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All elected HoA Members to now have own district office
According to Hon Fraser, the idea came out of the Committee of Privileges and enjoyed bipartisan support across all four political parties in the HoA.
The vote was taken on November 24, 2022, and while introducing the motion that was seconded by the Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (D7) and Hon Fraser noted, “This initiative will allow for the operation of a constituency office in each district with staff intended to serve as the member’s dissemination hub in the execution of his or her parliamentary duties and at the same time provide a meeting place for the member and his or her constituents.”
A good move- Hon Vincent O. Wheatley
For years there have been ad-hoc district office arrangements with some members having district offices while others did not, a fact that was acknowledged by Ninth District Representative Hon Vincent O. Wheatley, who supported the motion.
The Leader of the Opposition believes this ‘Policy on Constituency Offices’ will “enhance the delivery of access and ensure that members are afforded the tools and means necessary to serve their constituency” according to his presentation.
In further support of his motion, the seasoned Legislator who has served from 1999 to current; told the public that his motion was designed to be consistent with Section 82 of the 2007 Constitution, which deals with the privileges, immunities and powers of members.
Other members on the subcommittee that came up with the motion included Deputy Speaker Hon Neville A. Smith (AL) and Health and Social Development Minister Hon. Marlon A. Penn (R8).
Is it funded?
In his strong support of the motion, Finance Minister Dr Wheatley noted that it was his hope that, “At-large members use the opportunity, and use the funding, to have a greater presence in all the districts, particularly those outside of Tortola.” To this, Opposition at-Large Member Hon Carvin Malone agreed and also supported the motion.
It remains unclear if the motion requirements will be funded in the just concluded Standing Finance Committee (SFC) hearings for the 2023 Budget, however, the Premier noted “We have to give respect to our constituents, to give them a proper office where they can come and we meet their needs.”
Same as in the UK-Willock
In an invited comment, former Speaker of the HoA Julian Willock said “it was a good move” given when the VI delegation visited the House of Commons earlier in 2022, in the United Kingdom “one of the many things we learned was that all 650 Members of the UK Lower Chambers had district or constituency offices and sometimes in large districts they can have up to four offices”.
Mr Willock noted that in addition to the district and constituency office, members also had their House of Commons offices in London.
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24 Responses to “All elected HoA Members to now have own district office”
to come ro the realization that, especially,
each elected government cabinet HoA member should had already had their own district office? Is it because the posible next general election is aproximately four to six or their about months ahead? More game playing at works. Is the Uk Government, our governor, the Chief of the RVIPF, and the general public at faults for this overdue revelation, too? Who is or who are? The manority of us, In my honest opinion know who.
Bullsh** noting Will be done wasting money
This proposed action months before the posible next election is no more that political manuvering. Don't be fooled. Such act will be costly, but will not change our politicians mindset.
Political science is the mental art of saying the things that the majorty of the citizens that eligeble to vote want to hear, but are rearly done as said.
Honest accountibility and rwcovery of our finances already wrongly spent is far more helpful to us now than more HoA district Rep. Offices at this time of high cost of vital necessities. Only honest actions will set us free from the financial shakles of politicians financial greediness, shortsightedness in the BVI.
Honesty is the best policy. Righreouness exualts. The greedy surficates the needy, espeacially the minimum paid ones.
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