‘When we disagree, we can’t behave like children’- Premier to Opposition
The Opposition, led by Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton (AL), had walked out of the Fifth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth HoA on Tuesday after it failed to stop a reordering of the Order Paper to have the lengthy Questions & Answer Segment pushed back to the end of the proceedings.
A number of bills were subsequently passed, including the Virgin Islands Trade Commission Act (Suspensory) Act, 2023; and the Magistrate’s Code of Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2023. A motion to form the long-awaited Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and a motion to approve a sum of money in the Schedule of Additional Provisions No. 3 of 2023, were also passed, with the Opposition choosing not to give any contribution to the bills and motions.
‘We can’t abdicate our duties’- Premier
“We can’t get so excited that we abdicate our duty and responsibility. We can’t abdicate our duty that when the people of the Virgin Islands need us to look out for their interests we see that our seats are empty.
“We must be present and energised and always ready to fight for the interest of the people and yes, Madam Speaker, we will disagree sometimes but when we disagree we cannot behave like children, and when we don’t get our way we throw up our hands and we fuss and we walk out,” Premier Wheatley said during the debate of the Virgin Islands Trade Commission Act (Suspensory) Act, 2023.
He reiterated that legislators have to be present to fight for the interests of the business community, the economy, and the people of the [British] Virgin Islands.
The Premier declared that his government will continue to remain focused and march forward.
“When there is a bunch of noise we are going to stay focused. When there is immature fussing, we will stay focused and we will continue to march towards the task and if we stay true to our principles, Madam Speaker, in the end, we will be successful.”
Meanwhile, the Opposition will be holding a press conference at 4:00 PM today, November 2, 2023, to update the public on its next move.
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14 Responses to “‘When we disagree, we can’t behave like children’- Premier to Opposition”
1) Ronnie, Myron, Mitch, and Marlon were all members of the NDP who made this action a regular at each Sitting for years when they were in government at every session of the House of Assembly through their boss Orlando and never once did any of them object. So how come all of a sudden the shoe is on the other foot it is a problem. They are only reaping what they sowed.
2) The action is legal as it is allowed under the laws of the House of Assembly once the majority agrees. It does not mean the questions will not be asked but it will be done later in the proceedings of the House of Assembly. The rules to make this shitlft just needs an approval by the majority and not everyone.
This is nothing new nor nothing illegal. The Opposition needs to sit down in the House and do the people's work and stop this unnecessary show hoping to gain political points. We the people are hurting and need representation, NOT A SHOW!