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Treat the Opposition with more respect- Doug Wheatley
Wheatley, during his show on Friday October 28, 2016, pointed out that the HoA comprises of 13 members, all “Honourables”, who were elected to serve and none more important than the other.
He was specifically referring to the Question and Answer segment in the HoA where certain sections on the Government side are sometimes reluctant to answer questions in a truthful manner.
“They have all been elected by the people to be in the House and so when the government from time to time want to amend the Order Paper so the questions put to them are never there, that is not a good thing. It is not a good thing to say let us take care of the government business first and other things will follow thereafter,” the outspoken host said.
He informed that in order for the ministers to work properly, the Opposition was established back in the 1970’s in the United Kingdom.
“So it is not that you can renege the Opposition because they don’t hold positions like Ministers, so you can treat them in any way you like, you don’t want to answer their questions, you can put their questions off, there is no such thing, no such thing,” he insisted.
“Just so that you are the Queen’s Ministers in the Virgin Islands, the Opposition is the Queen’s Royal Opposition in the Virgin Islands and they have to be treated with that level of respect.”
Little regards to questions of the Opposition
When the HoA met on October 13, 2016 Opposition Members accused the D. Orlando Smith Administration of paying little regards to questions from the Opposition in the HoA asked on behalf of the people of the Territory.
The Premier had moved the Questions and Answers to the end of the Order Paper at the Sitting, knowing that he will not be in the Virgin Islands and there was a decision taken by Members not to go beyond 9:00 PM.
The House met on October 25, 2016 from around 2:40 P.M., however, time did not allow for the Question and Answer segment.
Meanwhile, the Second Sitting of the Second Session of the Third HoA continues from 10:00 A.M. on Monday October 31, 2016.
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16 Responses to “Treat the Opposition with more respect- Doug Wheatley”
Until the people effect a change, the Opposition effort to get heard will be like pushing a string. It is a difficult task but the Opposition must continue the fight. Furthermore, the Opposition has to get it act together and fast.
If that was not enough, consider this attitude. In 2007, Andrew refused to drive a perfectly good vehicle assigned to him only because it was used by the previous NDP minister. But it was good enough for him to give to the police in a public handover ceremony.
When those politicians finished their terms in the HOA, it is the people who will be saddled with whatever they do.
The young people are filling the prison, high cost of living, high hospital and medical fees. And guess what the politicians will have a huge pension for the rest of their lives. So BVI people don not be fooled. If Hon. Fraser and Fahie ask questions in the house, they want you to hear what they see as the short coming of the government.
Look at the cruise ship dock. All the wasteful spending and it is not complete. Doug, you are right, they must show respect for the opposition. The Education minister thinks that he is above the wall and shows no respect to anyone.l