Fraser calls for referendum amid talks to increase governor’s powers
Seasoned politician and D3 Representative Julian Fraser has called for a referendum to allow the people to decide on whether they want the Governor to get additional powers over the BVI.
Governor John Rankin said he may have to seek additional powers to implement some of the reforms that were recommended by the Commission of Inquiry because the elected government isn’t making significant progress.
But Fraser said this must be rebuffed by all elected leaders. To do this, Fraser said both the government and the Opposition should convene an extraordinary sitting of the House of Assembly and introduce a resolution where all members would debate and denounce the Governor’s threat.
“The resolution should call for a referendum that would clearly convey the position of the people — the very people the Governor often says he’s acting on behalf of.
“This referendum is important for two reasons: firstly people are complaining that they aren’t involved in the decision-making of the territory. Secondly, the outcome would inevitably be the wish of the people,” Fraser stated.
Fraser said the referendum would be inexpensive and easy to execute, if the government were to use the voter’s list from the April 2023 general election, which is less than a year old.
He also called the Governor’s threat an “act of aggression designated to discredit the government of the Virgin Islands.”
“Such an action would result in irreparable damage to our reputation and set our territory back decades in terms of constitutional advancement,” the senior legislator argued.
Fraser was also the one credited for preventing the UK from suspending the BVI’s constitution after the Commission of Inquiry report recommended it. He reportedly came up with the suggestion to form a government of national unity — with elected leaders from various parties — that would work to implement measures dictated by the COI in lieu of the suspension of the BVI constitution.
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The light cast by the COI has already exposed the truth of the level of integrity in government, what more damage is left to be done, the only point of unity in the HOA seems to be the fight by them all to have the right to remain DISHONEST!
Frazer, careful what you wish for. It WILL backfire. Better call for a referendum on whether the people want Lorna to go to the corner she was voted to be in. At this point, anyone from government side should cross over. That is the country’s only hope. Leave Lorna where she is.
I disagree, we the people need to be involved in this. I believe he should have been the leader of the opposition leading this initiative because Ronnie is not well sound and Myron is in a competition to make Ronnie look incompetent.
Let’s get the referendum going and while we are at it, make sure we add if we rather have a governor selected by the UK or elected by the people in addition to granting more powers to his mandate.
In 2007 when the people spoke loud and clear that the people wanted the Governor out of cabinet cutting his powers, Julian Fraser, Ralph Oneal, Andrew Fahie went to the UK and fought for the Governor to remain in power over us for their own selfish reasons. They bragged how they got what they wanted, that the future leader not get too much power. What says he now?
Yes Julian Fraser we want the Governor to have more power and you to have less access to the taxpayer’s money.
Fraser needs a referendum between him and his barber on that hair cut. Never trust a man that believes his barber that a part in the center of your Afro is trending
The referendum should be multi-choice: more powers to the Governor OR Independence. It MUST be one or the other. The status quo is a recipe for disaster.