Five motions, five bills to be presented at House of Assembly sitting today
BVI News Staff - Thursday, May 10th, 2012 at 3:01 AM
House of Assembly Building
Several motions are to be presented to the House of Assembly today (Thursday) to allow members to sit on various committees.
The five motions are to be presented to the House by Premier and Minister for Finance Dr. D. Orlando Smith.
The first motion to be presented by the premier relates to persons taking up positions on the Public Accounts Committee according to Standing Order 72, which says a standing select committee known as the Public Accounts Committee must be appointed by the House.
Standing Order 72 and 73 also state that the Public Accounts Committee shall consist of not more than five and not less than three members, inclusive of the member who is chairman and the leader of the pposition.
The Public Accounts Committee will be chaired by Ralph O’Neal.
The functions of the Public Accounts Committee are to consider, report and make proposals on matters relating to public accounts of the territory.
The Premier will also move a motion for the appointment of members of the House to the Standing Orders Committee. According to Standing Order 74, this committee shall consist of not more than five members, inclusive of the member who will be the chairman. This committee is expected to be headed by Health Minister Ronnie Skelton.
The Standing Orders Committee’s functions are to consider and report on all such matters relating to the Standing Orders as may be referred to it by the House.
The Premier will also move a motion at today’s sitting of the House of Assembly to appoint members to the Services Committee which shall not be more than five members. This committee under Standing Order 75 shall be chaired by the minister in charge of arranging the business of the House who is Premier Smith.
The functions of the Services Committee are to consider and advise the speaker on all matters connected with the comfort and convenience of members of the House, and from time to time report to the House its minutes of proceedings.
A motion on the formation of a Committee of Privileges will also be brought to the House by Premier Smith. Standing Order 76 (2) states that the Speaker Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe shall be a member and the chairman of this Committee of Privileges.
The functions of the Committee of Privileges are to consider any matters affecting the power of privileges of the House and to report thereon to the House, and in so doing, the committee shall exercise all its powers.
The final motion to be presented to the House at today’s sitting relates to the setting up of the Regulation Committee.
The functions of this committee are to consider and report on regulations made by various authorities and to report thereon to the House, and in so doing the committee shall exercise all its bowers.
This committee is expected to be headed by Education Minister Myron Walwyn as its chairman.
Government will also present five bills in the House.
Two of these bills – the BVI Business Companies Amendment Act 2012 and the Employee Mobility Act , 2012 to be presented by the premier and minister of finance – will be given their first readings.
The premier will also present the Marriage Amendment Act, 2011 and the Disaster Management Act, 2011 for their second and third readings.
The minister of education will present the second and third Readings of the bill entitled ‘Recreation Trust Amendment Act, 2012′.
A number of papers will also be laid on the table of the House at the sitting of the House of Assembly.
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What about tweaking the bill on crime? Why one of the most important things that’s damaging our country not spoken about in the house today….SMH May The Almighty Father be with us all.
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