Speaking at the Fifth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) of the Virgin Islands (VI), on Thursday July 25, 2019, Dr Natalio D. Wheatley accused the former NDP administration of doing things in an ad-hoc manner, hence, breaking the rules and regulation of the HoA to conduct business with government. Photo: VINO

Businessmen and Legislators Hons Neville A. Smith (AL) and Carvin Malone (AL). Photo: Facebook

Speaking at the Fifth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) of the Virgin Islands (VI), on Thursday July 25, 2019, Dr Wheatley accused the former NDP administration of doing things in an ad hoc manner, hence, breaking the rules and regulations of the HoA to conduct business with government.

NDP broke rules in silence – Hon Wheatley

“I have to search my memory banks, to see whether there were situations in the past, the immediate past administration where members did business even with the House of Assembly (HoA) and even refused to come to the House of Assembly and to go through this exercise,” Hon Wheatley said following a reading of the motion to allow the two Virgin Islands Party (VIP) legislators to conduct business without vacating their seat.

The Minister continued, “Even though they [NDP legislators] had rendered services, they… rendered them on an ad hoc basis without signing paperwork. They refused to go through that exercise,“ he said in noting that the then government was very accommodating of those behaviors in the House.

Mr Wheathey pointed out that during that time, NDP legislators were silent regarding the wrongdoings that taking place, yet vocal now even though the correct transparent process is being followed. 

“I didn’t hear anybody jumping up on the government side… saying member we really think that you should do the right thing in the best interest if the people,” he said. 

VIP Gov’t will look into past contracts – Hon Wheatley

In questioning whether the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee under the NDP had ever done a tender for stage and lighting, Hon Wheatley said his government will be investigating if the correct processes were followed to award contracts.

“I don’t mind we have a debate about whether persons who are members of the House of Assembly should do business with Government, that’s a person’s rights if they believe as a Member of House you should divest yourself of all interest,” he said in relation to business.

He rhetorically questioned whether the HoA rules allowed for private business by naming several previous Legislators who had done business with the government include past Premier, Dr. D Orlando Smith, Dr Kedrick D. Pickering in addition to current Leader of the Opposition, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8).

According to the Minister, the current VIP Legislators were already doing business with the Government before entering the house, “It is out of an abundance of caution that Hon Smith is being subjected to this motion because [the] Festival and Fairs committee is not central government, they are a separate legal entity.”