Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) said the House of Assembly (HoA) refurbishment project will get done; however, it is not among the top priority projects of his administration. Photo: Facebook

The House of Assembly had relocated its sittings to the Save the Seed Energy Centre in 2020, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, to allow for social distancing protocols to be observed. Photo: HoA/File

According to reports, some refurbishments need to be done at the HoA building in Road Town before sittings can return. Photo: VINO/File

Legislators have been occupying the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duffs Bottom, Tortola since the COVID-19 pandemic struck and in recent times calls have been made to have the original HoA made ready for use by the legislators.

According to reports, some refurbishments need to be done at the HoA building in Road Town before sittings can return.

One talk show host, Claude O. Skelton Cline said it was a national disgrace that the HoA was still being housed at the Save the Seed Energy Centre.

'You have to prioritise'- Premier Fahie

Responding to members of the media during a press conference on Friday, February 25, 2022, he said the limited resources is also an issue.

He said: “With limited resources in the middle of a pandemic you have to prioritise, and you have to decide now, yes the House of Assembly is important but also there are certain projects we had to fast track now since we see that the economy is moving forward to get done.”

Other projects more important

He said this included the building of the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS).

“If we did the HoA project as first and leave the children as second then you rightfully will come and ask, “what about those children up there in that mould infected building? Is there no future for them? is there no way you all are going to address that?” he stated.

He said they also had to focus on the Jost van Dyke Primary, which had been destroyed by Hurricanes Irma and Maria and other projects like the East End/Long Look Project completed “once and for all.”

Third District Representative Julian Fraser RA had lamented in the House of Assembly in January that there is an apprehension for Virgin Islanders to move forward, adding that even the furniture in the House of Assembly has remained the same over the years.

But, according to Hon Fahie: “So yes we are going to look at getting the HoA project completed, but at the same time too there are certain things we have to do first to secure our young people in a better environment, to take our people from East End/Long Look from walking in what we call number one and number two whether solid or liquid. And we also have the Carrot Bay, where the sea defence since Irma and Maria has eaten away the shoreline and we are working on getting that also fixed and having it looking like in terms of more modernized coastline.”

Hon Fahie pointed out some other projects that were more urgent like the Frenchman’s Cay Bridge, and the new West End Ferry terminal.

He said those projects are important to improve and protect the lives of residents and to boost the local economy and tourism product.

HoA has its importance

“The HoA, do not get me wrong, has its importance but I think every member in the HoA would understand that we are going to do that project and the members of the public but allow us to do these other projects first.”

“I cannot sleep well in my bed knowing that I put a HoA ahead of bringing back over 1,200 students back to the ESHS, but yet we in the HoA in a brand new environment sitting down and speaking and doing the people’s work when the majority of the people are suffering. That would not be good leadership,” the Premier added.

See related article below:

'National disgrace! HoA needs to get out of a gym'– Skelton Cline