One of the highlights of the eight sitting of the second session of the HOA on Thursday last was the omission of a number of topical questions about the controversial cruise pier project raised by Third District Representative and Opposition member Honourable Julian Fraser RA from the Order Paper. This is the second time in a row that those questions by Hon. Fraser have been omitted by the Speaker Hon. Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe. Photo: VINO/File

The two Opposition pit-bulls Hon. Julian Fraser RA (left) and Hon. Andrew A. Fahie have been leading the questions to the government front bench. Photo: VINO/File

Speaker of the House Hon. Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe remains firm in her decision to omit Hon. Fraser's questions from the Order Paper. Photo: VINO/File

There was also the revelation that there has been no approval from the United Kingdom for two major controversial projects; the Cruise Ship Port Development and the T. B. Lettsome Airport runway expansion. Photo: VINO/File

Another revelation was about a high-priced dinner for teachers past and present hosted by the Ministry of Education headed by Hon. Myron V. Walwyn who claimed he found from savings $99, 725.49 to pull off the event on March 16, 2013 at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex. Photo: Team of Reporters

One of the highlights of the eight sitting of the second session of the HOA on Thursday last was the omission of a number of topical questions about the controversial cruise pier project raised by Third District Representative and Opposition member Honourable Julian Fraser RA from the Order Paper. This is the second time in a row that those questions by Hon. Fraser have been omitted by the Speaker Hon. Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe.

Hon. Fraser a former Communications and Works Minister under the Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal OBE led Virgin Islands Party Government, had sought clarification from the Speaker as to how he should approach the matter of getting his questions to go on the Order Paper.

Hon. Fraser said he received a note on (April 21, 2013) which stated, “I am directed by the Speaker to inform you of Standing Order 17:2 whereby ten questions that were not allowed on the Order Paper of [April 4, 2013], will not be allowed on the order paper of (April 25, 2013).”

The note further stated that questions for both the Premier and Minister for Communications and Works would not be allowed on the order paper for the current sitting of the HOA on the basis of the same section of the Standing Orders.

Hon. Fraser said he was not questioning the authority of the Speaker, but rather was making the point that he had asked before about the specific area he had infringed in relation to the Standing Order, and did not receive an answer that he could understand; as a result, he therefore re-presented the questions for the sake of clarification.

Speaker of the House, Hon. Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe stated that she recognised the District Representative’s quandary, but stated the same reasons for the omission applied as were stated previously.

No UK approval for Cruise pier and airport projects

There was also the revelation that there has been no approval from the United Kingdom for two major controversial projects; the Cruise Ship Port Development and the T. B. Lettsome Airport runway expansion.

First District Representative Honourable Andrew A. Fahie, a former Education and Culture Minister in the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Administration, asked the Premier and Minister of Finance if the United Kingdom has already given approval in writing for the Cruise Ship Port Development Project and/or the T. B. Lettsome Airport runway expansion.

Dr. Smith told the House of Assembly, “Madam Speaker, the UK Government has not already given approval in writing for the Cruise Ship Port Development Project nor the T. B Lettsome Airport runway expansion project…..Madam Speaker, the answer therefore is not in the affirmative.”

The Premier told the House that permission for the two projects has not yet been sought in writing from the United Kingdom, “but will be sought at the appropriate time”.

This answer given by the leader of Government business is certainly in conflict to what two of his Ministers have been saying. His Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr. the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering, under which the airport project falls, has already declared “it’s a done deal”. The Communications and Works Minister Hon. Mark H. Vanterpool said recently that the Ports Project is “full speed ahead.”

Contract Splitting

The Premier was also faced with the question of ‘Contract Splitting’ which his Government is being accused of. The Minister of Finance flatly denied that Government was involved in any form of contract splitting in any of its capital projects.

The National Democratic Party (NDP) introduced and passed the Public Finance Management Regulation (FMR) Act in 2005 which prohibits the practice of contract splitting.

Hon. Fahie had asked the Premier whether the government, since retaking office in November 2011, had engaged contractors on any capital project in a manner that could be referred to as contract splitting.

Premier Smith had said, “Madam Speaker, I can say that since taking office, my government has not engaged contractors in any such manner or for any such reasons and we have therefore not engaged contractors or any capital projects in a manner that could be referred to as contract splitting.”

He stated that his administration had instead “engaged as many contractors as [it] could on some projects in order to provide employment for contractors who some refer to as the ‘small man’ during these [shortening] times when the construction industry has slowed down due to the world recession, the effects of which we are feeling in the BVI.”

According to the Premier, ordinarily, government would have been able to inject more money into the economy and commenced other needed projects. However, having taken office and “finding the cupboard bare”, they were instead left to wait to accumulate sufficient funds through “prudent management” in order to facilitate this.

Hon. Fahie was not pleased with the response and in addition to stating that the cupboard was never bare he noted that the Premier had offered a different definition than one which was previously “clearly defined” in the FMR.

It was later revealed that four projects commissioned by the NDP amounting to over $3.5M and were not tendered but rather issued through the method of petty contracts, according to the Premier. He also denied that any of the projects entailed any form of contract splitting.

Petty contracts are deemed to be those for any projects which amount to less than $100,000.

High price tag teachers’ dinner

Another revelation was about a high-priced dinner for teachers past and present hosted by the Ministry of Education headed by Hon. Myron V. Walwyn who claimed he found from savings $99, 725.49 to pull off the event on March 16, 2013 at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex.

The information was made public following a question by veteran legislator and opposition member Hon. Fraser to Minister Walwyn. Hon. Fraser, a consistent supporter of education, youths and teachers also wanted to know if the event would be annual. Hon. Walwyn told the HOA  “the event, which was held on March 16, 2013 in honour of teachers at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex, will be an annual event; however, each year the type of function that will be held will vary."

While the Minister revealed the unusually high price tag also included prizes given to the teachers who were selected as outstanding teachers, there was no breakdown to the public for the cost of items such as the catering, decorations, music, rental of tables and chairs and other costs.

It is not clear who were the persons that provided these services.

To justify this high price tag, the Minister told the house that the money was obtained through savings from the Ministry's youth development budget.

Meanwhile, many persons will be also listening out for the section of Any Other Business where legislators can speak freely on any topic and most often use that time to lash out at the media.

The House of Assembly meeting will be broadcast live on CBN Channel 51 starting at 10 A.M. from the Chambers in Road Town.