‘Impose time limits on Ministers making statements’ – Hon Andrew A. Fahie
Honourable Fahie, known for being one of the marathon speakers in the House of Assembly, made this remark during his contribution in the House of Assembly last evening December 21, 2015 as he spoke on a Motion to bring the Report of the Standing Orders Committee to the floor during the Fifth Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly.
“The focus of time limit for members cannot be done in isolation of not making sure that other parameters are not looked into. It must be a marriage,” he said. “We should also consider time limits for Ministers making statements.”
Honourable Fahie said Junior Ministers should also be allowed to make statements for matters for which they are responsible.
He pointed out that while it might be thought to be a good idea to put limits on the length of time one speaks, it is apposite to note that government ministers, in addition to being able to make statements in the House, have access to the Government Information Service (GIS). “They can habla, habla, habla all day on the radio and on the TV too through GIS,” he said, adding that the time must come where the same privilege must be afforded to the Opposition.
He said that if a member of the Opposition wants to put something out into the public via GIS, they will have to pay out of pocket.
“So Madam Speaker the only time you may get to speak to your people where you don’t have to directly pay out of your pocket is when you reach here,” he said. “So we could help to cut down the speaking in one section if we are allowed more communication with the public in other forums,” said Honourable Fahie.
The former Minister for Education and Culture said that while there might be time limits in other jurisdictions his research has found that those parliaments have many other institutions within them to make up for the curtailment of speaking time on the floor. Further he said that they do not have to speak for a lengthy period because their parliaments meet much more frequently than the Virgin Islands’.
Honourable Fahie was also of the view that the Standing Orders must address the potential for abuse of rushing legislation through the House of Assembly as it robs the public from making an input.
“Madam Speaker, in my humble opinion, over the years I have seen it done more times than often when I cannot see the urgency,” he said. “If this is not controlled through the Standing Orders this will allow for a degradation of democracy,” he said.
Honourable Fahie explained that the aim of the first reading of a bill is to have the views of the wider community heard on the legislation before proceeding to its debate and passage.
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