Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

After 2 years plus HoA moves back to its Chambers in RT

Inside the renovated House of Assembly building in Road Town. Photo: HoA
The Speaker’s area has been pushed back, with an addition to the existing House of Assembly building in Road Town. Photo: HoA
The Speaker’s area has been pushed back, with an addition to the existing House of Assembly building in Road Town. Photo: HoA
Work has also been done to mitigate against flooding in the yard of the House of Assembly building in Road Town. Photo: HoA.
Work has also been done to mitigate against flooding in the yard of the House of Assembly building in Road Town. Photo: HoA.
Honourable Members will return to the Chambers for the meeting of Tuesday, February 21, 2023, which is the continuation of the Third Sitting of the Fifth Session of the Fourth HoA. Photo: HoA
Honourable Members will return to the Chambers for the meeting of Tuesday, February 21, 2023, which is the continuation of the Third Sitting of the Fifth Session of the Fourth HoA. Photo: HoA
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Since 2020, the House of Assembly (HoA) has been temporarily housed at the Save the Seed Energy Centre’s indoor basketball court in Duff’s Bottom. This was due to spacing issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government had mandated 6 feet of space for social distancing during the height of the pandemic. Therefore, work had to be done on the HoA building located below the High Court in Road Town.

It is our understanding that the cost of the project was estimated to be over three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000). The total figure for the rent of the space at Save the Seed Energy Centre for over two years is unknown.

Social critics and talk show hosts have complained for years about the image of the highest law-making body conducting Sittings in a gymnasium, as they claim it undermined the dignity of the Legislature.

Inside upgrade

The building in Road Town has since been renovated to allow more space and the Speaker’s area has been pushed back, with an addition to the existing building. There have also been some new electrical fixtures, a new Air Condition Unit, new ceilings and tiles and other upgrades to the interior of the building. Some work has also been done on the external building, reorganising the entrance to the press gallery and work has also been done to mitigate flooding in the yard. 

The Clerk of the HoA, Mrs Phyllis Evans told the Standing Finance Committee last year that there were five contractors on the project. They are MacMillan Construction, Lawrence Wheatley Construction, Tarris Hill, Northam Construction, and Accurate Construction Limited.

It is our newsroom's understanding that the renovation project was championed by former HoA Speaker Julian Willock. Upon Willock's departure from office in May of last year, Deputy Speaker and Territorial At Large Representative Hon Neville A. Smith took up the baton and saw phase one of the project to completion.

The countdown to dissolution 

Honourable Members will return to the Chambers for the meeting of Tuesday, February 21, 2023, which is the continuation of the Third Sitting of the Fifth Session of the Fourth HoA.

It is unclear if the controversial Police Bill that strips residents of their human rights will receive its Second and Third readings. The Bill is being pushed by the UK-appointed Governor John J. Rankin, CMG and Police Commissioner Mark Collins.

Meanwhile, the EZ Shipping and Claude O. Skelton-Cline’s contracts with Government will be laid on the table of the House.

Less than three weeks remain in the life of the Fourth HoA, as it must be dissolved by March 12, 2023.

19 Responses to “After 2 years plus HoA moves back to its Chambers in RT”

  • asura (20/02/2023, 18:05) Like (35) Dislike (3) Reply
    what is the cost of save the seed?
    • @ Asura. Good question. (20/02/2023, 20:13) Like (28) Dislike (32) Reply
      All of them so lie and corrupt, only the governor we can trust..
      • @@ asura (20/02/2023, 20:45) Like (12) Dislike (14) Reply

        please!!!! who trust the ra***t governor and his boy Collins?

      • @ @ Asura….. (20/02/2023, 23:04) Like (7) Dislike (9) Reply
        So the governor hasn’t lied? You need to stop the euro-propaganda.
  • Transparency (20/02/2023, 18:10) Like (45) Dislike (3) Reply
    Why are they withholding the Save The Seed rental figure???
    • Great. (20/02/2023, 20:10) Like (34) Dislike (1) Reply
      One useless bill tax payers is free from. Now we need to start reducing our office space rental..
      • @great (21/02/2023, 11:51) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        Namely - Cutlass Building
        Port Authority Office
        Tourist Board
        Post Office
        Library( ???)
    • Interested bystander (20/02/2023, 23:35) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
      Ask who is the landlord at save the seed. Who receives the government rent payments when they use the save the seed centre. There you have the answer to why they don’t say don’t tell. And people ask why there was a COI. Nothing changes. Nothing ever will.
  • good (20/02/2023, 18:18) Like (25) Dislike (0) Reply
    about time
  • Rubber Duck (20/02/2023, 18:48) Like (12) Dislike (8) Reply
    they still going in there with them old desk shame on them
    • Azure' (20/02/2023, 22:32) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
      There is nothing wrong with the desks. Buying new ones is a waste of money. They are not there to impress you naysayers, but to conduct business.
    • ??? (21/02/2023, 11:53) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      Mahogany ( can't find them that strong these days) much less cheap
  • my two cents (20/02/2023, 19:10) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
    That’s a lot of money and a lot of contractors
  • we never learn (20/02/2023, 19:44) Like (10) Dislike (5) Reply
    From the naked eye the interior looks nice. Mark my words in the next 3 years there will be air quality concerns.
  • @ TRANSPARENCY (20/02/2023, 19:58) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    AM PRETTY SURE THAT DUDE , ( CSC ) THE HOLY ONE , ☆ PASTOR * TURNED CONSULTANT * TURNED POLITICIAN * AND NOW PSYCHIC * AND * MESIAH ☆ WILL SO BE HONORED TO SHARE HIS KNOWLEDGE WITH HIS HUMBLE SERVANTS ???? , HONESTLY SPEAKING ????
  • don't let the door hit them (20/02/2023, 20:47) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    now we can get on with some basketball and other sports in the save the seed gym!
  • @ @ ASURA (21/02/2023, 07:49) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    WE DO , U WON'T , BECAUSE U GOT SOMETHING TO HIDE , BUT WHATS IN THE DARK WILL COME TO LIGHT ) ENEN THOUGH U ARE BLEACHING YOURSELF 2 MATCH YOUR PRECIOUS
    WIG / U STILL BLACK
  • WHAT!!!! (21/02/2023, 12:50) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Self proclaimed “bishop” will miss the money in jis pocket.
  • KING FISH (21/02/2023, 13:05) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    They need a proper parliament building like in Canada, Trinidad or even South Africa


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.