The second Sitting of the second HOA is to be held today December 19, 2011. Photo: VINO

Attorney Mrs. Ayana Hull Brathwaite is expected to be confirmed as the TRC Chairperson at the HOA sitting on Monday.

This will be Hon. Moses-Scaliffe's second time presiding as the new House Speaker after her election to the post on December 8, 2011 at the first sitting of the new Parliament following the 2011 General Elections.

Among the motions to be moved by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. D. Orlando Smith are for the Recurrent Expenditure of nine million, nine hundred and ninety one thousand, eight hundred dollars ($9,991,800) to be charged against the Consolidated Fund of the Territory; and the Development Expenditure of eight million, nine hundred and ninety one thousand, eight hundred dollars ($8,991,800) be charged against the Development Fund of the Territory by way of funds transferred from the Consolidated Fund.

This will also be the second sitting following the 2011 General Elections where the now ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) defeated the Virgin Islands Party with a 9 to 4 majority.

As accurately reported by Virgin islands News Online, also on the HOA’s agenda will be the confirmation of Attorney At-Law Ayana Hull-Brathwaite to chair the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission.

According to sources within the NDP regime, the Cabinet of the Virgin Islands met in a special meeting on Tuesday December 13, 2011 to approve Mrs. Hull-Brathwaite to take up the post.

The Telecommunications Act, 2006 (No. 10 of 2006) provides for the establishment of a Board of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission ("the Commission"), comprising a minimum of three and a maximum of five Commissioners.

Furthermore, section 7 (3) of the said Act provides that the Minister for Communications and Works shall, after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition, recommend to the Cabinet the appointment of one of the Commissioners as Chairman.

Under the same Act, the nomination must also receive the blessings of the House of Assembly. It is unclear if the other members on the Board will remain in place including the recently appointed Deputy Chairperson Attorney At-Law Fiona Forbes.

Currently, the organization is operating without a Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson, following the resignation of former Chairman Colin Scaliffe to seek political office and former CEO Tomas Lamanauskas who vacated office on June 7, 2011 after his contract was not renewed by the last Administration.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission is a statutory body responsible for regulating the telecommunications sector of the Virgin Islands. The Commission is also responsible for promoting the development of telecommunications throughout the Virgin Islands and advises the Minister for Communications and Works on telecommunications policies internationally and regionally and protects the interests of users of telecommunications services.

The TRC also establishes or monitors the implementation of national telecommunications standards and ensures compliance, and is responsible for the regulation of licensees and authorization holders and for ensuring fair competition among licensees and all other operators of telecommunications networks or providers of telecommunications services. The TRC where appropriate, investigates within a reasonable period, complaints by users of their failure to obtain compensation from public suppliers or other licensees in respect of rates, billings and services provided, and to facilitate relief where necessary.

The CEO reports to the Chairperson and the Chairperson reports to the Minister and Cabinet.

Current Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark Vanterpool has already said he wants a local to be named CEO.

The first HOA met on December 8, 2011 when all members took the oath of office as members of the HOA.

Furthermore, at the same sitting and as was first and accurately reported by this news site, there was the election of a new Speaker, Attorney Hon. Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe and Hon. Delores Christopher fifth district representative as Deputy Speaker.

At that sitting there was no challenge posed to Hon. Myron V. Walwyn and Hon. Archibald Christian, two At-Large elected members, by those claiming they were not eligible to sit based on their interpretation to the 2007 Constitution.