NDP Media Censor Bill back on HoA agenda for July 22 Sitting!
If the trend continues the VI could be seen in the eyes of the world inline with other totalitarian regimes/countries such as Cuba, North Korea, China, Laos, Vietnam and some countries in Africa where the state controls all press freedom.
The NDP continues to be hostile to freedom of the press and had passed a bill named the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act 2013 on March 13, 2014 aimed at shutting down media houses, putting journalists in jail and charging them with huge fines.
It remained unclear if the United Kingdom appointed Governor of the Virgin Islands William B. McCleary had signed the Bill when it passed in the House of Assembly (HoA) on March 13 of this year or why the need to return the Bill to the HoA.
Pass the Bill now!
Another interesting fact is that the Premier Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith is requesting that the HoA Standing Orders be suspended via a motion so the bill can have all its readings and pass the Parliament on the same day.
This type of action by a government to suspend the House Standing Order sec 52 (2) and (3) is usually reserved for national state of emergencies.
While this news site has not obtained a copy of the Bill persons close to the Act told our news site that there are some amendments in the Bill that could further tighten the noose around the media’s neck especially the online news sites.
According to the same source the online news sites have always been the target of this Administration.
The Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act 2013 when passed earlier this year was condemned by the International community, regional media organizations and the local media fraternity.
However, the NDP regime claims it is not a media silencing Bill but only there to protect the Financial Services Sector and that these types of Bills are found all over the world.
NDP History of hostility to the press
Since coming to power in November 2011 the NDP has been very hostile to press freedom. The Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn did nothing for two years to improve education, sports or Culture but spent all his time in the HoA viciously attacking the media and the staff of one particular online news site.
Recently, the Premier Dr. Smith has joint in being critical of the media and has blasted online news media over coverage of his wife whom he hired as a government consultant under an “arrangement" from 2012.
Unpopular At-Large NDP member Honourable Archibald C. Christian a first term Legislator who his critics say after some two and a half years in office cannot point to one thing he has done for the Territory beside photo opps about cleaning up the Virgin Islands has also been critical of the media.
Once the Bill is debated and passed in the Eighth Sitting of the Third Session of the Second House of Assembly on July 22, 2014 this news site will bring more information.
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31 Responses to “NDP Media Censor Bill back on HoA agenda for July 22 Sitting!”
Blah blah. Ndp will still win. No ideas you jusr blog s..t all day.
I think if you spell you name correctly you may wise up with more messages like this that make sense.