Territorial Representative Honourable Archibald C. Christian believes that one way to pay tribute to the Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal OBE is to give life to changes that he wanted made to the Standing Orders (SO) when he was a member of that Committee in the House of Assembly. Photo: VINO

Honourable Archibald C. Christian was speaking during the Second Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly on Monday July 6, 2015 while making a contribution to the Motion to confer the title of Member Emeritus of the House of Assembly to Hon O'Neal for his 40 years of service therein. Photo: VINO

Honourable Christian was speaking during the Second Sitting of the First Session of the Third House of Assembly on Monday July 6, 2015 while making a contribution to the Motion to confer to Honourable O'Neal the title of Member Emeritus of the House of Assembly for his 40 years of service therein.

“I sometimes wonder how one person over four decades could give so much to their community,” Honourable Christian said.

“The resolution before us in my opinion is a summary of the contribution and dedication has given to this territory,” he said.

Referring to one of the portraits hanging in the House of Assembly, he noted that Hon O’Neal served as one of the first Clerks of the House.

“You could spend Madam Speaker countless days in this House if you looked at the pictures and started to put together what took place in his political life and I believe even when all of us are finished our presentations or tributes we would have only touched the tip of the iceberg so to speak, to the contribution that the Hon RT O’Neal made to the Virgin Islands,” said Honourable Christian.

He noted that one of the things he learnt from the stalwart politician is to put aside political differences. “I know that we traded some punches on the campaign trail from time to time but I respected the fact that once we came into this House Mr O’Neal showed me the respect that all of us should be displaying when we come here,” said Honourable Christian.

He noted that there are a number of areas in which Honourable O’Neal has given him advice though he died away from disclosing what those areas were.

“But I served with him on the Standing Orders Committee which was chaired at that time by Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton and I remember the Honourable O’Neal saying in the very first meeting that we had that he believed that he time had come for them to make some changes to the Standing Order with regard to the number of questions that started coming up on the Order Paper and also the length of time persons took to debate or make contributions to motions,” said Honourable Christian.

“I am of the view, and I believe that he is too, that it is time to make some of those changes to the Standing Orders. Those were some of the views that he had as a member of the Standing Orders Committee,” he said.