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UPDATE: Premier Smith evades Cruise Pier questions in HOA

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Hon. D. Orlando Smith effectively shot down a series of nine (9) questions related to the Cruise Pier project asked by Third District Representative Hon. Julian Fraser, RA. Photo: provided
Premier Smith told the House of Assembly that the questions being asked could not be answered as a result of 'ongoing negotiations' about the subject; as a result of this he stated, it was his opinion that publication of the information would be 'contrary to the public interest'. Photo: VINO/File
Premier Smith told the House of Assembly that the questions being asked could not be answered as a result of 'ongoing negotiations' about the subject; as a result of this he stated, it was his opinion that publication of the information would be 'contrary to the public interest'. Photo: VINO/File
Honourable Julian Fraser RA, (left, Photo: VINO/File) and Speaker of the House of Assembly Ingrid A. Moses-Scatliffe (Photo: VINO/File) clashed at the seventh sitting of the second session of the House of Assembly held on April 4, 2013 over the omission of many topical questions submitted by the Opposition member. The Speaker told the public that she had given Hon. Fraser the reasons why they were not included. Hon. Fraser said he disagreed with her reasoning.
Honourable Julian Fraser RA, (left, Photo: VINO/File) and Speaker of the House of Assembly Ingrid A. Moses-Scatliffe (Photo: VINO/File) clashed at the seventh sitting of the second session of the House of Assembly held on April 4, 2013 over the omission of many topical questions submitted by the Opposition member. The Speaker told the public that she had given Hon. Fraser the reasons why they were not included. Hon. Fraser said he disagreed with her reasoning.
The Virgin Islands public was denied the answers to many topical questions proposed by Third District Representative and Opposition Member Hon. Julian Fraser RA, at the April 4, 2013 sitting of the House of Assembly. Members ask questions to obtain the truth from the Government of the day on a variety of issues affecting the Territory. Photo: VINO
The Virgin Islands public was denied the answers to many topical questions proposed by Third District Representative and Opposition Member Hon. Julian Fraser RA, at the April 4, 2013 sitting of the House of Assembly. Members ask questions to obtain the truth from the Government of the day on a variety of issues affecting the Territory. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – After several sittings of the House of Assembly where the Third District Representative Hon. Julian Fraser RA was unable to have any questions regarding the Cruise Pier project entered on the Order Paper, many may have expected answers now that some of the questions were finally allowed today, May 14, 2013 during the 9th sitting of the Second Session of the Second House of Assembly.

This was not to be, however, as Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Hon. D. Orlando Smith effectively shot down a series of nine (9) questions related to the Cruise Pier project asked by Hon. Fraser.

Premier Smith told the House of Assembly that the questions being asked could not be answered as a result of “ongoing negotiations” about the subject; as a result of this he stated, it was his opinion that publication of the information would be “contrary to the public interest”.

He gave the same response as the reason for not answering any of the questions, including one which asked whether a contract had been awarded by the government to Tortola Port Partners Limited for the Tortola Cruise Pier and Park project.

Questions not answered (6-15) can be viewed in the link below:

http://tinyurl.com/cgvtp3b

See previous story posted April 5, 2013:

Hon. Fraser’s questions removed from HOA Order Paper unearthed!

-The Third District Representative had some very important and topical questions but not allowed to ask on behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Many persons tuning into the seventh sitting of the second session of the second House of Assembly (HOA) on April 4, 2013 would have witnessed the heated exchange between veteran Third District Representative Honourable Julian Fraser RA, and Speaker of the HOA Honourable Ingrid A. Moses-Scatliffe.

The debate was over questions proposed by Hon. Fraser but never made it to the Order Paper for yesterday’s sitting.

Speaker advises Hon. Fraser why questions were removed

“Madam Speaker, as I’ve been given the floor, I crave your indulgence to make the observation that the questions appearing on the Order Paper are not at all representative of my submissions,” Hon. Fraser stated. “They represent less than thirty percent of my submission to the clerk. I had submitted a total of 14 questions to the Premier and Minister of Finance, but only 5 are placed on the Order Paper.”

The Member further stated that a question directed to the Minister for Communications and Works, Hon. Mark H. Vanterpool was also omitted. He then indicated to the Speaker, “given that those were very important questions” he would be most pleased if he could be assisted in avoiding a similar pitfall in the future by being enlightened about the line of thought involved.

The Speaker told the Assembly that she spoke to Hon. Fraser herself so he was “fully aware prior to you receiving the package with the documents and the questions and prior to this morning’s sittings of the reasons for those questions not being on the Order Paper…”

Hon. Fraser also mentioned that while on the streets he was told by a lady of the conversation he had with the Speaker. It’s unclear how this information may have reached out on the streets.

Questions that did not make the Order Paper from Hon. Fraser

Through our own investigations and information obtained by this news site and sources close to the situation, we were able to unearth a copy of the questions that would have been asked by Hon. Fraser, if they were allowed to make the Order Paper for the April 4, 2013 Sitting of Parliament.

Question 1

Madam Speaker, could the Hon. Premier and Minister of Finance please tell this Hon. House whether:

            a. The company with the winning bid on the expansion of the cruise pier and the development of the adjacent property at Wickhams Cay I, has any Belonger interest in its ownership?

             b. If the answer to a) is yes, please give this Honourable House the names of the interest holders and the percentage of such ownership interest.  And

             c. Is the company with the winning bid in partnership with any local companies, if yes, which company is it, and what percentage is such partnership?

Question 2

Madam Speaker, could the Hon. Premier and Minister of Finance please tell this Hon. House whether:

            a. The Heads of Understanding dated March 27th 2012 signed and entered into between Tortola Port Partners Limited, as the Developer, and The Government of the Virgin Islands, wherein the parties agreed to “work closely together exclusively and as far as commercially reasonable to cooperate fully with each other in relation to negotiating and finalizing such Documents as they deem necessary for the advancement of their intended project within ninety (90) days from the date of this HOU, subject to the approval of a Trade License for the Developer”, was disclosed by the Government as part of, or made public for the benefit of other competing entities in the Public Tender of the Tortola Pier and Park project?

            b. If the answer to a) is no, was it an oversight, or was it because the outcome of the tender was predetermined? And

            c. Was a Trade License issued to Tortola Port Partners Limited for the purpose indicated in a) above?

Question 3

Madam Speaker, could the Hon. Premier and Minister of Finance please provide this Hon. House with a copy of the document referred to as “The Working Memorandum referred to in the document Heads of Understanding dated March 27th 2012 between Tortola Port Partners Limited, as Developer, and the Government of the Virgin Islands.

Question 4

Madam Speaker, could the Hon. Premier and Minister of Finance please tell this Hon. House whether:

            a. His Government or the BVI Ports Authority, has entered into any form of Agreements, Memoranda,  or Heads of Understanding with Tortola Port Partners Limited other than the Heads of Understanding dated March 27th 2012 and The Working Memorandum referred to therein

            b. If any such, Agreements, Memoranda, or Heads of Understanding exists, can the Hon. Premier and Minister of Finance please provide this Honourable House with copies?

Question 5

Madam Speaker, could the Hon. Premier and Minister of Finance please tell this Hon. House whether:

            a. It was a condition of the tender process for the development of the Tortola Cruise Pier and Park for each Tenderer to demonstrate and establish that they have at least a twenty percent (20%) local ownership partner participation in the project?

            b. If the answer to a) is no, was the requirement established during the subsequent proposal and negotiating process?

            c. If the answer to a) and b) is yes, was the condition satisfied by the winner? And

            d. If the answer to a) and b) is no, did any of the Tenderers produced in their Tenders such local partnership, and which ones?

Question 6

Madam Speaker, since it is a constitutional requirement that the Auditor General submit his / her reports to the Minister of Finance, could the Hon. Premier and Minister of Finance please tell this Hon. House whether:

            a. The Auditor General has issued a report regarding the Tortola Cruise Pier and Park project, including any aspect of it or the internal public service process relating thereto?

            b. If the answer to a) is yes, have the report or reports been made available to His Excellency the Governor and or the Government of the United Kingdom?  And

            c. Can the Hon. Premier and Minister of Finance please provide this Honourable House with copies of the reports?

Question 7

Madam Speaker, could the Hon. Premier and Minister of Finance please tell this Hon. House whether it is his Government’s intention to fund wholly or in part, the Tortola Cruise Pier and Park project development by way of raising passenger tax on cruse passenger?

Question 8

Madam Speaker, could the Hon. Premier and Minister of Finance please tell this Hon. House whether:

            a. He is aware, that Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL), one of the prime Tenderers on the Tortola Cruise Pier and Park project, has formally expressed to the Government of the United Kingdom their dissatisfaction with the entire Tender and negotiation process, on the grounds that it failed to conform to minimum standards that typically are present in a genuine government privatisation tender?

            b. If the answer to a) is yes, how does he propose to mitigate any resulting falling out with the United Kingdom Government?

Question 9

Madam Speaker, could the Hon. Premier and Minister of Finance please tell this Hon. House whether he is aware, that Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd has formally protested to the Governor, and Hon. Mark Simmonds, UK Minister for Overseas Territories claiming that:

            a. The tender instructions for the Tortola Cruise Pier and Park project failed to outline the specific criteria used to evaluate and score the bid proposals.

            b. The tender instructions were insufficient to produce a winning bid proposal

c. They were not allowed to discuss their project ideas with government officials or obtain clarification of various questions about the bid.  Which was not the case with their competition who had freely interfaced with the same government officials extensively for the previous nine months?

            d. They question the legitimacy and impartiality of the process, and objected to the presence of Mr. Cline during the Tendering stages, since he was the “active Chairman" of the Negotiating Committee. And

            e. That they considered the attitude of the same Mr. Cline and some of his committee members towards their group as antagonistic, attacking, aggressive, patronizing and unfriendly.  And that their attorneys were no different. 

Up to press time, both the Speaker of the House Hon. Moses-Scatliffe and Opposition member Hon. Fraser could not be reached for comments.

92 Responses to “UPDATE: Premier Smith evades Cruise Pier questions in HOA”

  • notes from the underground (05/04/2013, 08:10) Like (11) Dislike (19) Reply
    something is rotten in the VI and the NDP. A den of thieves
    • high hope (05/04/2013, 09:52) Like (16) Dislike (4) Reply
      Some serious questions I could now understand why the speaker wanted them off the order paper…she must protect the government that give her the post!!!!
  • Confucius (05/04/2013, 08:24) Like (27) Dislike (12) Reply
    The fact that these very pertinent questions were removed speaks volumes both about both the speaker and the house in general.

    These are the same questions the public has been (repetedly) asking, yet to date, have gone unanswered.

    I guess we know where allegiances lie!
    • ... (05/04/2013, 10:59) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      LOL.. so true. I wonder how they feelin now that the shoe is on the other foot.
  • Lawyer (05/04/2013, 08:25) Like (14) Dislike (6) Reply
    Frazer real smart, must have a law degree asking these questions.
  • Really (05/04/2013, 08:36) Like (32) Dislike (4) Reply
    My my my is the speaker covering for the crimes over the ports project by the NDP…shame shame shame on her to hide behind the standing orders…even the HOA is now corrupt….her integrity is undermined
    • kevin (05/04/2013, 09:55) Like (8) Dislike (26) Reply
      Not so in the BVI...this speaker thing she in st kitts or Nevis where Denzel is a dectator..this is the BVI If some don't speak we maight explode
      • links (05/04/2013, 10:10) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
        You should be stoned for your utter contempt for the English Language!!!
        • @ links (05/04/2013, 10:48) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
          thanks for your very informative comment...???

          ...have a nice day...!!!
  • wellsa (05/04/2013, 08:47) Like (32) Dislike (54) Reply
    FRASER TRYING HIS BEST TO FOOL PEOPLE OFF, BUT FROM TIME YOU RUN AND CON PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR HIM IM KEEPING AN EYE OPEN WITH FRASER, HE WAS NEVER FOR THE PEOPLE OF 3RD MAYBE FOR THE SEA COWS PEOPLE
    • text (05/04/2013, 09:29) Like (12) Dislike (17) Reply
      Thank god for fraser the ndp thought they had him but long live the liberator of the people
    • @ wellsa (05/04/2013, 09:57) Like (3) Dislike (50) Reply
      RUBBISH
    • BVI COMPANY (05/04/2013, 10:18) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      Do we expect Ms. Moses to go against their own mandate?
      • facts (05/04/2013, 10:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        You understand?
      • Sigh (05/04/2013, 15:15) Like (0) Dislike (92) Reply
        DONT WORRY SHE WILL BE RUNNING FOR THE SIX NEXT ELECTION AGAIST THE BAG LADY JUST TURST ME ON THAT. THE BAG LADY CANT TOUCH THE SPEAKER. THIS FROM VOTER FROM THE SIX. IM A VIP BUT I WILL BE VOTING MADAME SPEAKER LADY INGRID MOSES.
        • six district subject (08/04/2013, 04:19) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
          oops shut your big foot self onot goback to stkittsthe speaker will never beat Hon.Maduro Caines where was she when we wanted her now she trying to get rid of our representative .......Never...........Never.....
    • Melle (05/04/2013, 10:56) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      OJ go fly a kite.
    • @wellsa2 (05/04/2013, 13:03) Like (2) Dislike (12) Reply

      You are a fool, Fraser is not trying to fool anyone he is brining the issues out there. that wutlissness and disgraceful nastiness who is the sp.... needs to be fired, where in the world would you hear that but remeber Inez did that to the VIP during her speaker reign from 2003-2007. The NDP does not care about VI they care about themselves and it is obvious, those questions were not bad. Fraser is the only one looking out for us in the 3rd... bull pup aint going to do that. so you need to shut it, and talk what you know. Fool Fool Fool the NDP has fooled you!

    • pop (09/04/2013, 13:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I AGREE TOO
    • Pleasant Valley (14/05/2013, 23:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      we in the third district love the liberator
  • Gasprov (05/04/2013, 08:49) Like (30) Dislike (33) Reply
    For the life of me, I can not see the logic for the Speaker getting so wrap up in the corup dealing of this NDP Gowerment. This woman has very bright future, why she throwing it away? She is a lawyer, she could distroy her success like the other Woman Speaker who nobody want to see, but she old and dont care. This girl young, she could be the next 6th District Rep. but at this rate that aint going happen.

    This Corrup NDP Gowerment fraid to answer questions on the Cruise Pier Project because them got a lot to hide. She should stay out of the nastiness
    • ---------------- (05/04/2013, 10:04) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      God help this country by the time you all term come to and end in 2016
      • Similarity (05/04/2013, 10:51) Like (7) Dislike (15) Reply
        VINO you are the FBI how the hick do you get these things??? continue to work in this area for the betteement of we the people
  • mmm hmmm (05/04/2013, 08:50) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    And the government leaks continue
    • 1 (05/04/2013, 11:55) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Just wondering...... How many more are being investigated for not answering real questions....
    • bay yute (05/04/2013, 12:04) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      mmm hmmm' How much are you been paid for this blog?
    • rat race (05/04/2013, 20:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Breaking News, they say, the question here is for who?
  • BRAD BOYNES (05/04/2013, 08:50) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    You dont need a law degree to ask pertinent questions. Just common sense. That's applied when the law dont speak.
    • Lawyer (05/04/2013, 10:29) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      not to ask questions I agree, but to ask the questions as drafted, that is altogether a different story.
  • BuzzBvi (05/04/2013, 09:08) Like (7) Dislike (26) Reply
    Thanks VINO I see why they want to close down your site…set of wicked selfish money hungry set of cow birds
  • pete (05/04/2013, 09:50) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am shocked but not really surprised at this story. I keep hoping there are sincere people who will dig at the truth. I am not a fan of Fraser's by any means. And for all we know, he has vested interest in royal Caribbean himself- HOWEVER- these are important basic questions which should be answered. EVERYONE wants to know who are members of TPP and who is involved... this is not governing in the sunshine.. and now Cline is director of port authority. Insider information... I hope this development gets revisited soon.
    UK- stop it now to get more answers.
  • Just Wait And See (05/04/2013, 09:59) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Cline at the BVI Ports Authority is Bad News for the Government of the British Virgin Islands. Everyone is leaving ports one by one...
  • UK/BVI (05/04/2013, 10:00) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    thanks Mr. Fraser; Lights on, but no one's home!.
  • links (05/04/2013, 10:09) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    The Speaker said she advised Fraser of the removal of the questions within reason. What was/were the reason(s) given? I think that should be mentioned so we have a better understanding of why the questions were removed. The Speaker is not stupid so there must be a reason for the removal. Let's hear the whole story.
  • Interesting (05/04/2013, 10:13) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    When the nation is asking the government Questions and you all are silent , You all now know how the nation feels, trust me " Everything in the darkness will come to light" .
    • open wide (05/04/2013, 10:45) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      Incomplete final question: 'who got paid and promises from the port deal???
  • help us (05/04/2013, 10:47) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    How will the truth be known if the Speaker is blocking?
    • THE ACCOUNTANT (05/04/2013, 11:46) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      The Voters of the BVI works quietly AND CARRIES A BIG STICK
  • tola (05/04/2013, 11:10) Like (3) Dislike (85) Reply
    We Ingrid for the 6 district
  • good food (05/04/2013, 11:11) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    (If this story is true)-Every action brings a reaction...the NDP is playing "hide and seek" with the we the voters....
  • Stop It (05/04/2013, 11:44) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    So wait these NDP cowbirds don't understand the island man term; shew fly doh bother me. WAIT.!!.
  • Shara Parlin (05/04/2013, 11:49) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad with power.

    Euripedes
    • Kim (05/04/2013, 18:30) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Doh worry, there are a LOT MORE sensible people in this country than that.
      The political fallout has begun. The seeds of political discord have been sown......now the question remains: Who go reap it
  • just so (05/04/2013, 12:05) Like (3) Dislike (27) Reply
    The media is afraid of the NDP bulldogs and they are not yet doing enough to show up this corrupt NDP govt.
  • GoonSquad (05/04/2013, 12:48) Like (5) Dislike (8) Reply
    Meen understand what all the babbling about. The Speaker is in her rights to take of what questions she feels is not valid. Those same questions were aked time and time before by Frazer and Fahie and answers were given. Shows how much some of us listen to the house. Most of those questions were constructed as implications not questions. She had a right. When that mumu VIP had for a Speaker took off questions NDP had on the order paper back then and refuse to let them argue them in the house, everyone was silent. It was a joke then on NDP how the past speaker handle them. Now NDP is in power and the chosen Speaker must pacify the likes of Frazer with his nonsense. There were times in the house she sided with VIP and made NDP sit down so how can you all place her as being one sided? If some of us would real and understand we would find out all we want to know about the cruize port but we just like to listen to third party talk which is pure gossip and twisting of truth.
    • @goonsquad2 (05/04/2013, 13:54) Like (0) Dislike (15) Reply
      Please help us, we have all the time in the world, and VINO has the space. Since you are so sure that the answers to all these questions were given, PLEASE GIVE THEM TO US HERE AND NOW. I BEG OF YOU......

      Oh! exactly what I thought, you cant do it right? Exactly, that is why Fraser was asking, so you and all the rest of us will know the answers
      • GoonSquad (05/04/2013, 23:44) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
        Fool if you were listening to the last house meetings you would have heard the same old questions asked.. Plus, if you were following the minister closely, you would have heard all the explination and the outline of this project for he spoke on it many times..But no, you all want to sit there and let Frazer make you all sound stupid with these comments. Learn to find out things for your selves..Frazer knows the answers to what ever questions he ask. He just want to make it look like he is doing something..trying to throw you all off to make you forget he did NOTHING for the past few years he was in...s for the bloger PP..You are such a donkey it aint funny..you had to gone school in the beginning of August..The Speaker is the most impartial Speaker there ever was..You all dont like her for she did not side Frazer with his nonsense..well live with it..Thank God you all can only talk...
        • hello (06/04/2013, 07:03) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
          We dont want to pick through paragraph statements - we want to hear them clearly answered. hope they put them back on the order paper.
  • @goonsquad (05/04/2013, 13:06) Like (4) Dislike (26) Reply
    you real donkey, speaker suppossed to be impartial and should not remove any questions from beong asked. Fraser is doing his job. make comments that have sense, go eat some grass you donkey
  • the rock (05/04/2013, 13:15) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    well said GoonSquad!
    • pp (05/04/2013, 16:12) Like (1) Dislike (13) Reply
      goonsquad is a dockey and a paid NDP tt sucker
    • 1950 (05/04/2013, 18:28) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      Whey boy this is the BVI. It is about time.for the Oppersition to put their ducks in order.
    • pink (06/04/2013, 01:43) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      GoonSquad is a duncey teacher and blogger?
      • GoonSquad (07/04/2013, 19:00) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        And what can I say about you Pink? That you are double sided because you went to school in August and don tknow the difference between Male & Female.
        • bvi (15/05/2013, 07:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          @GoonSquad; Real Talk; DarkVader; Movements; what ever name you choose to accept, you need to get a life, you are booring, same thing over and over every web site. Are you a paid NDP blogger or something
  • love boat (05/04/2013, 16:26) Like (3) Dislike (9) Reply
    i agree 100% with Mr. Fraser these vital questions should have been allowed.
  • move on.com (05/04/2013, 18:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The ball's in your court, Madam Speaker. And please, don't tell us to move on!!!!!!!!
  • Princess (06/04/2013, 01:01) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    What is so amazing is when the shoe w on the other foot, I never saw any blogs cursing out the VIP and their Speakers (Flax and that other one from VG). They never give NDP a chance to voice their objection. The did the same as this present speaker. Took questions off the agender. Yes it was their rights according to laws so why is it wrong for her to do the same? She holds the same position as Speaker. I blame NDP for they never came to the house or let us know when things like this happen to them. The continue to pacify the other side and they always come back to cut their B side. I am truly surprised at some of these comments against one of our own. No wonder we are stuck in this rut we are in. Some of us fight and try to up lift our people and the others tearing them down. When will this nonsense stop? There are bigger problems we should be talking about like the appointment of an expat as accountant general (that is problem) but we choose to over look that and brig down one of our own..Only God can help us and if we dont hear from him, we will self destruct as a people.
    • Latex (06/04/2013, 09:04) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
      Princess. It is fine for you to claim "CLAIM" that the VIP Speakers did it so why the fuss when NDP Speakers do the same thing, but can you give an instance? The Standard Orders is clear on what should no be in a question. Speakers should be free of politics. You should ask the speaker to tell us the exact chapter or sub chapter the member questions violated?

      Was the issue with the Port Pier Project Tendering in the Court? Was it in a Committee? Is it a secret? Tell the speaker stop playing politics. And you should see that this is wrong. And to say there are things bigger than this to worry about, is like playing god, trying to tell us what is important to us.
      • Princess (06/04/2013, 23:12) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
        The Speaker is doing her job. She has a right to take off what questions she wants if they are not stated correctly..just like any other Speaker. Everyone know the cruize pier went out on tender. I has been stated in the house already and on different talk shows by the Minister himself. Why some of us dont listen to these things i dont understand. I see no secrecy in the port project. The minister have never hidden anything. We must stop being blinded by party politics and see what is really going on The Speaker is a lawyer and I am sure she understands standing orders and would know what she can or cant do. The opposition just feel like they can throw their weight around and try to push her around. She is right not to pacify them. When Archibald was Speaker and made her rulings, the opposition was as gentle little lambs. Because Moses is young they feel they can bully her around. I side her 100%
  • they worried (06/04/2013, 10:47) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I was particularly pleased with the line of questions Hon. Frazer...you on to something!!!!
  • my two cents (06/04/2013, 12:44) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Ingrid is physically a small person, but she does have an aggressive personality for a lady!!!!
    • ! (08/04/2013, 01:33) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Could not be bothered to read the whole story because Ms. Moses can jump high or low because the time will come when she would be HUNG UP to dry
  • busy body (06/04/2013, 19:35) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I was amazed to see that in a so call democracy this kind of oppressive behavior is allowed by the Speaker in our legislative council.

    The BVI is for sure gone to the dogs. They want to shut down the media houses, now they even want to shut down the opposition what is wrong with my country????
  • bvi (06/04/2013, 20:49) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is not about being a VIP or NDP and we need to realize that, those questions were valid questions, when you have RCL filing lawsuits and WE the People don't know whats going on. TPP have a hidden agenda that needs to be revealed, how will you work for the Government of the VI, negotiating on behalf of the Government and you are negotiating on behalf of your company and the Government. The truth needs to come out
  • AC 360 (07/04/2013, 14:20) Like (4) Dislike (11) Reply
    This is the typical behaviour of deeds power hungry speakers...look what teh speaker is doing in St. Kitts her home land
  • News Flash (08/04/2013, 01:00) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    what this women Ingrid did to we the people it's scary!
  • yes (08/04/2013, 01:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Their actions always speak louder than thier words
  • vicky (08/04/2013, 15:45) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Look how a young girl like Ingrid kill her chances for running for office by taking the side of the NDP a brand that has been stained with corruption, tt minister, crooks, conflict of interest, incompetence, and anti-locals...SHAME SHAME SHAME
  • HOLEINTHEWALL (09/04/2013, 07:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What answers do any of you have to help solve the bigger question: How are we as a people going to chart the course of this country. Whether VIP or NDP, the gong will drop on all of us when the British highhandedly plan to lynch us. People keep your eyes on the issues. These nit-picking is pitting us against each other. At the end of the day, we need all Virgin Islanders to come together to save our country our forefathers gave us.
    The Speaker is guided by Standing Orders which she has complied with. Get it, people, she is within her right to do what she did. We sound like a bunch of haters of each others and totally divided. Many are shouting abuses at each other rather than speaking to the subject matter. Wake up, people.
    • Sick (09/04/2013, 14:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Yes the Speaker has the right to withhold an item from going on the Order Paper, but only if she feels it violates any of the Standing Orders Provisions. Let he tell us which Standing Order Provision those questions violated. She can't because politics is not a Provison of the Standing Orders, and it was Politics she took it off for. To CYNDPA. That's to cover the NDP A.
  • hide and seek (14/05/2013, 17:43) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    dem got ting to hide
  • critic (14/05/2013, 22:26) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    He will have to answer to us in 2015.
  • dog (14/05/2013, 22:38) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    As a member of this community, I want to know about the cruise ship pier park, it's cost, who are the TPP members, have all the design details been finalized, Height, scale, design itself, questions about traffic, pedestrian, infrastructure, sewage, electricity, where are mechanics going so they are not noisy, merchant space at the pier, etc.

    This is a development that will change the character of Road Town and BVI forever as the front door for cruise ships. Has a study been done about how passengers spend, move around, how many come off the ship, how many tour- and as seen in Jamaica- how many local vendors get bypassed?.

    This can NOT be done quickly and with ego or self-involvement or hidden agenda. How is this going to be funded? costs etc. where is town and country or even planning and ports authorities on this other than being "yes" men to the government?
    Fraser is not my favorite person and when the shoe was on the other foot, he played as many games.
    But this all has GOT to stop and become responsible planning and development or we all lose.


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