Radio talk show host Edmund G. Maduro had a verbal confrontation with a caller with regard to the way the Leader of the Opposition is selected and insisted that the congress of the Virgin Islands Party cannot overrule the dictates of the Constitution of the territory. Photo: VINO/File

One of the above will be the Leader of the Opposition. But who? Photo: VINO/File

It was on his EGM Show on Thursday July 16, 2015 that a caller called into the show and posited that the decision about who the next Leader of the Opposition is could be based on the congress of the Virgin Islands Party and who they selected to be the leader of that party.

However, Maduro insisted this is not the case and based his argument on the Constitution.

“The problem needs to get over with then we will get cured from our problem. Right now we sick. We need to know who it is,” the caller said.

Maduro said that, according to the Constitution, it is only the ones who are elected can have discussions with the Governor as to who the Leader of the Opposition would be.

But the caller thought differently. “They have a congress. They are chosen from among a group of maybe 6,000 strong. They have 30 days to decide on something if they lose the election. They could put one of their candidates to be the new Leader but I don’t know how that will work out,” the caller said.

In response, Hon Maduro said, “They cannot do that…didn’t you hear me read the Constitution? Didn’t you hear me read the Constitution? The congress cannot overrule the British Virgin Islands Constitution. Go and read Section 70,” he said.

“You’re in a bad mood tonight,” the caller said to Maduro. “I am not in a bad mood… you are trying to understand something you don’t understand. But you talking nonsense. I read it before maybe you didn’t hear it,” Maduro said.

After finding the section in the Constitution, Maduro said, “Let me read it so that literate people who can read will understand. Section 70 said, subject to this section the Governor may appoint a Leader of the Opposition….the Governor shall appoint as the Leader of the Opposition a., a member of the House of Assembly, not somebody outside who is not elected, a member of the house of Assembly recommended by a majority of elected members of the House who are in the Opposition.”

Maduro said if the Governor does not understand this then he needs to go home.

Governor John S. Duncan had given a month and a day to Hons Andrew A. Fahie (R1) and Julian Fraser RA (R3) to decide between themselves who will be the Leader of the Opposition. That month and day expired on July 19, 2015.