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Insolvency Act passed despite some legislators unsure about bill

The Virgin Islands Insolvency (Amendment) Act 2022 has been passed during the continuation Eighth Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Fourth House of Assembly, on November 24, 2022, despite some legislators unsure what the bill is about. Photo: GIS/Facebook
Target to the financial services sector, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) had slammed the bill as being rushed when it should not be. Photo: HoA/Youtube
Target to the financial services sector, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) had slammed the bill as being rushed when it should not be. Photo: HoA/Youtube
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The Virgin Islands Insolvency (Amendment) Act 2022 was passed at the continuation of the Eighth Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Fourth House of Assembly, on November 24, 2022, despite some legislators unsure what the bill was about.

The Insolvency (Amendment) Act 2022, is the principal legislation for restructuring, reorganisation, and insolvencies in the Virgin Islands.

Rushing of bills must stop - Hon Fraser 

Opposition Leader Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) had slammed the bill as being rushed when it should not be.

Hon Fraser said, “This first, second, and third reading thing, I trust that the Premier has really and truly seriously re-considered the practice,” he told the House during the debates of the Act.

According to the legislator, bills require meaningful discussions and that cannot happen once a bill is rushed, especially bills like the one that was being debated.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of the House Hon Neville A. Smith (AL) said while he will support the bill, it was the last time he will support a bill that he was not fully informed about.

Wrong to rush bills of that nature - Hon Smith 

“It is wrong for us to bring a bill of this magnitude to the House of Assembly and pass it in the first, second and third sitting… it is wrong, I can clearly say I do not understand the bill, I have not read it,” he said.

Hon Smith said he is the type of person who likes to read bills ahead of passing them, and that was not the case with the Insolvency (Amendment) Act 2022.

Hon Smith said he cannot explain the bill if people ask about it and that legislators ought to stop the rush to pass new legislation.

“I support the bill because… it's important, but the next one that comes like this and I here, I am not [supporting]" he added.

10 Responses to “Insolvency Act passed despite some legislators unsure about bill”

  • Typical politicians (29/11/2022, 14:16) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    Signing willy nilly without reading and understanding
  • hello (29/11/2022, 15:52) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    This must be a joke.... don't tell me my appointed legislators passed a bill that they don't understand. Then where was the AG to explain... or is it that she was lost too...?
    • @Jello (30/11/2022, 05:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The AG is responsible for drafting all legislation but when it comes to financial services legislation for the territory, there is an understanding that the FSC performs this function.
  • Uneblievable (29/11/2022, 16:12) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply

    Did they actually pass a law without knowing what it is?

  • NONESENSE (29/11/2022, 16:15) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The BVI Business Companies (Amendment) Act, 2022 was gazetted on August 12th, 2022), The BVI Business Companies (amendment) Regulations, 2022 were gazetted August 12th, 2022 and the Anti-Money Laundering (Amendment) Regulations, 2022 were gazetted August 19th, 2022. They all have had plently of time to review and understand.
    • sense (29/11/2022, 20:34) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      The one “passed” today is none of these. It was the INSOLVENCY (AMENDMENT) ACT as the article clearly states.
  • Interested (29/11/2022, 19:07) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Did Hon Smith actually say that he supported a bill he didn’t read and does not understand?
    What does that say to the voting public ?
    • Josiahsbay (29/11/2022, 21:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Politicians should not be addressed as "Honorable" unless they earn it. They're honorable like friends of Ceasar.
  • Josiahsbay (29/11/2022, 21:25) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Two questions:
    1) Why would you pass a bill that you don't understand?
    2) What happens if you don't pass it?
  • Mustang (30/11/2022, 06:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Legislative malpractice. Hon Smith, why would support a bill that you are not fully informed about. That is Legislative malpractice and not proper representation. This is ‘collective responsibility’ gone off the rails. Clarity and quality of bills should not be slaughtered on the altar of speed. It is not the quantity of bills that matter but rather the quality of the bills. Why the rush in passing bills? Where are legislators racing to? Is not their job to represent the people? Is unnecessarily rushing bills proper representation? Anyone who subscribe to this approach should not be in the HOA, the People’s house. And if he/she is in the HOA, he/she shoukd strongly consider exiting soonest, stage left. Adios!!! Hon Julian Fraser (R3), aka ‘Liberator’ is on point with the propensity for three readings in one sitting. Why?


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