Opposition members walk out after gov’t defers Q&A segment
Members of the parliamentary opposition staged a walkout from the House of Assembly today after the Dr Natalio Wheatley-led government postponed the scheduled question-and-answer segment, during which opposition members pose questions to the government.
According to Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton, this practice has become commonplace with the Wheatley administration.
“Obviously, the Premier and the government doesn’t have any respect for the opposition because this is the second or third time the only matter on the order paper is questions for the opposition [to ask] and it’s being derogated to the end of the session. I think this is disrespectful and it needs to not happen here today,” Skelton said.
Premier Wheatley responded immediately by assuring the Opposition Leader that the deferral of questions was not a matter of a lack of respect. He told the House of Assembly that the amount of questions from the opposition have made it “onerous” for the public officers to complete the answers in a short period of time.
He said the Skelton-led opposition asks “an enormous amount of questions” — approximately 120 — that force public officers to work overtime to source the answers.
Who’s really overworking civil servants?
However, another opposition member, Sixth District Representative Myron Walwyn, fired back stating that perhaps it is the government legislators that have been putting a strain on the public officers.
“We sat through here this morning for the better part of three hours and heard the Premier read eight statements, 15 minutes each; along with other [government] members who made statements,” Walwyn argued. “The very civil servants that he is referring to that have to write the answers to our questions are the same civil servants who have to write the statements for him. So perhaps the real issue for civil servants is that they have to write these very long, protracted statements that perhaps could be better placed in the media outside of the House of Assembly so that members don’t have to be subjected to this.”
He further argued that the only time opposition members get to interface with government and ask questions on the behalf of their constituents is during the question-and-answer segment of the House.
The decision of whether to alter the order paper and push back the questions towards the end of the session was put to a vote and the government won with a seven-to-six majority.
The opposition members left the House immediately thereafter. Some members of the government were seen laughing as the opposition staged the walkout.
The proceedings of this present sitting of the House continues with only government legislators.
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Opposition is too much! Do the people work. Where are your counter proposals?
Try counter proposing to your man or woman who is not listening and has no respect for you. Try it.
This a pitch point cross here todeh. Non functional. They sailing on them ego trip
Good move by the opposition. That Wheatley government looks so stupid, it’s not funny. When they laugh, it really becomes concerning. There’s no place left to go. They are the lowest.
For those who have short memories like some of the present Opposition Members as well as and some of you posting comments against the government for this action please be mindful of two things:
1) Ronnie, Myron, Mitch, and Marlon were all members of the NDP who made this action a regular when they were in government at every session of the House of Assembly. So how come all of a sudden the shoe is on the other foot it is a problem. They are only reaping what they sowed.
2) The action is legal as it is allowed under the laws of the House of Assembly once the majority agrees. It does not mean the questions will not be asked but it will be done later in the proceedings of the House of Assembly. The rules states the House do not need everyone’s approval, just the majority.
This is nothing new nor nothing illegal. The Opposition needs to sit down in the House and do the people’s work and stop this unnecessary show hoping to gain political points. We the people are hurting and need representation, NOT A SHOW!
Do for do? We in trouble
Check out the Faces on the Government side when the Opposition walked out. Look good at the faces of: Hon. Kye, Hon. Sharie, Hon. Mather, Hon. Luce and Hon. Dawson. Says a lot. A Picture is worth a Thousand Words.
Lorna, you have been in government as PS for many years for some of our most notable leaders. Can you see what is happening to the country? This is unprecedented. If one need to join a circus for power, does that not make them a clown anyway?
WE AIN IN DAH WID AYO SO WE GONE YAH
GOYCOTT THEM RASS YES
Don’t study the premier. up to now we can’t get the money he promise us if we vote for he. A promise is comfort to a fool.
Look at the I dismissible way members of the government looks . Some dont care heads in phone and the other faces look bewildered.
They should be alert and look concerned for the prople of this country and the after effects of such a move
They don’t care a damm they will be going home with their greedy bill cheques at the end of the month regardless.?We are heading for a take over . Is this what an independent nation is going to look
Like Uk come
Why the Opposition behaving like spoiled children? You walk out because the questions at the end and not in the middle? Is this junior high school? For God in heaven’s sake. The people’s business needs to get done. How it help anything for you to leave. These guys have too much ego man. What about being present to speak up on the Trade Commission? What about the Jury Act? You going to walk out and give the Government a free pass just so. You guys are a huge disappointment.
FORM A NIFIED PARTY AND AYO WILL WIN THE GOVERNMENT HANDS DOWN BY A LANDSLIDE
FORM A UNIFIED PARTY AND AYO WILL WIN THE GOVERNMENT HANDS DOWN BY A LANDSLIDE
The opposition is a disgrace with one man arrested and charged for breach of trust and another under investigation who studying them moo moo
Governor Bryon where are you? Today I had a clear revelation of what took place leading up to the General Elections of April, 2023. Corner Lady knew exactly why she decided to run for Political Office.
She campaigned for CHANGE because she like others knew the Premier could not lead the BVI forward. She also knew that she could not be in a position like she is now had she remained with the PVIM/NDP. Thus her reason for the Alliance with the VIP. Easy Fit. Notice Hon. Kye didn’t say much when debating the Bill? She wanted the Tourism Ministry as well. That was all planned. We all know who is the De Facto Premier of the BVI. 12 Months she said. Time will Tell. People continue to pray for the BVI. God knows exactly what He is doing.
Look what our government has come to. Seems a bunch of average intelligent people living high and mighty. off the HOG.
Meanwhile, people and country a suffering, economy is heading towards collaspe and people are silently suffering.
Ronnie you need to lead with wisdom. The walkout did not make sense. What more important? Opposition egos or doing the people business. You and the others did not stay to debate anything. You just give the Government license to push through suspending the trade commission and provide no input on the jury amendment. Put the people’s business first and check your egos at the door. Thanks.
The trade commission act was already a done deal just like it was already a done deal in changing the order paper and any other changes after that to come.
Can 6 stop a Government of 7 idiots? Let them do what they want to do. They are our elected government and they do not want to hear anything from the Opposition. Premier is having a good laugh! This is what we reach to? God help us.
I hope they know that they also laughed at the people who split votes between them and the opposition.
That’s the people’s elected representatives they’re laughing at in the people’s house. If they cannot sit in our house with respect they should be removed.
HOA is an A** Clown Show on both sides. So because Zan suggest walking out you don’t have to do so and if you do you need to explain in detail why this was your only resort
Maybe people were laughing not at the joke but with the jokers. This looks like a staged event that both sides agreed to, to give the government the ability to do as they pleased in a way that did not give the opposition any responsibility, or maybe make them look toothless. A trade off. Opposition may get some kind of bone to compensate for this give. Donald Trump would fit right in to this debacle.
Them soft
So what’s more important asking the questions when you want or making sure the questions are asked? I find walking out disrespectful to the people who voted for you and want to hear the answers to your questions. If you just want to leave early say that don’t make it seem like you’ve been disrespected to the point where you had to walk out.
Premier said Opposition asking too many questions and the public officers cannot catch up. Sounds like the student who did not do his homework. His excuse – the dog ate my homework. Poor dog. Poor public servants. Poor BVI.