Legislators are wasting time on some issues

Deputy Premier and Third District Representative Julian Fraser has questioned whether legislators are using their time in the House of Assembly effectively, arguing that elected officials are spending too much time debating routine community issues that could be handled at a local level.

Speaking during the January 13 sitting of the House of Assembly, where members raised concerns affecting their respective districts, Fraser urged lawmakers to reflect on their role and whether current practices are still fit for purpose.

He said the territory can no longer operate as it once did, particularly in the aftermath of the Commission of Inquiry, which he noted made it clear that government business would not continue in the same way as before.

Fraser said the traditional approach, where district representatives were expected to directly manage or resolve everyday community matters is no longer realistic and warned that conditions would only worsen if changes are not made.

“I’m listening, and I’m asking myself, is it a proper use of time as representatives to have to be coming to this House every sitting talking about potholes, talking about water, talking about toilets, talking about bush cutting?” Fraser said.

Proposed introduction of local government structure

The Deputy Premier pointed to a proposal raised by the Premier to move toward the introduction of local government structures, which he said would allow many of these matters to be addressed outside of the national legislature.

Fraser argued that if local government bodies or district offices were in place, community concerns could be discussed and resolved at that level, with those entities then advocating directly to ministries and statutory corporations when necessary.

He cited street lighting as one example, noting that representatives are often asked to push for lights on lamp poles but lack accurate information to guide utility providers. Fraser recalled even resorting to spray-painting poles to identify those without lights, only for the paint to fade before action could be taken.

“What do you tell the guy? Where’s the light?” he asked, underscoring the inefficiency of the current system.

Past practices

Fraser also reflected on past practices where funds were made available to assist district representatives in helping constituents improve access to their homes or construct retaining walls to make properties safer. He said those arrangements no longer exist and will not return, making it unrealistic to expect representatives to continue acting as intermediaries for such assistance.

“That don’t happen anymore. It’s not going to happen again,” he said, adding that funnelling these requests through elected representatives is no longer workable without some form of local administrative structure.

Calls for local government are not new in the Virgin Islands. Over the years, proposals for district councils or local governance bodies have surfaced during constitutional reform discussions and public consultations, with proponents arguing that such systems would improve service delivery and reduce pressure on the central legislature.

However, despite repeated debate, no formal local government framework has been established.

Fraser said lawmakers must become more innovative and constructive with how they use their time, warning that continuing to focus on routine district issues during House sittings does not serve the territory well.

“Still coming here talking about these things — potholes, water, bush cutting — I don’t know, Madam Speaker. It doesn’t seem to me as if it’s a proper use of our time as legislators,” he said.