Opposition presses for private HOA proceedings to become public
Newly appointed Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton has promised to help in bringing more transparency to the dealings of the House of Assembly (HOA) once sittings resume.
While HOA sittings have been live-streamed, televised and broadcast on radio in the past, its committee stage and other similar meetings are usually held in private and kept away from the prying eyes and ears of the public. The ‘committee stage’ is when legislators collectively meet and examine a bill clause by clause.
Skelton suggested that, among other things, meetings held for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which he now chairs, as well as meetings held in the committee stage of HOA proceedings should now be broadcast to the public as they are being conducted.
“I will try to make the [PAC] proceedings public,” Skelton stated. “I will push to have a real office of the Leader of the Opposition where people can actually understand that we’re building institutions, where we will be on the road to some internal self governance.”
Put up or shut up
Skelton’s position was supported by Chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP) Marlon Penn, who promised to push for full transparency even as he reminded persons that Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley previously expressed support for making sessions of the committee stage public.
“One of the things that we discussed very clearly on the campaign trail was the issue – particularly when it comes to legislation – of making the committee stage of the House public,” Penn stated.
“The Premier agreed with this and he needs to put up or shut up,” Penn added. “We have to make sure that we are fully transparent with the process so the public can see the machinations, in terms of how things happen, the changes that we’re making and the decisions that we are making that are going to impact their lives. Not [only knowing] when it comes out in the gazette.”
In the meantime, Third District Representative Julian Fraser said the HOA’s committees need to be more functional than they have been in the past. Fraser also expressed support for the move by Penn and Skelton to have PAC meetings made public.
“We have to, for the first time, attempt to prevent the House of Assembly from being a rubber stamp for the executive,” Fraser said. “[Committees] have been established but not functional and in order to serve the public in the way it is intended by the Westminster system our committees have to work.”
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Correct, you can’t be private with the public purse!
This opposition is the strongest we ever had
Sounds good to me!! The more transparency and accountability in government, the better the safeguarding of taxpayer monies which, in turn, will mean monies available for schools, to pay teachers, to improve healthcare, to build a purpose-built library, a national art gallery and a lot more.
Thank you, opposition.
MARLON IS VERY DISRESPECT FUL HE NEEDS TO STOP
VERY RUDE MAN.NEEDS TO GO AND SITDUNG AND LEARN MANNERS.
How much has government paid to NLBC/Save the Seed/Associates from 2017 to date?
what about cabinet where most of the damage is done if we doing for HOA lets do for cabinet. you all set of trying to fool the people HOA is already public.
Keep them honest!
I dont think the public wants or needs to be bored with what is dicussed during committe stage
*No drunkards on the opposition side….Both of them are on the government side…Now I refused to mention * and * names so don’t say its them…….LOL
CRONY CONTRACTS for Carvin, Sheep, Alvera, OJ and Allen
From how Marlon & Ronnie, these two men behaving you would think this is their first time elected and their first time in the Opposition where they failed to request such then. All of a sudden, they have blood in their eyes and are paragons of virtue. I do not agree committee stages need to be public as they are very long, and taxpayers’ money can go to better use than paying for such long hours of discussions back and forth which will turn into a circus once the cameras are on them rather than valuable work.
Soeak for yourself . Is oeople like you who helps to breeds corruption. They shoukd have nothing to hide we put them tgere they are accountable to the people of this country
Soeak for yourself . Is oeople like you who helps to breeds corruption. They shoukd have nothing to hide we put them tgere they are accountable to the people of this country
Now the election is over we need the road from town all the way pass airport to fix
So can we see the Government accounts prepared for the last 10 years yet?
but you have a cr**inal who is on bail to go before hms courts.
You are so right. Marlon keep your eyes open because word on the straight is that the district councils for the districts in the East will be ran by Allen. That is so wrong. Do all he wants he ring beat Marlon. Marlon for we and he sober.
If the government do what they have to do the opposition will be just guests in the dam house sitting down. You cannot oppose for opposing sake, cut the doll house bull nonsense.
Hmm… I wonder where Hon Marlon all of a sudden got this burst of energy from! …
Its Good though.
They LOST …BUT NOW THEY ARE FOUND! LOL!
You are sooooo correct. They never worked for the People/ Country as Her Majesty Opposition. Seems like self in the picture now. Smh
Crony contract for Allen for sure.