Beautiful Virgin Islands

Friday, Apr 18, 2025

BVI’s legislature too small to serve territory — Fraser

BVI’s legislature too small to serve territory — Fraser

Opposition Leader Julian Fraser has contended that the composition of the House of Assembly (HOA) is much too inadequate to properly facilitate the needs of the territory.
Fraser made the claim as lawmakers debated the merits of the National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) which was laid in the HOA yesterday, February 2.

Fraser said he felt the executive – the governing body of the territory – was already overwhelmed and overworked in the execution of their duties. He then questioned how other lawmakers in the HOA were expected to get things done with the scant resources at their disposal.

“The first thing I would say also is that the House of Assembly is too small. The legislature is too small to serve the territory. You’ve got a House of Assembly as it is right now with five ministers of 13 members,” Fraser argued.

In holding the executive to account – a task he deemed as critical and one of the legislature’s main priorities – Fraser suggested that the HOA was stymied by its meagre means.

“What about the rest of us? Where are the resources that we do need in order to fulfil the obligations of the House of Assembly?” Fraser asked. “Without resources, how can you [hold the executive accountable]?”

Fraser also pointed out that there are even committees set up in the HOA that never meet.

Reports gathering dust in HOA

“I’m sitting here [in the HOA] and it’s just me,” he said. “I don’t mean, I don’t have any other members in the Opposition. I mean, it’s just me when I look back and there’s nobody [assisting] me.”

The lawmaker argued that a look at any other developed legislature would show that they have staff serving in legal, accounting and administrative capacities who help with research and advice.

“We don’t have that. Without that, the government public service cannot function properly. The government public service will never ever be any better than it is,” he argued.

Fraser asserted that it was the duty of lawmakers to act as the government’s conscience and said without the necessary focus placed on resources, this could not be achieved.

The lawmaker shared that reports are compiled and sent to the HOA, and instead of being scrutinised by lawmakers as they should, they are instead left to sit on a shelf and gather dust.

“Our committees are supposed to call those public servants in and have them know their shortcomings, and hold them accountable to it,” Fraser said. “Because if they don’t live up to their responsibilities, when the budget comes to the House, the monies they’re asking for, they wouldn’t get it.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. State Department Raises El Salvador’s Safety Ranking, Making It Safer Than France and Other European Nations
UK Government Assumes Control of British Steel's Scunthorpe Plant Amid Shutdown Threat
UK MP Wera Hobhouse Denied Entry to Hong Kong During Family Visit
Bangladesh Issues Arrest Warrant for UK MP Tulip Siddiq
China Urges United States to Cancel Tariffs Amid Escalating Trade Tensions
The Empire’s USD Pyramid Scheme Is Working Brilliantly—So Why ‘Fix’ It?
China Raises Tariffs on U.S. Goods to 125% Amid Escalating Trade Dispute
Elon Musk Reports $150 Billion in Projected Government Savings Amid Fraud Investigations
U.S. and Panama Finalize Defense Agreements Amid Canal Access and Chinese Influence Concerns
China Stands Firm Amidst Trade Disputes with the US: A Factual Analysis
U.S. Tariff Escalation Sparks Global Trade Tensions
Helicopter crashes in NYC with four people on board.
Australia Dismisses China's Suggestion to Collaborate Against US Tariffs
EU Postpones Response to US Tariffs
The Trump Administration is contemplating removing Chinese companies from U.S. stock exchanges.
Violent Incidents and Public Safety Concerns Escalate in London and County Durham
UK MP Arrested on Suspicion of Rape and Child Sex Offences
UK Gears Up to Respond to US Tariffs with Industrial Strategies and Trade Initiatives
‘Rocky’ star Dolph Lundgren and his wife Emma Krokdal bask in the Miami sunshine following the actor’s lengthy health struggles.
Spain Encounters Countrywide Protests as Housing Crisis Intensifies
Alisha Lehmann's Modeling Campaign and Public Controversy Stir Debate Ahead of UEFA Women's Euro
U.S. Firms with Major International Revenue Exposure in Light of New Tariffs
President Trump Calls on the Federal Reserve to Reduce Interest Rates in Light of New Tariffs
President Trump Prolongs TikTok Sale Deadline by 75 Days
Global Markets Dive Amid Rising U.S.-China Trade Conflicts
British comedian Russell Brand faces charges of rape and several sexual assaults.
Kanye West Reveals in a New Song That His Wife Bianca Censori Has Departed from Him
Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme Accused of Having Sex with Human Trafficking Victims
Tom Cruise Pays Tribute to Val Kilmer at CinemaCon
Europe Pursues Digital Autonomy Amidst Transatlantic Strains
OpenAI Lands Unprecedented $40 Billion Funding.
Charity Chairwoman Accuses Prince Harry of Bullying and Harassment
DOGE revealed that USAID provided $84 million to the Clinton Foundation. Of this amount, $3 million was spent on Chelsea Clinton's wedding, and $10 million was used to acquire a lavish mansion.
The State Department has announced the formal closure of USAID.
Apple's Innovation Deficit: Falling Behind in AI and Foldable Technology as Chinese Developments Progress
President Trump Proposes Military Intervention to Obtain Greenland
Passenger Taken into Custody After Engaging in Masturbation on SWISS Air Flight
Barcelona player Dani Alves found not guilty of rape accusations.
PUTIN'S LIMOUSINE DETONATES—SECURITY CHAOS ENSUES
French Foreign Ministry Denounces U.S. Interference in Corporate Diversity Initiatives
Copyright Issues Emerge as AI-Generated Studio Ghibli Images Gain Popularity
This is what we refer to as CREATIVITY.
Removing the Political Opponent Means Dismissing the Remnants of Turkey's Economy.
Malaysia Strengthens Semiconductor Regulations in Response to U.S. Pressure to Restrict AI NVIDIA Chip Exports to China.
OpenAI Launches New Image Generation Tool for ChatGPT
Ex-FIFA President and French Football Icon Acquitted of Corruption Allegations
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz Under Investigation After Journalist Added to Secret Military Chat
Ex-Business Partner of Hunter Biden Discusses Possible Pardon from President Trump
U.S. Attorney General Announces Task Force to Prosecute Government Fraud
American Brands Face Consumer Boycott in Europe Amid Escalating Trade and Political Tensions
×