Honeymoon’s over! Deputy Premier Pickering to face tough questions in HoA
Many Political observers wondered aloud as to what the strategy of the VIP Opposition was, as in the end Dr Pickering went out hard to campaign against the VIP leading up to the 2015 snap elections, many times slamming party boss Julian Fraser RA (R3) who many believe is his friend.
Since the snap election of 2015 that saw the return of the NDP, the Opposition VIP has lifted their embargo and have asked questions of Hon Pickering, including at the last Sitting of September 22, 2016.
Questions for Dr Pickering
This coming session, which is the Second Sitting of the Second Session of the Third House of Assembly (HoA), Opposition Leader Hon Fraser will have some more questions for Hon Pickering. Hon Fraser, the seasoned leader, wants to know if Hon Pickering is selling out the concessionary rights of Prickly Pear Island, taking it from a local and giving to a non-local.
In addition, the Opposition Leader wants to know from Dr Pickering about the controversial Airport runway expansion project and if petty contracts will be issued via his Natural Resources and Labour Ministry.
Hon Fraser is also seeking clarification as to if the work will be given to local or non-local contractors, and also the status of the Greenhouses- a project started by the VIP Government.
The Sitting of the HoA will be broadcast live on CBN Channel 51 on Thursday October 13, 2016.
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22 Responses to “Honeymoon’s over! Deputy Premier Pickering to face tough questions in HoA”
In addition, WE (the voters) cannot dissolve government, nor can the VIP, the Governor or anyone else. The NDP has a lock on the House. Have you forgotten that only 16 months ago, our people delivered an astounding 11 to 2 victory to the NDP? They don't have to answer to ANYONE.
As we already know from the NDP's stint in Government from 2011 to 2015, a vote of no confidence is entirely futile. At the time, the VIP called for a no confidence vote, The NDP had 10 seats and the opposition occupied 3 seats. In what world can a group with 10 votes be overthrown by a group with 3 votes. I daresay that's why Ralph O'Neal had the good sense to stay away from the House that day. It was a waste of time and just plain stupid.
Unless the individual ministers are found guilty of having committed illegal acts, which would allow the Governor to have them removed from office, the only way to get them out of office is to pry them out during a coup d'etat or by declaring civil war and somehow managing to win. Considering we have no military neither of those things is likely to happen.
In other words, we got what we voted for and now we must live with the consequences of our actions. We can only hope that voters will THINK long and hard before ever giving ANY government such complete control again. The ideal government has a STRONG opposition - not two guys going through the motions, shaking their fists and blowing smoke from time to time. They are as powerless as you and I against the NDP.
The ideal government would be 7 members of government and 6 member of the opposition. If government gets out of hand, it only takes ONE member of government to cross the floor and change the balance of power, requiring an immediate dissolution of government.
The most miserable day of my life was when I buried my mother and then my father. The third worst day of my life was when my fellow Virgin Islanders gave this government absolute power to do anything they wish. All we can do is wait and pray they haven't destroyed the country by the time the next election is called.
So the next time you go to the polls, try to choose 6 candidates from one party and 7 from the party you want to control the House. It's the only smart way to control our own destiny. An impotent opposition, is the breeding ground for dictatorship.