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VI Inquiries Bill is a 'big stick' overreach by the UK- Deputy Speaker Hon Mather
Hon Mather further argued that the proposed legislation from the Office of the Governor represents a 'big stick’ overreach by the United Kingdom (UK) into the affairs of the Territory.
The Deputy Speaker observed that even a cursory reading of the Bill makes clear a recurring theme related to the expansive powers of the Governor.
According to Hon Mather, “When I started to look at this Bill and like many other members have said, the Governor is in here all over the place.”
CoI was a ‘one-man show’- Hon Mather
Hon Mather used the occasion to also lambast the recent Commission of Inquiry (COI) led by Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom, describing it as a "one-man show" and arguing that such authority should not be vested in a single individual.
He suggested that a minimum of three individuals should be involved to ensure a balanced and fair process.
“They came into our Territory and used one person—Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom—I have only seen one CoI in my lifetime and one man should never step into another man’s country by himself and have the authority to say what is right and what is wrong.”
Governors are to blame too
Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker recalled, “The UK came and the UK showed us where we as leaders could have done better and they led us to a process of examining our laws, our procedures, and who we are as a people and where we want to go.”
He added; however, that previous governors were not effective in helping the VI to stay on course. “One of the reasons we are where we are is because the previous governors did not do their jobs.”
UK spends ‘our money’- Hon Mather
Hon Mather further condemned the UK’s tendency to compare the Territory to itself rather than to other jurisdictions, particularly when it comes to spending money, and noted that the financial burden of the CoI falls on the Territory.
According to the Deputy Speaker “the UK has a very good way of telling us what we are doing wrong, they don't compare us to a lot of other jurisdictions unless it is comfortable for them; somehow whenever it comes to spending money, they spend our money.”
Commenting further, Hon Mather said, “The award of cost in anything pertaining to the CoI falls on us; they (UK) have one Commissioner, he messes up, he doesn't do his job we going pay the bill.”
In a direct message to the UK administration, Hon Mather said, “If you feel so confident in your Commissioner and what your Commissioner [is] going do, then put you money where your mouth is. They should pay the bill; they should be responsible for it; and if they can't be responsible lets do that modern partnership, which is 50/50.”
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7 Responses to “VI Inquiries Bill is a 'big stick' overreach by the UK- Deputy Speaker Hon Mather”
when yall need to be united to assist and improve our 3rd world country you're not
now yall united to keep the UK from interfering with yall corrupted practices!
Open your eyes BVI public there are bold face telling you this!