Stop playing around in HOA- Cromwell Smith
The latest call was made by prominent radio and television talk show host Mr Cromwell Smith aka Edju En Ka, who was speaking on his radio show Umoja last evening November 8, 2012.
Mr. Smith was at the time in discussion with co-host Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru about several issues pertaining to the Territory including the alleged outsourcing of jobs to Asia by Trust companies in the Virgin Islands, the importance of Tourism and Financial Services and the much debated Protocols for Effective Financial Management which the VI is to be in full compliance with by 2015.
Particular reference was made to the need for the Territory to have money in its reserve that would serve as security in case the Territory finds itself in a state of emergency.
“I think we need to call up Mr. [Mark] Simmonds and say to him 2015 is too short a target. They need to give us another five years so that all that money does not have to be put in the treasury all at once. We could have a gradual build up and spend some of that money in the economy so that it could grow and have economic activities going on so that we don’t lose our businesses, lose our homes, lose our apartment buildings and then we got the Trust companies outsourcing to Asia.”
Wheatley had earlier said there was need for a lot of discussion about what is happening in the other Overseas Territories such as Anguilla, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos and “what is happening here and hopefully all of us being here in similar boats we could come together and come up with some common position to negotiate with the United Kingdom and get a little bit more flexibility because I can’t see our people suffering and we have the treasury having $65M in it.”
Mr. Smith then added “this is something that needs to be addressed seriously. We have to stop playing around and stop acting like little kids, bickering in the House of Assembly and talking a whole heap of nonsense, trying to make each other look bad and trying to grandstand...We are a bunch of old people we are not children...”
Last month, Third District Representative Hon. Julian Fraser RA had told the House of Assembly that with the saving of some $65M by 2015 under the Protocols for Effective Financial Management, Government would not be able to pump money into the economy during their term in office.
"He has to put $15M a year. I could tell the Premier, Premier the protocols give you until 2015 to be compliant, but that's like...say you become compliant in 2015, what's in it for you? Elections are there; it's not like if it's 2013 or 2014 and you have another year as a Government to borrow money or anything like that. Elections are right around the corner, 2016 really."
Meanwhile, Former Legislator Eileene L. Parsons had previously stated that there has been a breakdown of decorum in the House of Assembly and had gone as far as to liken it to that of a “circus”.
Performing the role of host of the programme NDP Radio, which was aired on a local station on October 15, 2012, Mrs Parsons said the behaviour of certain Members in the HOA was a “burning issue” for persons in the community and that it was “deplorable”.
She also claimed that members of the community have even indicated to her that they no longer tune in to the House of Assembly sessions because of their disappointment with the way business was being conducted in the HOA.
“To me the House of Assembly has become a circus,” Mrs Parsons bluntly stated.
Noting that the “House of Assembly has gone from a being House of Assembly”, Mrs Parsons said the “behaviour is deplorable for those listening on the outside” and she also made it clear that she was saying without fear of contradiction that it “seems to some of us” that questions are not asked for information but rather aimed at “getting under one’s skin”.
According to her, “the word on the street”, is that questions from the Opposition are “trivial” and “foolish” and made reference to the recent question asked of Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn by Member for the Third District Hon. Julian Fraser RA about why monies were not paid to the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College between 2009 and 2011. “...and people are wondering what is going on in the House of Assembly...decorum has gone to the dogs.”
Premier Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, who was one of the guests on the show, said the purpose of the question and answer segment of the House of Assembly is to educate the people on what is happening and noted that his administration has no issue with that segment since it is always willing to provide the answers when possible. “Sometimes the side comments that come with the questions could be irritating,” Dr. Smith admitted.
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21 Responses to “Stop playing around in HOA- Cromwell Smith”
SO much for equating old age with adequate experience!!
YOU CAN PUT A HOG IN A PALAGE, BUT IT STILL REMAINS A PIG!
Hope the next government appoints ministers with good manners!