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HoA to meet March 12, 2019; Who will be Speaker?

-Highest law-making body will convene at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex
The Multi-Purpose Sports Complex. Photo: Internet Source
On Tuesday of this week Mark H. Vanterpool who won his District 4 seat in the February 25, 2019, general elections abruptly resigned paving the way for a by-election. Hon Neville A. Smith (AL) has been designated as the Deputy Speaker of the House and will also be sworn in twice, once for legislator and again for Deputy Speaker on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. Photo: File/Facebook
On Tuesday of this week Mark H. Vanterpool who won his District 4 seat in the February 25, 2019, general elections abruptly resigned paving the way for a by-election. Hon Neville A. Smith (AL) has been designated as the Deputy Speaker of the House and will also be sworn in twice, once for legislator and again for Deputy Speaker on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. Photo: File/Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA) spokesman, Linton V. Leonard has confirmed that the First Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth HoA will commence on Tuesday, March 12, 2019.

The highest law-making body will convene at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex, in Road Town, the capital city at 10:00 AM.

The meeting will see the swearing in of 12 out of 13 elected members, the Attorney General (AG) and a new Speaker of the House, who will be nominated by Premier and Leader of Government Business, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) and elected by Members. 

12 out of 13

On Tuesday of this week, National Democratic Party's (NDP 1) Mark H. Vanterpool—who won his District 4 seat in the February  25, 2019, general elections—abruptly resigned, paving the way for a by-election.

The big watch at the first sitting of the new HoA is to see who the new Speaker of the House will be, in accordance with Section 69 of the Virgin Islands Constitution.

Hon Neville A. Smith (AL) has been designated as the Deputy Speaker of the House and will also be sworn in twice, once for legislator and again for Deputy Speaker on Tuesday, March 12, 2019.

Mr Speaker?

No announcement has been made as to who the Speaker will be, however, several names have been floating around including a former Permanent Secretary, a former 2019 Candidate and even a former Speaker.

To date, the Hon Fahie Administration has been tight-lipped on who has been designated for the post. The HoA will be carried live on CBN Radio 90.9 FM, CBN-Television Channel 101 on flow tv and you can also follow the coverage live online at www.cbnvirginislands.com

24 Responses to “HoA to meet March 12, 2019; Who will be Speaker?”

  • wize up (08/03/2019, 14:23) Like (5) Dislike (43) Reply
    how about mark!!! He have the experience
  • Watch Dog (08/03/2019, 14:50) Like (16) Dislike (17) Reply
    Transparency, accountability and responsibility? The territory waited what seemed like an eternity as to whom was going to be Deputy Premier. In the end, the people got a keep the tribe happy, no foul no harm decision, kicking the can down the road for another year. The 3 month decision, no decision is just an administrative burden. The return on investment in regards to acquired experience will be neglible; the cost outweighs the benefit.

    Further, to date the people don’t know who the Speaker of their HOA is. Why is who is going to be the Speaker of people’s HOA a top secret? Is deciding on who will be Speaker too tying the government into knots? Release the Speaker name now, for the People has a right to know. This should have been a routine decision. Is this what change is going to feel and look like? First impression and first steps are important. The people have high hopes and high expectations for this government. This government has the opportunity to go down in the annals of history as one of the best, producing an enviable record. Nonetheless, it has to plan the work and work the plan. It must do the right things.
    • Jaigon (08/03/2019, 16:27) Like (26) Dislike (3) Reply
      @watch dog, all you always make every fricking thing an issue, when a government change, do we know who the speaker of the house is before the first sitting? I say no. When the first sitting is convenien then the leader of government business who is now Hon. Andrew Fahie will put forward the name of his choice to be speaker. The opposition can also put forward a name, then and only then a vote will be taken and a speaker will be appointed. The name that gets the backing of the whole house or the majority of the house will then take an oath and occupy the speaker’s chair. The Deputy speaker will preside overbthe house until the speaker is appointed.
      • Watch Dog (08/03/2019, 18:34) Like (12) Dislike (13) Reply
        Still not convince with your explanation why VIP should not release the name of the Speaker before March 12. True, both government and opposition will nominate someone for Speaker and a vote taken. Everyone body knows whoever VIP nominates for Speaker will become Speaker, for VIP has a 8-5 (know 8-4) in HOA. We will quicker see 13” inches of snow falling in Road Town before the opposition candidate becomes Speaker. Some information must kept secret and only known by people who a need to know but who is nominated for Speaker should not be a secret. Now then, we we will just have to agree to disagree.
      • VOTE (08/03/2019, 19:03) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
        What vote you looking for with an 8 to 5 majority
        We have to wait a whole year for a Deputy Premier to be apportioned. You think we have time.
    • wize up (09/03/2019, 06:57) Like (15) Dislike (3) Reply
      @ watch dog: you concerned about who will be the next speaker of the house while some among us worried about how will our territory recover some of the millions the former administration can not account for: out of office should not mean out of mind(investigate the 8 years worth of missing tax money) should there be any irregularities during any such investigation the culpprits must repay the tax money plus do some time at HMP: you just can’t deal with government affairs like some toy then allowed to simply go home and relax: man on the street going jail every day(one love):
      • Watch Dog (09/03/2019, 09:42) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
        @Wize Up, though some may see me raising a storm in a tea cup about the Speaker, I’m also concerned about other things, eg, fiduciary responsibility(BVI Airways $7.2M, ESHS Wall, TPP...etc), infrastructure, utilities, education, health, civil service reform, economy, environment, gross domestic product, social services, rising cost of living, public safety, rising crime, constitutional reform, good governance, cost of living....etc. My foray into the Speakership is about the Broken Window Theory, ie, if we don’t care about the little things, they will surely soon turn into big things, crisis. If we only worry about the forest and not the weeds, pretty soon the forest will be on fire, set a blaze. We need to get off on the right foot, keeping government feet to the fire. The VIP blazed the trail with transparency, accountability and responsibility mantra. Show me the money! Release the Speaker name now, unless you are still debating who it should be? If that is the case Jiminey Cricket! Anyway, the perro guardian is on watch at the CAB.
    • @Watch Dog (09/03/2019, 14:50) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
      How will you know who the Speaker of the House is before the first sitting? The speaker is selected by members of the HOA at the first meeting which is Tuesday 12, March.
      You know nothing about the constitution but you flapping your mouth for flapping it sake. SICKENING!!!
      • Lee (10/03/2019, 06:55) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
        For your information the Speaker of the HOA has been already selected, big up to you sir.
  • Liat 521 (08/03/2019, 17:02) Like (3) Dislike (6) Reply
    So what’s the serect
    • Jaigon (08/03/2019, 18:12) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
      @liat 521, ass there is no secret. It is not customary for any government to name a speaker before the HOA conveine
      • @jaigon (08/03/2019, 23:33) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply
        @Jaigon, thought this was unconventional government that is bucking the norms? It is a binary choice; it is either a conventional or unconventional.
      • Disinterested (10/03/2019, 14:07) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
        @ Jaigon, when one is losing an argument, one turns to insulting people. Look like insulting people boost ur ego. Burro, go siddung and take a second seat.
  • vip (08/03/2019, 18:56) Like (21) Dislike (11) Reply
    I with the esteemed
  • wize up (08/03/2019, 21:37) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    we must now choose to enforce laws which will see political people going off to jail: all political people must clearly understand that the money in the government’s treasury is not their personal bank account: all money in the government treasury have to be accurately accounted for: spending of tax money have to be Beneficial for all who pays taxes(good roads, running water, emergency response systems and good health care)....let hold those we vote in to political positions accountable(good-ting)
  • Guess (09/03/2019, 06:28) Like (21) Dislike (13) Reply
    Claude Skelton-Cline. Julian the Esteemed Willock
  • one eye (09/03/2019, 06:52) Like (2) Dislike (21) Reply
    Make Myron the speaker at least he will be in the HOUSE of assembly
  • bvi (09/03/2019, 09:14) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    Speaker MUST be neutral. No former candidates for sitting parties and no one strongly against another sitting party.
  • 411 (09/03/2019, 11:37) Like (0) Dislike (11) Reply
    My-run funny ball headed long ass will NEVER EVER EVER be speaker. Not of this government right here. U schupidy or wha? U does put rat to mind cheese??
  • Go Siddung (09/03/2019, 14:56) Like (3) Dislike (6) Reply
    Some of you who come on here to blog need to find something of substance to do in your spare time. You sound just like sore losers. Get the hell over it. The VIP won the elections.
  • Request from a friend (10/03/2019, 07:51) Like (1) Dislike (9) Reply
    What about Dancia or Keith they both campaiged against Vip ndp and PVIM lol


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