Opposition to come out swinging with over 100 questions for June 29 sitting
All six of the Opposition Members will be posing questions on various subject matters, from Commission of Inquiry Recommendations matters to the financial standing of the territory.
Variety of questions
Leader of the Opposition Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL), among other questions, will ask Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) to give his Government’s vision and specific plans for the redevelopment of Prospect Reef and thereby its full re-integration into the territory’s tourism product.
Hon Skelton will also ask Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), among other questions, what plans, if any, government has for recruiting, training and retaining doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Deputy Speaker Hon Stacy Mather (AL) will ask Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) if there is a shortage of water meters in the territory. a) If yes, how many consumers have applied for meters and are without as of April 2023? and b) How does the Department of Water and Sewerage presently charge consumers without meters?
Is UK Loan Guarantee a priority? Hon Fraser
Member for the Third District Hon Julian Fraser RA will ask Premier Wheatley, among other questions, whether he as accessing the UK’s Loan Guarantee as a priority.
Member for the Sixth District, Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL), among other questions, will ask Premier Wheatley if he has sought technical support from the UK for road improvements and repairs in the Territory.
Member for the Eighth District Hon Marlon A. Penn will ask Deputy Premier and Minister of Financial Services, Trade and Labour Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL), among other questions, what is the number of applications for trade license submitted to the department for consideration from January 1, 2020, through June 26, 2023, how many of those applications were approved and how many were denied and the reasons.
Meanwhile, Member for the Second District Hon Melvin M. Turnbull will ask Hon Smith, among other questions, what is the unemployment rate of the workforce in the Territory.
Approx 110 questions to be asked
Approximately 110 questions will be asked of the all-male Opposition, made up of the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM- 3 seats); National Democratic Party (NDP- 2 seats) and Progressives United (PU- 1 seat).
The sitting is expected to be aired LIVE on House of Assembly VI Youtube; House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands Facebook; 780 AM ZBVI Radio; CBN-Radio (90.9 FM); FLOW TV Channel 101; and CCT TV Channel 291.
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33 Responses to “Opposition to come out swinging with over 100 questions for June 29 sitting”
Philosophically, I have a beef with submitting questions before hand. If legislators have valid questions, they should be asked in real time and ministers should be able to skillfully field most questions in real time, if they have a handle on things, ie, getting a briefing from staff on hot issue before meetings. Ministers are the apex of the decision making triangle and she should expect them to steep in the minute details that staff at the middle and base of triangle would know in real-time. As such, those questions which cannot be answered in real time the answers can be provided in short order for the record at later date. Submitting questions before hand does not to me really demonstrate that leaders truly know the details of things their business. It is like a take home test where one may not really understand the information but I get a high grade. Nothing substantive was achieve. Another irritation for me is that members in every other word using the word ‘Madame Speaker’. It is annoying to me and others. It is reminiscent of raking finger nails across a chalk board. Annoying.
OK. Let look the real issues at hand. Opposition Legislators are entitled to ask questions in the HOA. We know that the Opposition is gravely grieved and pissed about having had the numbers in hand to form the government after the April 24, General election but the rug was supposedly snatched at the 11th hour from under them. They feel betrayed. Consequently, does the 100-question barrage as promised have a substantial legislative purpose for the public good. Or the barrage is intended to be an attempt to gum things, disrupt, be an annoyance, a fly in the ointment l, to get even, make the government life a living hell. If it were to be the latter, it is a childish poppy show, not in public interest, non-patriotic, unprofessional, beneath the stature of the honorable HoA, demonstrates poor leadership, insulting to the electorate, shameful and embarrassing, etc. Further, if the purpose is the latter, it is a good thing that they didn’t form the government. What is next a series of votes of no confidence vote. If that the latter is the true purpose, is this the type of behavior that the electorate should expect from our elected members, ambassadors, patriots, etc? Hope the former is the intended purpose. I’m staying tune.
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when will local issues be corrected and there are lots of matters pending repairs
Just keep the faith