has seen in the VI in years and that he is calling on all residents to “take back the country.”
Another social commentator, who said he is an NDP supporter but did not want his name to be used, said, “its premature of Fraser with this motion, the government is not in office 2 years yet, what is he trying to prove..it will fail anyway.”
Mr. Donald E. de Castro, a businessman and political activist, said the motion of no confidence will fail only because the government has the majority. However, he had said in a previous story for this news site a few months ago that “the NDP must go.”
Rajah A. Smith, who described himself as a nationalist and a youth leader, told this news site that he commends “Hon. Julian Fraser for having the courage to bring forward such a motion.” While he believes like most, it will not be successful because the government has the votes on their side, Mr. Smith said “the views of Hon. Fraser, as it relations to the government handling of the economy and the leadership of the country, is shared by many.”
If the Motion of No Confidence is passed, the Premier would then advise the Governor whether he wishes to have fresh elections or have a new leader. The Governor, however, does not necessarily have to agree on the advice of the Premier and could either call fresh elections or asked that a new leader be appointed.
Efforts to reach the leader of government business in the House of Assembly, Premier and Minsiter of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, were unsuccessful up to post time.
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103 Responses to “UPDATE: Premier Smith denies Govt ‘walked out’ of HOA”
What positive solutions have they brought to the table?
We can get rid of NDP next term
VIP now says: "NDP has failed to stimulate the economy and we have no confidence in them. Nevermind we are the ones hindering process with bickering and opposing everything for the sake of it. We love politics and hope people fall for it."
Who do you work for????
omg he is RIDICULOUS!!!
VINO Please inform the people that the Opposition Leader should have brought this Motion and NOT Mr Fraser. LMAO!!!! His plan backfired and Fahie will pay dearly in the first district for following this horse and pony show. TRUST THAT.