Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (left) will face tough questions from Third District Representative Honourable Julian Fraser, RA over the controversial Cruise Pier Development Project when the Virgin Islands’ House of Assembly meets on October 7, 2013. Last week Premier Dr the Hon. D. Orlando Smith announced that his Administration has scrapped negotiations with Tortola Ports Partners (TPP). Photo: VINO/File

After taking its summer recess though prorogation on July 31, 2013 the Virgin Islands House of Assembly is expected to meet on Monday October 7, 2013. Photo: VINO/File

This will be the First Sitting of the Third Session of the Second House of Assembly and it's expected that the United Kingdom appointed Governor William B. McCleary, CMG, CVO, will read the Speech from the Throne. Photo: VINO/File

There was only one Speech from the Throne during the NDP’s first term in office in 2003-2007 as it had exchanged the tradition for a "State of the Territory Address" read by the then Chief Minister Dr. D. Orlando Smith. Photo: VINO/File

Speaking with Virgin Islands News Online, Hon. Fraser said, “We are quite disappointed in so far as the business of the day was not conducted.”

Following the Speech from the Throne delivered by UK-appointed Governor William Boyd McCleary, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith moved a motion to have the House recessed and reconvened on Monday October 14, 2013. The motion, having been duly seconded, was granted by Speaker of the House, Hon. Ingrid Moses.

The action put a bitter taste in the mouths of Honourable Fraser and Member for the First District Honourable Andrew A. Fahie.  “To ask us to come back here next Monday is a little inconsiderate,” said Hon Fraser.

Emphasising that he had absolutely no problem with the sitting being put to another date, he said it was the manner in which it was done which leaves much to be desired. “We needed to know in advance that they were not going to conduct business today.”

“I have no objections whatsoever to leaving questions off the Order Paper on a day when the speech is being delivered from the throne, as long as I am advised in advance and that there will be no other business,” he stressed.

Hon. Fraser further explained that having been made to submit his questions for an expected sitting of the House yesterday October 7, 2013 and not being notified of an intention not to go through with the questions and answers segment was deceptive. “

“Don’t let me submit my business for the Order Paper and when I get here you are going to tell me that I must come back the following Monday. I don’t think its right.”

Hon. Fahie only had few words to say, “Today was an interesting day. Time will tell,” he said.

Members of the opposition have continually complained about the alleged unfair, disrespectful and unlawful treatments being meted out to them by the current National Democratic Party (NDP) side of the House of Assembly. Among those were the Administration’s constant refusal to provided critical information and answers to questions regarding the Cruise Pier Development Project.

See previous article posted October 7, 2013

UPDATE: Hon. Fraser to pepper NDP Gov't with questions!

- Opposition to shoot questions on the controversial Cruise Pier Development Project even though NDP Gov’t has been refusing to answer

After hearing of the embarrassment early last week of the collapse in negotiations of the National Democratic Party (NDP) signature project, the expansion of the Cruise Pier on Wickhams Cay, with Tortola Port Partners and the announcement that government was still moving ahead with the project, the people of the Virgin Islands will be listening in to proceedings of Parliament on October 7, 2013 to see if they will get answers.

As first and accurately reported by this news site, the Virgin Islands House of Assembly (HOA) will meet today at 10 A.M. at its Chambers in Road Town, the VI Capital City for its first sitting of the third session of the second House of Assembly.

While no one will be rushing to the HOA to listen to the Speech from the Throne read by the controversial United Kingdom-appointed Governor William B. McCleary, the Member for the  Third District, Honourable Julian Fraser, RA will be firing off some 30 plus questions to the National Democratic Party (NDP) front bench.

However, the Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Dr. the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering and the controversial Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn will escape the veteran Third District Representative’s questions.

After months of not answering many questions on the Cruise Pier Expansion Project and the Virgin Islands Party opposition having to fight with the Speaker of the HOA, Honourable Ingrid A. Moses to get some questions on the Order Paper, Honourable Fraser will be asking many questions on the project at the October 7, 2013 sitting.

The questions to the Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool will range from obtaining a copy of the April 12, 2013 Cabinet approved Heads of Terms Agreement with Tortola Ports Partners (TPP) under which the Ports Authority has authorized $1.7 million worth of pre-development services, information on the design of the project, and information on the $1.7 million associated with the Ports Project.

Both the Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith and the Minister for Health and Social Development Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton will also face questions at the Monday Sitting from the former Communications and Works Minister, Hon. Fraser.

Other businesses of the HOA will include many Department and Statutory Bodies annual reports being laid on the table of the House, along with some five Bills including the Magistrate Code of Procedure (Amendment) Act 2013, Financial Investigation Agency (Amendment) Act, 2013 and the Status of Children Act, 2013.

The HOA meeting will be carried live on CBN Channel 51 from 10 A.M.

See previous article posted September 27, 2013

House of Assembly to meet on October 7, 2013

After taking its summer recess though prorogation on July 31, 2013 the Virgin Islands House of Assembly is expected to meet on Monday October 7, 2013.

This will be the First Sitting of the Third Session of the Second House of Assembly and it's expected that the United Kingdom appointed Governor William B. McCleary, CMG, CVO, will read the Speech from the Throne.

This will be the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government's legislative agenda for the upcoming year.

The Speech from the Throne is whereby the representative of Her Majesty the Queen will read a speech written by the government of the day outlining the Government’s legislative policies and agenda. It is a tradition in most Commonwealth countries and British Overseas Territories. Such a speech is critically important to the direction of the Territory as it outlines the agenda the elected Government plans to pursue.

This will also be the Third Speech from the Throne for the NDP Government since it came into power following the General Elections of 2011. There was only one Speech from the Throne during the NDP’s first term in office in 2003-2007 as it had exchanged the tradition for a "State of the Territory Address" read by the then Chief Minister Dr. D. Orlando Smith.

In the last Speech from the Throne on September 3, 2012 the NDP Government had promised to focus on seven broad areas to ensure the Virgin Islands advance to a level of development where all residents would have been able to “enjoy good health; a high quality of life and personal fulfillment; a high quality natural and built environment; safe communities and opportunities to use their talents in gainful employment and entrepreneurship.”

The seven broad areas were: 1. Stimulating/Fixing the Economy 2. Improving the Standard of Living 3. Improving Overall Social Services Programmes and Healthcare 4. Strengthening the Educational Sector 5. Protecting our Borders and Enhancing Law, Order and Public Safety 6. Public Sector Reform, Communications and Infrastructure; and 7. Re-establishing/Strengthening Regional and International Relations.