Deputy Speaker upset at ‘missing in action’ Opposition members
Territorial At-large Representative and Deputy Speaker Neville ‘Sheep’ Smith has accused members of the parliamentary Opposition of not showing up when it really counts in the House of Assembly (HOA).
Speaking during the debate for the government’s Integrity in Public Life bill, Smith said Opposition members usually go missing at key moments, particularly during what is known as ‘Committee Stage’ deliberations, which is a privately-held segment of the legislative process.
“Half of the time when we come to do bills here and you’re looking for the Opposition, they gone home; in the committee stage. Most times whenever we do a bill here, when everybody done make their comment and when time come for the Committee, half of them cannot be found,” Smith said.
The Deputy Speaker was keen on stating, however, that Opposition Leader Marlon Penn is present most times, but said the majority of the Opposition is usually not around.
According to the Deputy Speaker, the most important part of of the legislative process is during the ‘Committee Stage’ when bills are being ventilated and amendments and changes are made.
“If you are not there, how can you contribute?” Smith questioned. “You contributing now [when proceedings are public] is just for the media?”
“If we are serious about this country these are the kinds of bills that we have to pass to show that we have integrity and we are going to be accountable,” Smith added.
Smith further questioned why there was Opposition to the bill and why it appeared that bills were being brought ‘for show’ whenever they were presented by the ruling Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration.
“Every time we try to do something to make things right, it’s a problem,” the Deputy Speaker stated.
Editor’s Note:
All bills go through an extensive process after being introduced in the House. A Bill must pass through several stages, known as ‘readings’. At the ‘first reading’, the ‘short title’ of the Bill is announced and a day is then appointed for the ‘second reading’, at which point the bill will be debated fully.If the Bill passes its second reading, it moves on to the ‘committee stage’. During committee, which is closed to the public, the Bill is considered in very close detail. Every clause is carefully examined, and amendments to the Bill may then be moved and voted upon.
After the committee stage, there is the ‘report stage’ when the Speaker reports what has happened to the Bill in committee — whether there have been amendments or not. At the third and final reading, a Bill may be accepted or rejected by means of a vote.
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You need to be more upset at yourself, who is also missing in action, along with your other fellow party members. Pot meet Kettle.
Burst his guts. LOL. Pot meet kettle indeed. When ones’ credibility is shot, some people need to stay quiet.
Them gah a right to boycott because the dictator gonna still do wha he want
Up to yet I still can’t understand how this dude was voted in over the likes of Ronnie and Myron them so
The speaker is also missing, where is he in quarantine?
Boss you do not even respect the constitution so what integrity bill you talking about? If you had any integrity at all you would have resigned for having all those contracts with government that you did not declare for years and you still told the COI that you don’t have any contracts with government.
Word!! You hit the nail on the head. This man has some nerve! His bread has been buttered on both sides lavishly by the government without the requirements of the constitution being met so he really needs to just hush.
We have to be out of our minds in the BVI when you think of it. We by pass quality candidates like Myron, Sandy, Henry and Ronnie for this man. I voted for the VIP so I condemning my own self for it as well. Emotions could make you do some things that you regret. And now from the COI see most of things that Andrew and his team were saying were not true and they are the ones who are exactly like what they were accusing the NDP of being like.
TruDat! – hit the nail right on the head.
Without a doubt I’m now certain that this is the WORST elected govt that we have ever had.
What else could you expect after decades of underinvestment in education. What evidence is there the next set of people will be any better. Government for at least 40 years has been a means for a select few to make bank, not much else, sad to say.
Whenever this guy speak he doesn’t sound like a sheep more like a goat.
WE are meh upset weeeeeeth ewe. Should have resigned so you could have remained an honourable goat at least. Meh.
We voting him right back in, four more years
I am making a protest. I believe someone is using Musa and Buzzbvi illegally. Is it true that these elected fellas absent themselves from this important process? I don’t know but it could be true couldn’t it? While this is the topic it is interesting to see that none of these bloggers attempt to address it smh. There’s something deeply suspicious in how people blog these days. Either they don’t read the article, hate the person in the pic or party ?