The powers of our governor is part of a system oblivious to BVIslanders
Opposition Leader Julian Fraser, in his contribution to the Commission of Inquiry (COI) debate in the House of Assembly (HOA), has raised discontent with where the powers of the governor and the legislature come from about making laws in the territory.
The senior legislator said that under Section 71 of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order (2007), which the COI mentioned, the legislature shall have the power to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of the Virgin Islands subject to the Constitution Order.
“Now, here we are looking at a document, 8 June 2022 laid before parliament on the 9th of June 2022 saying the governor, acting in his or her discretion may make laws for the peace, order and good governance of the Virgin Islands,” Fraser said.
“Now, there is a little irony here, because when it talks about the legislature asking to make laws, it says ‘subject to the constitution’. When it speaks about the governor making the laws, it says ‘acting at his or her discretion. Do you see where we are going with this Small minds think that I am wasting my time but the well-informed understands,” the Opposition Leader said.
A system oblivious to Virgin Islanders
The senior legislator, who is also Third District Representative, noted that people have a lot of maxims including ‘ignorance is bliss’ and ‘what you don’t know can’t hurt you’. However, he said if he knows and does not inform the public, then he is worse than the person living in ignorance.
“These kinds of things rub you the wrong way and I want the governor to know that it does not matter who is sitting in that seat right now because I am not speaking about you… a particular governor. I am speaking about a system that is oblivious to the realities of the Virgin Islands,” Fraser said.
“I am speaking to a system that is oblivious to the people of the Virgin Islands. I mention this, dear Governor, I applaud you for having a conscience and without a conscience, no country in a struggle can get out of the struggle. It depends on the conscience of the people to who you are appealing,” he continued.
The Member for the Third also explained the Virgin Islands is being treated like a government department where someone – the governor – is appointed to lead them. He said he could not even compare the situation to the United States or the United Kingdom because the President and the Prime Ministers are democratically elected individuals put in by the people to serve.
“But this individual, whoever, the Governor is, whether it is he, she or someone else. It is someone who is appointed. So, they are treating us like a department. Like you would treat a department in your ministry. Put somebody to run it. A head of department. That is essentially what we would become and that is not something that I see myself or anyone who sought the freedom that we have attained over the centuries to place under,” Fraser said.
“It is ironic that we are going through our emancipation in a few days. A few days ago, we celebrated our first Virgin Islands Day, something that we have all been proud of. A few days from now we will be celebrating our emancipation and I think everybody knows what emancipation means. So, when I was here last week, I was going to debate the same document. It was because I could not afford for our people to go through emancipation and not know about it. I wanted to go in emancipation with the consciousness of knowing that with the stroke of a pen, they can take it away from us,” the Opposition Leader added.
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Funny that UK appointed governors left the BVIs up to their own devices for decades. Funny how during those decades the reported quantities of cocaine seized went from a few pounds to a few bales to two and a half metric tons in a policeman’s backyard. Funny now how all of a sudden everyone thinks the UK wants to take over. Why would anyone want to? It’s a lot easier for any outside governor to rule benevolently when those ruled by and large obey their own rules and regulations. Bad behavior for decades here, increasingly brazen, forced the CoI, and here we are now, as usual, blaming others for our problems. Funny how some things never change.
The more they shout , the more we know they are cr**ks.
Vanterpool, Willock, Fraser.
Lock them up.
Julian Fraser you and mark are going out of your minds, you are the ones that got us where we are today. now Mark want to send VI delegation to UK to ‘reverse’ Order in Council withdrawn! I have never seen anything like this you call down the UK every chance you get now you want to go and beg for mercy no shame at all. The only way we can clean up the BVI is for the UK to take over for at least 2 years after that have a election with an understanding that none of you guys can run for office. You had a chance to do right but instead you decided to fight with the UK its not a smart move.
If we want independence then we have to do better with our finances. These guys ran the public purse in to the grown and now they want to be magnanimous in their criticism of the UK (mostly right) but wrong messengers. I have yet to hear anyone tackle the underlying issues that gave rise to the recommendations and it only proves that we vote complete trash leaders to lead us.
Thanks for putting up a decent pic and not the hideous “parthair”
Thank god we have a veteran who knows the laws
and how to ignore them
A part of the planet where the aboriginal population was decimated. The survivors left in darkness and suddenly trust into the affluence of 20th Century living and left to their own devices being clueless about their reality. A recipe for disaster. Who responsible but don’t give a damn until sugar hit the fan.
There is more accountability in the USVI for government officials. Some even went to jail.
The issue in the BVI is there is no accountability. Government officials do what ever they please with no repercussion.
Is the system perfect hell no. But it just save our a**es. Should it be looked at, you bet, as soon as we have a local government worthy of speaking for the people. Not for personal power and self enrichment; a true government who give a dam about the people.
Frazer you and O’Neal had a golden opportunity during the last review of our Constitution to make a difference. Instead, just because it was the NDP in power, you supported all the powers that were assigned to the Governor. You were heard saying in the House that ‘we’ the opposition got everything we wanted. Why are you crying foul now? You helped to destroy us at that very point. When you are dealing with matters such as the review of a country’s Constitution, country is priority above self. It is a bit too late for you to cry now.
Illegal drugs =l some corrupt custom officers + some corrupt police officers = money
Looking the other way = crooked politicians + crooked public servants = incompetence persons in position
Prejudice mindset =‘underlying dislike between some locals and belongers ++ policies that limits benefits …
Blame the Governor for the prejudice experience by exp students in our schools
Blame the UK for hiding pension plans from teachers
Blame the UK for having expatriate nurses I working for years and retire with no pension plan
Blame the UK for taxing Money gram
Blame the Governor for moving the contract money to 5% of teachers ….
Blame the UK for the unjust dispersal of the stimulus package farmers and fishers
Lol what a calamity the UK present day decision has created on the BVI
Stop it not Willock he good he ain’t no thief
BVI islanders independence will be granted to the BVI by England anytime before 2030. Please do your research .England is a signatory to the UN charter that call on all countries with colonies to end colonialism by 2030. This was signed a few years ago. BVI leaders must think and plan ahead.,by preparing the people if the territory for this new self rule. The BVI population especially must be given orientation and education that prepare them for their role as people of an independent country. Its better to be prepared now ,than to have it been granted to you before you ask for I r it. So the opposition members are right to sound the warning now.