Opposition Leader Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3), right, says going forward the Virgin Islands Constitution shoul be reviewed to make the Governor bound by the constitution. Left: Governor of the Virgin Islands John S. Duncan OBE. Photo: VINO/File

According to Hon Fraser, young Virgin Islanders are to be blamed for destroying the country as they are failing to perform tasks given to them. Photo: VINO/File

Hon Fraser was speaking under ‘Any Other Business’ at the First Sitting of the Second Session of the Third House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands on September 23, 2016.

“I told someone yesterday that do you know that the governor is not bound by the constitution? He was what do you mean? He is above it,” said Hon Fraser.

He noted also, “Everywhere you turn he [Governor] does what he wants, if he wants to, based on the constitution, if not he could just claim the prejudices of Her Majesty’s Service."

Time for changes

The Opposition Leader was addressing concerns about the territory moving forward into a new era constitutionally.” I don’t agree, Madam Speaker, that going into our next phase of development, constitutional development that is, Madam Speaker, that we should come out with the same form of arrangements that are in this constitution. I don’t agree.”

“And this is the person who is responsible for civil service. It doesn’t have to be that way. You are going to be here on Tortola sitting with us, you have to be bound by the constitution that we are bound by unless you are some kind of Lord,” he said.

Take hold of our own destiny

Hon Fraser expressed that if the Virgin Islands representatives are going to go to the United Kingdom and return with the same arrangement regarding the Governor they should not go, “Just stay where you are. Just it out. It tires me. We have to take a hold, Madam Speaker, of our own destiny. That destiny comes through our own people, we must develop those people.”

Honourable Fraser was at the time expressing his disgust about the sore point of the structure of the Virgin Islands which he said is being destroyed. “It’s good enough for us to be sitting here in this House of Assembly and claiming we are all Virgin Islanders, then look beyond us and see what you see.

Young VIslanders risk being blamed for destroying territory

Earlier in his discourse, Hon Fraser had said young Virgin Islanders risk being blamed for destroying the country as they are failing to perform tasks given to them. He said when they fail many do not take the time to give them a second chance but rather finds someone else to fulfil the task. “…and there are people who are more than willing to perform that task. The problem is, Madam Speaker, when you exercise that option to find someone else to perform that task, the same person I was talking to and people like them, which are Virgin Islanders, gets left behind.”

He said those who find other people to perform tasks locals fail to perform are contributing to the destruction of the Virgin Islands. “But, Madam Speaker, it takes some thinking, it takes commitment in order for you to forego exercising that option.”

According to Hon Fraser, the building of the VI has to be done through ‘its’ people, something he feels confident the thirteen Members of the House of Assembly are committed to doing, but, “Do we all have the same level of patience? I don’t know, my patience came over time, Madam Speaker. There was a time I would have just move on but at this stage of my career, my life, I realise Madam Speaker that moving on isn’t the best.”