Full Opposition absence for HOA! Gov’t was two hours late, says Penn
All four members of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition were visibly absent on Monday when the House of Assembly resumed to debate government’s proposed Virgin Islands Investment Act 2020.
While wrapping up the debate — most of which happened last week — Premier Andrew Fahie brought attention to the absence by instructing the House’s camera technician to pan over to the Opposition aisle to highlight the empty seats.
BVI News contacted Opposition Leader Marlon Penn to find out the reason for their absence and whether they were performing a boycott.
Penn told our news centre he was present for parliament at 10 am when the House was scheduled to begin but only two persons were there at the time. He left some time after and went to his office.
“I can’t say that there is a boycott. I could only speak for myself in terms of my absence … The sittings was scheduled to start at 10 am this morning. The Premier didn’t have a full complement until after 12 today. I, personally, have refused to sit at the House of Assembly for two and sometimes over two hours waiting on the Premier and his members to come to start a sitting that is scheduled to start at 10 o’clock,” Penn said.
He continued: “The Premier is constantly late … This is the same Premier when he was Opposition Leader complained about the House starting on time. And now he’s breaking the same rules that he continuously complained about when he was in Opposition. He has no respect for the House of Assembly, he has no respect for the time of the people of this territory and he continues to come late and start the people’s business late and then has the nerve and the audacity to talk about panning the camera to see who is there. Pan the camera at 10 and see who comes. Pan the camera and see when he does come to the House 12, 11, 11:30, 1 pm to conduct the peoples business. The leader of the government’s business. It’s a disgrace.”
Roughly two hours after the session began, the House entered what is known as the Committee stage where the bill is privately considered in very close detail.
Penn said he arrived to participate in committee but the House went into recess. He said he would be present for committee when the House resumes.
Editor’s note
According to local policy, the quorum of the House must consist of at least seven members, besides the person presiding over the sitting. The term ‘quorum’ refers to the minimum number of legislators that must be present at any sitting to make the proceedings valid.
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The Premier was always a few hours late for announcements to We The People too. The whole island would sit & wait listening to the radio or online on Facebook for hours waiting for him….
It really is a disgrace.
Making people wait is a sign of power in the BVI. It is not only the politicians. Government workers make the public wait as well for no reason. Actually there is a reason. They work slow as s**t cause no one will say anything especially their supervisors. It’s a way of life in the Turd World.
Waiting for officials. Government, bank, customs, immigration, bmv,
That’s what we call BVI love.
You paid bloggers are a disgrace. Marlon knew the Premier and Minister of Education was at the opening ceremony for the new school year with the teachers and HOA was starting at a later time. Marlon is a disgrace.
Penn is right , every time I have a schedule meeting with any of the VIP government members they are always an hour or two late . They have no respect or regards for other people time .
Not even their own scheduled lives they could be on time for. They are failures at every single thing.
that’s the new norm , get used to it ?
This opposition RuPaul too pompous with himself. Anything for a little attention. Girl please !
Ladies and gents If you look above you see the infamous poppyshow. Shame them when you see them
Can we just go to the polls. This government has had its day, we need a new direction.
Now I am convinced that this newsite hates the government. How come a House with 13 members only have the side of one Opposition member for a story of this magnitude. This is a bias story trying to take Marlon out of the negative light he is in.
Yet andrw has the audacity to get mad because the opposition was absent. He made no mention of his tardiness. I just watch and observe his petty behaviour..even in the HOA
The premier was at a teachers rally. Bad scheduling?
Is it not the duty of the Hon Speaker to keep the HOA in order? Too many press conferences and complaining about the COI that keeps the Premier late for conducting the people’s business.
The hight of disrespect and rudeness is to have no consideration for another person’s time, merely demonstrates how the politicians concerned are just unfit to serve in any governmental position.