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VI Inquiries Bill ‘never should have left the Cabinet’- Hon Fraser
This is according to Opposition Member and veteran legislator Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3), who on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in giving his take on the proposed legislation, suggested that “this thing should not see the light of day, it should not pass Waterfront Drive, it shouldn't get here.”
The District Three Representative told legislators at the 15th Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA), “As long as you are going to be a colony, as long as you are going to be owned by those people; they will continue to treat us like this.”
Both Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) and Opposition Leader Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL) have united against the bill, which they have said reeks of colonialism.
The bill was brought to the HoA by Premier Wheatley on behalf of the Governor.
Bill ‘never should have left the Cabinet’
According to Hon Fraser, Premier Wheatley has a good understanding of the danger of the bill in its present form, “because he has a good understanding of where these people are taking us. He has a good understanding of where we need to go, and he has a good understanding of what he has to do to get there.”
Hon Fraser, nevertheless, was not impressed that the bill passed through Cabinet.
Addressing Dr Wheatley directly in the House, Hon Fraser reminded “You said that it [Bill] would not leave this house in this fashion; we need to get these things fixed, that's what it came here for, I would say to you that it never should have left the Cabinet.”
Additionally, Hon Fraser expressed that the Attorney General (AG) Hon Dawn J. Smith and Governor Daniel Pruce should not be part of Cabinet.
Hon Fraser was also of the view that anything the Premier does now to get the Governor out of Cabinet “is nothing revolutionary; it was something that was planned a long time ago, it was intended that with this new Constitutional Review, he wouldn't be there.”
The District Representative was firm in his view “The decisions in Cabinet are made by the five of you, this thing should never made it out of cabinet but I understand how it works.”
Amendments needed
He quipped, “...that's why I told your Minister some time ago that when we get up and we speak we are working with you, we doing the things that you can't do so support us, stop getting ah itch in ya throats stop coughing and leave, you don't have to vote on a matter let us do the voting, we have a majority.”
Speaking specifically to the powers to call a Commission of Inquiry, Fraser RA was of the view that at the Committee stage, the Bill should be amended to reflect similar provisions in the United Kingdom’s (UK) legislation where it provides for any Minister to call an inquiry.
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3 Responses to “VI Inquiries Bill ‘never should have left the Cabinet’- Hon Fraser”
By stating, “this thing should not see the light of day, it should not pass Waterfront Drive, it shouldn't get here,” Fraser dismisses the bill outright without engaging with its contents. His blanket rejection is unhelpful and suggests a lack of willingness to engage in meaningful debate.
Comments about being “owned by those people” and how “they will continue to treat us like this” are loaded with us-versus-them implications that border on xenophobia. Such language can inflame tensions and distract from the substantive issues. Legislators should be above inflammatory rhetoric.His dismissive tone directed at Premier Wheatley and other members, such as telling them to “stop getting ah itch in ya throats stop coughing and leave,” is unprofessional and unbecoming of a seasoned legislator. Such remarks do not foster a respectful or productive legislative environment. Instead of contributing positively to the legislative process, his comments reflect a desire to undermine and criticize without offering substantial solutions. For effective governance, it's imperative that legislators focus on collaboration, detailed critique, and constructive dialogue rather than resorting to inflammatory and disrespectful commentary.
By saying the bill “never should have left the Cabinet” he shows a disregard for the procedural aspects of governance. If there are issues with the bill, the legislative process is the proper forum to address and amend these issues. Fraser’s comments suggest a desire to bypass this process rather than engage with it constructively. Same attitude he and the leading elite have had to the whole process of being brought to account by the COI. You have to ask why our leaders wish to avoid oversight at all costs. Even a reckless lunge towards independence without being properly prepared. They clearly think they are losing out on opportunities they had in the past.
VI people think less opportunity for corruption is a good thing not a bad thing, but then it is not us that end up with the money.