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UPDATE: Hon. Pickering & Hon. O’Neal want time limit to speakers in HOA
Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal had said he agreed with the suggestions made by the Honourable Member for the 7th district and Deputy Premier Dr. Kedrick Pickering that the time had come for some time limit to be put on Members addressing the House.
“I remember, Madam Speaker, I had the record here for some time in this house for the longest speech, which was 99 minutes, but then Mr Walwyn took it away because he was able to speak for three hours. I gave it up….I will hope, Madam Speaker, that the time will come when the amendment is made.”
This news site had suggested that it was Hon. Myron V. Walwyn, the Minister for Education and Culture to whom Hon. O'Neal was referring to, however, Hon. O'Neal has since noted that he was referring to former Legislator and 4th District Representative Mr E. Walwyn Brewley, who served as the Minister of Communications and Works, from 1983 - 1986 and as a Legislator for 16 years, from 1983 to 1999.
Speaking in the HOA on October 9, 2012, Hon. Pickering had said he felt it was opportune time for the Standing Orders to be amended to put limits on the time members can speak.
“I think it is about time we did that. There is no way we can function like this where a member can speak at will, at nauseam, on any subject. I think that we are matured to a point now where we need to set ourselves, we have our contributions is x amount of minutes and we make our contribution within that time,” Hon. Pickering stated following an address by Member of the First District Hon. Andrew A. Fahie that lasted for approximately 2 hours.
“So the Standing Orders Committee needs to be up and running and a number of issues need to be dealt with if we are going to make the House function and for us to maximize the time that we spend here and help our people to understand exactly what we are really about.”
Hon. Pickering explained that Parliament is about debate and “the whole purpose of the debate is to understand institutions of Governance, institutions of democracy to make sure that the country functions in a way that each and every one of us can feel that ultimately they can look forward to a better life and that there will be justice at the end of it for us all”.
Hon. O’Neal readily agreed and also suggested that the House may even have to look at the possibility of meeting more often.
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30 Responses to “UPDATE: Hon. Pickering & Hon. O’Neal want time limit to speakers in HOA”
First you have two people in there who should not be. Not illegible to sit!! Then you have a rude disrespectful Minister who is out of control.
Then you have them speaking for hours saying nothing. I say abolish the house come for your islands England I have never been shame of my country before now.
Both of them are young and should cool out and listen to veterans like Ralph and Pickering
I mean, some of those members in there, you could take a nap, get a good night sleep, wake up the next morning and they're still talking!!!
Hooray, Hoorayyyyyy!!!!!!
Moreover, serving in the HOA is an esteem priviledge. It is a labour of love and only unselfish, dedicated and committed eligible citizens shoulld serve in this revered body. In the HOA, the interest of the masses take precedence over the personal interest or status of any member. Members have to sacrifice and put the needs of the people ahead of their personal conveniences. And any member who feel inconvenienced by sitting in the house for however long it takes to debate or discuss issues that affect the personal health and well-being of the people, perhaps, should not be a member of the HOA. Furthermore, any who lacks the capability or stamina should not be in the HOA. Additionally, any member who only likes to hear the sound of his or voice, thinks that they are always right, despised the opinion of other members, prefers to ram rod legislation or disrespects diversity of opinions should not be in the HOA.
Let the members rant and rave, blow hot air, get their views on record or vent, for at some point even they will acknowledge that they are beating a dead horse and give it up. Further, the Speaker has the gavel and can use it to curtail discussions that are not germane to the issue on the floor. It is small HOA and there is no need for a time limit. As an example, the US Senate comprise 100 members and there is no time limit;it has the filibuster rule that can be employed to deal with extended, long winded speeches.
Unequivocally, there is gross misplaced misplaced priority. Do the populace a favour---let the talking heads talk and. focus the time and energy on issues that will improve the quality of life and standard of living of BVIslanders.
If a particular member needs another 10 or 15 minutes (enough to wrap up), he can request it from the speaker of the house.
Kedrick, Hon. Fahie doesn't speak that long normally but I am glad that he did the last House meeting becuase we now understand that the NDP sold us out with this Finance document with the UK but you don't care because you going to get your retirement package taking off from the new airport. As for Ralph, I use to like him but he dosen't know when to say when.
The 13 members of the HOA is a mixture of different personalities, knowledge, skill, talent, and ability. This is the way it was yesterday, the way it is today and the way it will be today. Some are legislators and some are just members. Some are have a gift for gab, some verbose, some low key......etc. The bottom line is that legislators have a responsibility to and accountable for enacting, amending, and repealing laws that are in the best interest of the BVI and BVislanders. And some do it with flair and some in a low key manner. Regardless of the style we should stiffled debate. Will all legislators read from the same sheet of music on all issues? No. And we should be alarmed and demand an early election if they do. They are politicians.
The best prescription to address the non problem with time limit is the legislators themselves. Legislators are politicians and politics is about image, optics, integrity, credibility .....etc.politicians, most of them anyway, have huge egos and want to milk being the HOA as long as they can. And if they think that their long speeches is all about style and no substance, they will adjust quickly from fear of losing the confidence of the people. Well, the informed, connected, responsive. and effective ones will make the adjustments ; the others will probably talk themselves out the HOA. Some recent members talk their way out the HOA; some were too ambitious and full of themselves and others