The first sitting of the House of Assembly for the New Year will take place on Monday 13, January 2014. Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith will deliver the 2014 Budget Address. The House of Assembly has remained unpopular as one former Legislator described it as a 'circus'. At the last sitting in December of 2013 many Legislators called for unity and working together. Photo: Photo: VINO/File

Education and Culture Minister Honourable Myron V. Walwyn has emerged as one of the most controversial and divisive member of the House of Assembly. He used his parliament privilege to attack the media and called for censorship. He has also attacked the staff of one online news site, people in some cases he has never met. One Opposition member has publicly asked his party Boss Dr. D. Orlando Smith to “bell that cat.” Photo: VINO/File

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith will deliver the much anticipated 2014 Budget Address, pointing out the Territory’s fiscal policy, both expenditures and expected revenues.

The House of Assembly last met on December 20, 2013 at its Chambers in Road Town, the Virgin Islands’ Capital City

The Order Paper and other details for the January 13 sitting has not been released to the media as of press time. However, the same source told this news site that no questions from the Opposition will be allowed on the Order Paper as the Budget Speech will be the main item on the agenda.

At the last sitting, some legislators called for unity and working together from both sides of the isle, however, with the life of this HOA with about two years left before the next general elections, that seems impossible.

One of the worse HOAs in VI history?

Many ordinary citizens, a former legislator and many talk show hosts have all agreed that after the 2011 Elections that saw the NDP government gained the majority in Parliament with 9 seats to the Opposition 4, the decorum has gone to the “dogs”.

Many persons have complained over the last two years that the HOA has become a circus with much disrespect for each other, the people of the Virgin Islands and not addressing the real bread and butter issues to improve the quality of life of residents.

Former Legislator Eileene L. Parsons OBE has described the behavior of some members in the HOA as a “circus” and “deplorable.”

The House of Assembly remains at an all time low in local public opinion and many have said it’s akin to the unpopular United States of America Congress, now labelled as a "do nothing congress".

Myron V. Walwyn uses HOA to attack media & persons

One Legislator, who has emerged as one of the most controversial and divisive in the HOA, is the Education and Culture Minister Honourable Myron V. Walwyn.  Many have accused him as being the one contributing most to the circus-like atmosphere in the people’s house.

The First District Representative Honourable Andrew A. Fahie has accused the rookie At-Large Member of creating a culture of disrespect and had asked Premier Smith, to “bell that cat”.

Minister Walwyn seem to use the HOA to unleash consistent attacks on the media and called for censorship. He also used the HOA under other business to attack the staff of one online news site, people he has not met in most instances.

Regrettably, no elected Member can be sued for libel and slander committed in the HOA against the ordinary citizens, businesses or each other.

Many persons will be looking to see if, at the start of the first sitting for 2014 and the pending debate of the Budget a month after the Budget Address, a new culture of respect is created and there is a reduction in tearing down by using member’s parliamentary privilege to attack innocent persons.

This news site will be the first to bring you the Order Paper with the agenda once a copy is obtained.  The HOA meeting and the pending Budget Address will be carried live on CBN Channel 51 from 10:00 a.m. on Monday January 13, 2014.