Process to advance ROI amendments in HOA reportedly halted
The government’s efforts to smoothly advance the Register of Interests Amendment Act through the House of Assembly have hit a snag.
BVI News has learned that the amendment bill, which spent three days in Committee for amendments, has been paused by the House of Assembly.
Reports indicate that little progress was made during the time the act was before the committee, which prefers to private HOA sessions where a bill is examined clause by clause.
This bill, introduced by Premier Wheatley, sparked considerable debate during its discussion in the House. The Civil Service Association had sent a letter to the Premier requesting a halt to the process until it could be thoroughly discussed with senior public servants who would be affected by the bill, along with members of the House of Assembly.
The Premier and his government proceeded regardless, citing previous consultations with these public servants and a looming May 31 deadline to implement the COI’s recommendations.
Government members described the concerns as merely administrative issues that could be resolved during the HOA’s Committee stage.
During debates, Opposition members warned that the matter couldn’t be adequately addressed in the Committee stage, noting that the bill focused solely on members and ignored civil servants, necessitating a return to the drawing board to include them.
The Register of Interests Amendment Act was a central topic at a recent opposition press conference.
The Register of Interests is a record of the financial interests of legislators. It allows them to publicly declare any private interests that conflict with or may appear to conflict with, their public duties.
The Commission of Inquiry (COI) report revealed that lawmakers were failing to declare their interests. It also recommended that public servants be added to the register, but this measure has faced significant opposition.
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Natalio better grow a spine and get it done. Its either you comply or resign simple.
Hiding something?
These guys are NOT ready for Prime Time!!!!!!!
What the hell is U.K waiting for?We are doom under this leadership.
Can we the people move a motion of no confidence. One or 2 of the government side please grow a pair and walk across the floor.
What these people have to hide. Are they not hard and honest working people than can easily prove how they come by their wealth.So, why they hold up..Seems like tbe leave Britain with no choice but to get it done by force. Then its Britain fault.
Recommendation B4 of the COI was to first implement for Members of the HOA, then to later examine extending the Register to other public officials on an incremental basis. So why are they delaying things by looking at public officials now rather than later? Because delay is the point.
Heads in the sand
They can’t stand the scrutiny. The lack of scrutiny is why we have nothing to show for the billions of government expenditure since the 1980s.
And some of these same people cry for independence! Can you imagine? We’d be Haiti in 5 years.
Until hurricane season begins and the BVI government is dissolved by the Order in Council. Tick, tick, tick, etc.
All what is happening is Britain fault. They were to take over and put all systems in place to ensure good governance going forward..But they allowed themselves to be Con and deceived by these smart and dishonest people who with the Judas smile and Paul sweet talks leave it to them to fix. Now this is the result..Britain responsible for our mess. They failed us..
The problem cannot fix the problem. UK need to just hurry up!
“hit a snag” The HOA ! I’d like to know if this went through what would we learn ? NOTHING because they wouldn’t follow the law any way.
i am not lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, or transvestite or transsexual or any other term or label and my name is not suzie Q or Q+2. all my tuition fees have been loss and my whole entire life has been damaged and destroyed. at 56 years old i cannot even return home to road town tortola british virgin islands to get my whole life back together because it seems to me that even the bvi territory has fallen apart and loss everything 56 years ago.