UK-imposed legislation not the best for the BVI — Fraser
Opposition Leader Julian Fraser has argued that legislation imposed by the United Kingdom (UK) on the BVI is not always best for the territory’s residents.
Fraser was speaking at a community meeting in his district last week, where the issue of the controversial Police Bill was raised by residents. The Bill was withdrawn by lawmakers after sections of the proposed revised Act again attracted major concerns and public backlash.
Fraser commented that the United Kingdom had previously imposed “imperial legislation“ on the territory when members of the House of Assembly (HOA) declined to move forward with a bill on capital punishment, that was brought by a previous governor.
“We just refused to lift the death penalty but the British government said, well, it’s out of step with the norm, for the time that we are living in, and they will do it. And they did it,” Fraser explained.
However, the Third District Representative pointed out at the same time that the UK, through the governor, cannot simply pass any law it wishes without the agreement of the HOA. He said the governor can only pass a law on his own in the BVI – as per section 81 of the constitution, which speaks to the governor’s reserved powers – in instances where there are foreign implications.
According to Fraser, as far as imperial legislation is concerned, there are some laws that even he, as a legislator, would not touch. He cited the example of the Register of Interests (ROI) Act which was brought to the HOA by the governor in the wake of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report. That Bill was withdrawn and revised by lawmakers before being passed after it saw pushback from civil servants.
Fraser implored fellow lawmakers that they too should not touch certain legislation brought by the UK. “If the British government wants [the laws], let them put them on us,” he stated.
You cannot know what’s best for me
In the meantime, Fraser argued that he considered himself a member of the community and just the same as ordinary residents who would ultimately be affected by any laws imposed by the UK.
“No matter how you talk to the British government about the people of the territory and what’s best for them, they always think that they know better — what’s best for you,” Fraser argued.
The Opposition Leader told residents that he explained this to UK Overseas Territories Minister Lord Zac Goldsmith in correspondence he exchanged when Lord Goldsmith visited the territory recently.
“I know you [Lord Goldsmith] and everyone else will be telling us that … they only want to do what’s best for the people of the Virgin Islands,” Fraser said. “But I said to him, how can you know when we are the same people you’re talking about what’s best for? You cannot know what’s best for me.”
He continued: “If I say this is best for us, I can’t see somebody else coming from somewhere else telling me that something else is better for us.”
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What happened to the billions of government revenue paid in (and out) since the 1980s? What do we have to show for it? Terrible infrastructure and lousy public schools.
Frankly, my experience is that when the UK passes legislation for the BVI, they do a better job. I am not suggesting that they take over but if Fraser and the other legislators did a better job, they would be less fearful of losing power to the UK.
FRASER FOR PREMIER
That was straight to the point / but the greed for power has gorne straight to those hypocrites minds , who call themselves politicians
SOme BVI imposed legislation is also not the best
The UK mother country is only doing what is best for their overseas territories that have strayed from the path of good governance. God save the King!
Bvi Ministers not doing their jobs at least since 2019 when the Police Act was put on the table. They should have been pushing amendments and public consultation from a side. What do we have here, Unified *** Clowns and a feckless story of an Opposition all of which are only concerned with keeping their jobs
Not good for the big name Belongers is what he meant.
TEAR DROPS ON SCAN-TRON SHEETS
By Tafari Zharr
Yep, If yuh HERE-BY register yuh DARE-BY vote
BVI still hot- the intensity of daily struggles, mysteries, afflictions and strains are pouring out in digital streams and we ain’t found piece yet at either thug mansions or church homes.
Second guessing the nature of politics in the BVI is like me flirting with writing this response- but with responsibility requires reclaiming voice . Just reading the world’s news is as difficult as despairing please bad news just don’t thrive in the VI . So I’m still second guessing, I crushed my last couple of notes thinking what’s the point . What I’m not second guessing is the the point is my heart belongs to a VI that seeks to be mortal first and marvelous second – not second rate!
Truthfully, while I was waiting, unready, my pen’s ink got dried-up and the spring ever so rusty. By the time I tuned back in it seems lately everyone has something to say or like me is taking mental notes it’s hard not to witness the pouring of digital depth and frustration incidental to the open surge of willingness from everyday people just venting publicly to get a bit if reprieve or bitch ; of sorts like wet tear drops on a Scantron sheet – the VI people weep: via two words, two lines with their two cents on every issues.
It’s the wear and tear of just how they are coping and living in these times recanting experiences given BVI’s ongoing embattled and current stories. Digital love Documented in a muddy watered, perpetual, political VI where diving in any article on any day is not a simple tour of escaping “the Wreck of the Rhône” to be stranded as if on Robinson Crusoes’s Treasure Island. Displeasure’s the treasure emanating from the chest The only treasure-able thing seems to be the emancipation upon which of the main become the treasured island and empowerment of which treasured son will become triumphant. Look, “Don’t Ask yuh neighbors nuttin’ juss make sure yuh behinds registered to vote!”
Meanwhile lots of testosterone, lots of cerebral candidates making giant Jenga moves with cascading blocks of challenges but hoping each disruption is his bests of works: unsung, last man standing is the goal – to heck with aggravating, torpedoing issues; even if remaining undone or endangering outcomes balancing the political act for fear of plunging blocks all tumbling down – losing is not an option for the parties partners, at large candidates, or the constituents. As Castaway movie implies The climax and mixed cast of hopefuls are headed towards cascading waves intermittently crashing ashore
With big BVILOVE I’m Reminiscent of 1970s political unrests. Turned out those were the-rivaled times for unrivaled men like Lloyd, Fonseca, DecCastro. Wheatley, Penn, George, to randomly name a few. As before, uncertainties with upcoming Elections or no by-elections, who is going to cast a vote have always been determined finally not by expats but by citizens.
Politicians Come through for Citizens! Registered persons local or abroad can normally work and vote- while Expat workers can only work. So, isn’t it side splitting that the BVI’s residence voting policy mechanism (which also continues to thrive on the expatriate-system) would employ an adversarial system of Justice against its own citizens who want to reserve the right to vote which is as traditional in the BVI as events leading up to August Monday parade.
New comer politicians and candidates do not discount our votes. I think It’s almost as if some of us only want expats to be present but now moved the needle to make certain that some citizens be denied the right or be struck off, without even the right to an absentee vote. Truth – the two dance together-Disenfranchisement of either is Ridiculous!
Whereas by excluding and removing live and qualified persons from voting registers even if it may favor political candidates to strategize for winning districts in the short term isn’t it worth reviewing as to what detriment such policies may have and how they may have impacted returning and or absentee voters; with studies on the will of all citizen voters in the long term? Yet, perhaps a blind electoral association for some of the citizens and not all of the citizens is sustainable even if socially objectionable; as the saying goes; yuh nah get it?
I digress, It takes a village to raise a child – it’ll take a village to get us back on track; so many distractions, investigations, and contraptions. I reiterate, obviously, an expat person generally don’t qualify to vote – they work. Disqualifying citizen voters may be disadvantageous since the expats come to work – They do not come to vote so what side VI voters on – specific to VI politics BVI voters don’t vote in other jurisdictions; but disheartening the voter don’t keep the heart of the voting metric beating!
Therefore, unite Alliance Citizen Voters – ACV also known as apple cider vinegar works wonders: a little ACV should be the sacred electoral muscle drink and formula to reshape political strategy towards a more democratic inclusion instead of pointless exclusion.
Ultimately, revisit, revise, and revamp aspects that were unfair but the adept politicians had a favorable formula that also oiled the voting machine for having locals abroad buy into the cultural, social, and political dynamic that’s been so uniquely VI- start saying goodbye to the bad practices of excuses and exclusions and bring back good vibes by Re incentivizing by encouraging VI people to reinvest in the BVI who eventually will plan to come back home. So a lot of other islands in the Caribbean are rolling out programs for building communities up and out so that their democracies can seek outcomes to increase wealth and sustainable development. Like “soon come “ BVI recognize CARICOM!
Persist as you resist displaced voters. Rusty or not – let’s show spectators how courage and kindness can effectively affect change as we work together to impress our counterparts in the Caribbean our own, UK and other global democracies.
It’s hard holding back the pen and perspective that I believe has merit what’s easy is allowing perspective to be silenced at a time when each voice must matter and each vote casted even if not received meritoriously. Compassion And peace might give us ese but power exchanges won’t unless we agree on outcomes we seek.
Let’s not be neither too eager to lose nor too apathetic to win .
TEAR DROPS ON SCAN-TRON SHEETS Copyright (c) 2023. Tafari Zharr
Fraser is not best for the BVI. I hope he is removed before the election.