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Hon Smith blasts legislators for usual late HoA start

- calls on legislators to self-impose penalties over continuous tardiness
Deputy Speaker and At-Large Representative in the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly, Hon Neville A. Smith (AL) has blasted legislators in the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA0 for their continuous tardiness in starting the House on time and at local events. Photo: HoA/Youtube
The issue of the House of Assembly sittings starting late is something that has occurred across different administrations. Photo: VINO/File
The issue of the House of Assembly sittings starting late is something that has occurred across different administrations. Photo: VINO/File
DUFF’S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI – Deputy Speaker and At-Large Representative in the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly, Hon Neville A. Smith (AL) has blasted legislators in the House of Assembly (HoA) for their continuous tardiness at Sittings and at local events.

“I'm very upset with my members for a lot of reasons … the main reason is our attendance, our tardiness, we have to do better. I've said it once, I said it twice, but I think it came to a low Madam Speaker, [when] we had Friendship Day,” Hon Smith said during the Continuation of the 7th Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Fourth House of Assembly on October 25, 2022.  

“We cannot continue to disrespect each other; when it comes to being on time… I come to every House of Assembly on time and every function that we have I come on time as well and, to me, it's disrespectful for me… that I have to be here all day, every single time, and wait for every member to show up here,” he added.

Hon Smith added that while he understands legislators might not approve of him publicly reprimanding them rather than raising his concerns in an informal meeting of the House, he said the tardiness has to stop.

'It's not right' - Hon Smith 

“Madam Speaker, you spoke to us more than once, since you're there on that bench, but nothing ain't changing. It's not changing, we have to do better.”

He continued, “We can't expect people to respect us and take us seriously and we continue coming here the time we coming here and people waiting on us. It’s not right.” 

Hon Smith called on members to find some way to punish each other via a charge or a fine and that the monies can go towards charity. “Every time we come here, we start the House of Assembly late!"

The Deputy Speaker called on members to do better. 

He said whatever the punishment or solution, something must happen to bring change to tardiness in the House.

18 Responses to “Hon Smith blasts legislators for usual late HoA start ”

  • Sock It to them (26/10/2022, 11:01) Like (20) Dislike (6) Reply
    Especially at events they waltz in like kings and queens and expect to get prime seating. Its sickening and disgusting to say the lease.
    • herbs power (27/10/2022, 00:15) Like (1) Dislike (10) Reply
      Deputy speaker with two earings in his ears. put on a wig next like the former speaker.
  • asura (26/10/2022, 11:57) Like (16) Dislike (4) Reply
    he is on point he needs to run again
  • NezRez (26/10/2022, 12:09) Like (25) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is the typical attitude of BVI landers. They call it island time, but I call it an unprofessional immature need to grow the hell up time. In some places around the world, the doors will close on time and latecomers will be locked out.
    • Norris Turnbull (27/10/2022, 00:50) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
      Really!!!! I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE BVISLANDERS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. I RESENT THAT STATEMENT EVEN TOHOUGH YOU HAVE UR FREE SPEECH. THE CONSEQUENCE OF YOUR FREE SPEECH IS ANOTHER. THING
    • Norris Turnbull (27/10/2022, 00:50) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      Really!!!! I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE BVISLANDERS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. I RESENT THAT STATEMENT EVEN TOHOUGH YOU HAVE UR FREE SPEECH. THE CONSEQUENCE OF YOUR FREE SPEECH IS ANOTHER. THING
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (26/10/2022, 12:22) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Hon. Neville Smith, you are right, but you have also exposed the United government, and the two Hon. Members of the Opposition of political negligence of incompetence leadership of serving the general public with integrity, and fairness. This must have been a general practice, that made you so displeased.
  • Ms. Manners (26/10/2022, 12:30) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    One of my pet peeves is lateness. I don’t know if it is one of the norms but everyone is always late. It is rude and so unprofessional to have people sitting waiting for 1,2, hours because of someone’s lateness. To all of you that have a problem getting to work on time or is always late, PRO BONO TIP, YOU CAN OR MAY GET FIRED FROM YOUR JOB FOR BEING LATE RATHER THAN BEING ABSENT.
    • Bvi USVI friendship day . (26/10/2022, 14:41) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      I'm sure Neville and others must be had enough of these lateness especially the opposition members not just late but late by hours,. The are like masters, or kings, everyone must wait,,
  • Culture (26/10/2022, 12:55) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    Its just BVI culture.
  • Bad an undesciplne leaders (26/10/2022, 14:35) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Time someone call the bad practice out. I'm surprised hon Smith was alone. It's been going on for too long. No wonder civil servants ever late, that's the standard, the example they get from our bad and undesciplne leaders...
  • smh (26/10/2022, 14:41) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    About Time something be done. This is just pure disrespect and negligence to the People. Who do they think they are? Time waits for No One so should the progression of Sittings and Events.
  • come on guys (26/10/2022, 15:59) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    They are just plain out rude and have no regards about being late. I had a small family dinner two weeks ago and I ask my family to please show up at 6:00pm, the ones that turned up 7-730 I refused to let them in the house. Now I’m called the B***h by a few family members. Am I worried? Do I care? Of course not.
  • Disinterested (26/10/2022, 17:25) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    They are not reliable to be punctual for a meeting at the HOA, the people’s house. This is unprofessional and disrespectful to the people. Put the late comers on the wall of shame. The people needs to know who the late comers are. Taking care of the people’s business in a timely manner must be job 1. If you cannot show up on time for an HOA, should you be in the HOA as an elected manner. Are they cool with their paybeing late.
  • Shem (26/10/2022, 18:16) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    That's normal it's Caribbean time always late for every funeral
  • hmmm (26/10/2022, 20:19) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Why now? His buddy Coach did this every time. Interesting.
  • Fed Up (27/10/2022, 09:37) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    The elected officials have no respect for the Speaker of the House nor the people of the British Virgin Islands. They are a total waste of time. Often time they have senior civil servants waiting for them in the HOA as they show up one by one long after the time the Sittings are scheduled to start. I can hardly wait for election to call. They must do better. It's time these jokes, waste of time take their jobs seriously. I blame the stupid electorate for putting them there. Especially the selfish voters. Those that vote for petty contracts and handouts in return.


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