Anguilla Governor dissolves HoA; elections by April 24
According to a press release yesterday from the Governor’s Office in Anguilla, the election must now take place on or before Friday 24 April 2015. “A further announcement of the date for the election will be made in due course,” said the release.
It said too that the Governor will also formally swear-in the Returning Officers on Wednesday afternoon. The Returning Officers for each district will be as follows:
District 1: Mr Rodney Rey
District 2: Mr Bernard Wattley
District 3: Ms Laureen Bryan
District 4: Ms Melissa Meade
District 5: Mr Sinclair Buchanan
District 6: Mr Gifford Connor
District 7: Mrs Gracita Christopher
Published guidance to public officers and elected officials states that the dissolution of the House of Assembly does not affect the day-to-day business of the Government.
“Executive Council members remain in charge of their portfolios. Following the dissolution of the House of Assembly it is, however, expected that Ministers will refrain from initiating any action of a continuing or long-term character,” it said.
However, it said too that decisions on matters of policy, board appointments and other issues (for e.g. large and or contentious procurement contracts) on which a new Government could reasonably be expected to want the opportunity to take a different view from the present Government should be postponed until after the election, “where such postponement would not be detrimental to the national interest nor wasteful of public money.”
Could this happen in the VI?
Following the circulation of this news out of Anguilla, persons have been asking whether the same could happen here in the Virgin Islands given the continuing controversy over corruption, questions that surround the cruise pier project and other issues.
It is being asked whether the Governor here, His Excellency John S. Duncan OBE may find it wise to dissolve the Virgin Islands House of Assembly in preparation for early elections in light of the spending of the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government and the ongoing issues of corruption. Further, persons have suggested that it may be instructive for Governor Duncan to ensure that spending is postponed until after the election unless in cases where such postponement would be detrimental to the national interest.
Although the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Office of the Auditor General have pronounced on the cruise pier project, it is continuing ahead and Governor Duncan is yet to make an announcement on whether he would appoint a Commission of Inquiry as recommended by the PAC. Further, a leading politician, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) labelled the NDP Government the most corrupt in the modern history of the Virgin Islands.
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27 Responses to “Anguilla Governor dissolves HoA; elections by April 24”
Any snap elections is in NDP's favour as they have a full slate of candidates. VIP and PEP have yet to name their candidates and would be caught short if elections were called early.
VIP did more spending and had more corruption projects during that term!
Should I name some of them ??
I hope this Governor here is reading this article and is learning how things are to be done.
I hope when the governor dissolved our House of Assemble he will take a page out of the lady governor’s book and demand d no MORE RECKLESS spending before elections.
Ah Mo Mo you tek we for or you want me to crow on this?
It's time for a new government. The BVI is like a run-away train. Some one stop it before it goes off it tracks.