‘Work of HoA shrouded in secrecy’ – Hon Julian Fraser RA
Honourable Fraser was at the time speaking on the presentation of the Report of the Standing Orders Committee on the floor during the Fifth Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly on December 21, 2015.
“In this era where the whole world revolves around good governance and transparency, you are not going to be transparent cloaked in secrecy. And I consider much of the work that is conducted in this House to be cloaked in secrecy Madam Speaker,” he said.
The Opposition Leader said that one of the things he would like the Standing Orders Committee to agree upon is for the Committee of the whole House to be done in public just like the Sittings of the House are done in public.
“There is nothing prohibiting us from doing it now, but we should have it enshrined in our Standing Orders and I would encourage the members if the Standing Orders Committee to look at it,” he said.
“As a member of the Public Accounts Committee Madam Speaker it is something that I believe in. We are probably the only jurisdiction that I know of where the Committee of the Whole House is not public and I believe that even in the UK the Public Accounts Committee meetings are held in public and we need to do it here as well.”
Honourable Fraser said he believes the public will be impressed if they knew the kind of work that is done in the committees.
“Just to see the discourse between us, the questions and answers, the feedback that comes to us and the concern that each member shares for the public good,” he said.
The call by Honourable Fraser echoed a similar call made during the Fourth Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly on November 2, 2015, when he said that the sittings of the Public Accounts Committee should be open to the public.
Follow Us On
28 Responses to “‘Work of HoA shrouded in secrecy’ – Hon Julian Fraser RA ”
Non Believers left to examine,rethink,question ,seek answers.
Doubting Thomases are the nightmares of the enemies that are keepers of the enslaved.
Good job NDP
..Thanks and may the Divine continue to Bless and Destress for Progress.
Finishing a journey is what matters.
Just imagine what NDP to do list must be like after completion of the projects that they are now completing.
Read the Auditor General Reports on the Ports Project and the Sea Cows Bay harbor project
Read the PAC report on the ports project
Read the letter from the Opposition to the governor on the conflict of interest in catering for the House of Assembly and doing work indirectly for the BVI Hospital Authority after the Premier told a LIE in the HOUSE
And read the information about who sold the BVI Hospital Authority lights and computers
Oh I forgot Huge Darley who spoke in details about corruption and over pricing at the ports and even had the balls according to Platinum to go to the UK to ask them to investigate
We have not even touch other corruption in other Ministries, Mold contract, the High School wall and the orders from China.
You must be one of those blind mice about wanting evidence which is overwhelming that there is corruption.
Could all these people be telling lies? Ralph, Sonia, Accountant General, Staff at Ports, Former Permanent Secretary, Former Board Chairmen, former MD at Ports, Staff at the Ports, staff in Ministries and oh year some who leaking stuff to the press
It takes more than hearsay,suspicion,perception,questionable and shoddy written documents or hope and wishful thinking no matter how many to pronounce a corruption charge. NDP is noted for its precision in record keeping,
documentation and presentation
They show and they tell in tandem and are aware, as we all are,that their unequalled integrity and trustworthiness for which they ,even as individuals , successful businessmen and professionals is their strength and therefore,the target of their enemies.
As for Hugh Darley, you cannot be serious.
well you cannot be serious.
Did you ever hear of the precautionary principle? Indication of harm, not proof of harm is the goal. By the time you prove the paper trail, corruption is already down the road. Same with bad development. "indication of harm" which demands further investigation. Proof of harm is already harming.
pment of a society it has to be looked at for the benifit of the entire population. In these projects and businesses a few have and the majority of the population scrambling for bread.
Thet is not equitable distribution of of goods and servicec. The economic distribution is polarised with the very rich and very poor. If this pattern continues, the government will be burdened with large population that the home for the elderly cannot accomodate.
Wait Charley. Get what you deserve! Pass the word to those in need of freebies in Tola.
Do you want them to televise when you go to the rest rooms too?
The purpose of the Committee sessions is to decide on matters in detail before formally bringing them into debate in the Sittings of the house. There is no need to broadcast the committee sessions.
Thus, at HOA all meetings should be open to the public. The only exceptions are that national security information and privacy information should be protected. Secrecy give legs to all kinds conspiracy theories. Letting sunshine into and through government operations improves and builds confidence in governing. Let the sunshine in.