Leader of the Opposition and longest serving Legislator in the Territory Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE and the second longest serving legislator that sits in the House of Assembly of today, Honourable J. Alvin Christopher attacked Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith’s referring to the letter the Opposition had sent to the Speaker of the House Honourable Ingrid A. Moses as an opinion. Photo: VINO

Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Honourable Julian Fraser, RA (R3) also shared his concerns of the Premier down-playing the Opposition Leader’s letters as being one of an opinion. “I am not surprised with the behaviour of the government when someone asked about the comment made regarding the letter….my response is exactly what I expected because they beginning to behave and look like a government,” said Hon Fraser. Photo: VINO

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith’s said not to be taking the Opposition seriously. Photo: VINO/File

Hon O’Neal was speaking at a press conference yesterday September 9, 2014 where he was at the time addressing the whole question of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith referring to the letter the Opposition had sent to the Speaker of the House Honourable Ingrid A. Moses as just an opinion.

This Hon O’Neal and other members of the Opposition see as testimony of the scant regard the present NDP government has for the Opposition and their disregard for their vast knowledge and experience in the political arena especially as legislators of this Territory.

Supporting Hon O’Neal fellow member of the Opposition and the second longest serving legislator that sits in the House of Assembly of today, Honourable J. Alvin Christopher (R2) questioned whether or not the government is taking the House of Assembly seriously. “Because on the agenda…. This sitting we have three bills for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd reading,” said Hon Christopher.

“This is about the second or third sitting that this has been reoccurring. The question then is this...is the sitting government taking parliament serious and what the institution stands for?” asked Hon Christopher.

Chairman of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Honourable Julian Fraser, RA (R3) also shared his concerns of the Premier down-playing the Opposition Leader’s letters as being one of an opinion. “I am not surprised with the behaviour of the government when someone asked about the comment made regarding the letter….my response is exactly what I expected because they beginning to behave and look like a government,” said Hon Fraser.

He said that may be taken as a compliment but it is not. “Governments, they get to a point and time when they don’t want to hear, see or know what’s going on around them…like I said between us we have to 95 years of experience so we know the game,” said Hon Fraser.