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Budget Debate standoff! Ministers & Opposition playing ‘go first game’
It was on Tuesday March 22, 2016 at the continuation of the Seventh Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly that all back benchers made their presentation to the 2016 Budget Debate except for the Junior Minister for Trade and Investment Promotion, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8).
Who will go first?
At one point when Speaker of the House of Assembly (HoA) Hon Ingrid A. Moses asked for other contributions, none of the front bench Ministers of Government were willing to go first before the Opposition to defend their $331 Million Budget which imposes higher taxes on the poor and fees hike on most government services.
The session continues today March 23, 2016 at 10:00 AM at the HoA chambers in Road Town on the main island of Tortola and the front bench is expected to speak but the public will be watching to see if they will all go before the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Opposition.
Yesterday there were presentations to the 2016 Budget debate from Jr Minister of Tourism Hon Archibald C. Christian, and Hons Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull Jr (R2), Delores Christopher (R5), Alvera Maduro-Caines (6), and Hubert O’Neal (R9).
Back Benchers demanded action
They spoke on promises made about items in their districts, and imposed deadlines to the front beach Ministers and the Premier to get roads and sporting facilities completed. Jr Minister Christian lashed out at Education and Culture Minister Myron V. Walwyn for his failure to pay locals who had performed in the 2015 Festival while paying overseas artists. In addition, Hon O’Neal warned about doctors raising their fees because of the new National Health Insurance scheme.
It is unclear why the Government Ministers will want to wait until after the Opposition speaks in order to defend the Appropriation Act- their own Budget.
Not playing any waiting games-Speaker
Speaker of the HoA Hon Ingrid A. Moses warned law makers that she was not going to play the “waiting game” and was prepared yesterday to ask Premier and Minister of Finance Dr Smith to wrap up the Debate. She then claimed that NDP Ministers were not prepared to debate yesterday and will resume today 23, March 2016.
Opposition’s reaction to standoff
Senior Opposition Member Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) in an invited comment said “the budget is put together by the Premier and his Government, especially the Ministers, and is first approved by the Cabinet. Hence it is up to them to present and defend their budget to the people in the House of Assembly.”
Hon Fahie told the media “it is clear to me that the Ministers of the NDP Government do not intend to defend their budget. This can be done independent of the Opposition’s input. They need to defend their budget and it is simple as that.”
None of the front bench Minsters could be reached for comments before post time. However, a senior NDP official told our newsroom that they will all speak this morning.
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