House of Assembly has become a circus- Eileene L. Parsons
Performing the role of host of the programme NDP Radio, which was aired on a local station on October 15, 2012, Mrs Parsons said the behaviour of certain Members in the HOA was a “burning issue” for persons in the community and that it was “deplorable”.
She also claimed that members of the community have even indicated to her that they no longer tune in to the House of Assembly sessions because of their disappointment with the way business was being conducted in the HOA.
“To me the House of Assembly has become a circus,” Mrs Parsons bluntly stated.
Noting that the “House of Assembly has gone from a being House of Assembly”, Mrs Parsons said the “behaviour is deplorable for those listening on the outside” and she also made it clear that she was saying without fear of contradiction that it “seems to some of us” that questions are not asked for information but rather aimed at “getting under one’s skin”.
According to her, “the word on the street”, is that questions from the Opposition are “trivial” and “foolish” and made reference to the recent question asked of Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn by Member for the Third District Hon. Julian Fraser RA about why monies were not paid to the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College between 2009 and 2011. “...and people are wondering what is going on in the House of Assembly...decorum has gone to the dogs.”
Premier Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, who was one of the guests on the show, said the purpose of the question and answer segment of the House of Assembly is to educate the people on what is happening and noted that his administration has no issue with that segment since it is always willing to provide the answers when possible. “Sometimes the side comments that come with the questions could be irritating,” Dr. Smith admitted.
Another guest on the radio show, Territorial-At-Large Representative Hon. Archibald Christian, then said he was to take the blame for some of the things that have been going on in the House of Assembly. Considering himself “a freshman member of the House”, Mr. Christian said he was “amazed” that Members are now hearing about respect and conduct in the House of Assembly from the Opposition, particularly from Members of the First and Third Districts.
Hon. Christian said he had some flashbacks to when he was "out of the House" and recalled hearing about “things” that took place in the House that should not have taken place there. He, however, did not state what the “things” were.
He did say though that he was concerned about the amount of questions that were being asked by the Opposition and when he suggested that the issue should be addressed he was “not trying to shut down the Opposition” but to suggest that Members come with “substance”. Hon. Christian also said he was concerned about Members asking questions that they already knew the answer to.
Meanwhile, Mrs Parsons said the Virgin Islands was now a part of the global community due to technology such as the internet and wondered what Legislators in other parts of the Region, such as Antigua and Trinidad, had to say about the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands.
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41 Responses to “House of Assembly has become a circus- Eileene L. Parsons”
If you notice in her comments, she was talking specifically about questions being asked. Did Myron ask questions or was it the 3 blind mice on the Opposition? Her point is, it's a Circus when you waste hours asking questions just to rile up people and cause confusion. Fahie and Fraser knew the answers to most of the questions they asked and so did the public. The only back and forth that was necessary was with regards to the protocols as that was a very important document. Other than that, it's been a horse and pony show. This is the first in History where a Government is elected less than a year but the opposition has asked over 100 questions in just the last two sittings. Does that make sense? Is the public any better off now? NO! That's the Circus. What Myron is doing is what NDP should've done when they were in power in 2003-2007. The same people talking about Myron's behaviour are the same idiots that buy all the $h1t VIP is selling. That's how VIP won in 2007, misinformation and the NDP not fighting back. A man has a right to defend himself and his team against vicious lies, Myron realizes that all the old boys have turned pu*$y and he is the one that has to hold the strain, he gets much respect from me for that!
The speaker has to go.
I would also like to add that as big men and women who supposed to be about the people's business, they sure make everything to seem that its about "them." They better get it together, and realize why they are in there, and get off their high horses and get this country running RIGHT!
But when you elect people who should not be there and from the lower class that is what you get behavior like a wild child in a candy store. He should never be in dey and Archerie to now trying to silence the Opposition.
How do you what a member's intent is in asking a question regardless if they know the answer or not. Members are elected to represent the people's interest. As such it is their duty to ask questions; and if they do not they should resign from the HOA. Further, government ministers are also obligated to answer questions and if feel irritated. perhaps they should leave the HOA. Ms. P
The opposition's job is to present a different view on issues; one side does have a monopology on what is right or wrong it's about a different view. There are a few things that both sides will totally agree on yet in these cases there will be different ways on how to cross the river. We need to be fair about the supposedly circus atmospheren in the HOA; both sides are guilty. Lets call a spade a spade and lay blame at feet of both groups. must demonstrate the courage to
She thinks that Fraser asking why the college was not paid over $2,000,000 from 2009 to 2011 was rediculious because during that time the minister was at the Moorings flipping burgers, and that he won't know the answer. That is the stupidest thing I ever heard. He is the minister, he has the records in his ministry, he was the one who brought it up to score cheap political points, but what he never anticipated was that Fraser would follow up with a question, and because he was so ill prepared and didn't know the answer, he became rude and indignant.
Eileen Parson is becoming an embarrassment just like the time of her comment about island people seeing a $100 bill for the first time in their life when they came to the BVI. She need to chill.
Myron brought up the $2,000,000 and he needs to explain why the college hasn't been paid. How can he be the minister responsible for a subject (HLSCC) and it is owed $2,000,000 and you can't tell the people of the BVI why? This is incompetence being masked with arrogance, and Myron should not be allowed to slide.
And as to records showing why the money was not paid, come on, even a juvenile can figure that out. That what records are for, they are there for referring to, but I guess the funny man was too buissy trying to score points. He didn't have time to study his ministry.
This woman, her last day at work in the Ministry was February 2007, and elections were August 2007 which means she collected for 6 months without working. She gets government money for her health care, government even repaired her house they say, and the word on the street is that she does proof read minutes. So you see why she ah kiss up under the funny man behind.