Acknowledging that the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government of Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has been “unconventional”, Sixth District Representative and National Democratic Party (NDP) Member, Honourable Alvera Maduro-Caines has said the present administration, despite the challenges, has been making progress.

“Should I just use the one word, unconventional,” said the third term legislator as she admitted that for the short period the VIP Government has been in place, “It’s been going good.”

Giving her assessment of the first six months of the VIP government, Hon Maduro-Caines, during an interview on JTV this week, said there are challenges, “But for the better part it’s going good.”

Hon Maduro-Caines also admitted that the present administration has been easy to work with, as she has not had many challenges working with the government to date.

“They have been working with the Opposition. As you know there have been various projects in the [Sixth] District and it’s been going good.”

Special mention in this regard was made of Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley (R9).

On Speaker Willock

Alluding to the saga involving fellow Member of the Opposition Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) and Speaker of the House, Hon Julian Willock, which delayed the swearing in of Hon Vanterpool into the House of Assembly (HoA), Hon Maduro-Caines said, “I understood where everyone on both sides were coming from so it’s dealt with now and I am glad that aspect is gone and he is now sitting in the Opposition as an official member.”

Commenting on the way Speaker of the House Honourable Willock takes control of the HoA, Hon Maduro-Caines said she has never seen a speaker rise so often to his feet.

“But as the Speaker I guess he knows his rights and he knows he has to keep order within the House.”

Hon Maduro-Caines also found the use of the term, “I am to be heard in silence” not familiar.

Asked if she felt it was appropriate she said, “I guess to him it was. We are in the House of Assembly and that is the place where we hear our views and concerns…..”

But the Opposition Member noted that a level of respect has to be given to the Speaker and Members of the House.

“So me as a Speaker I may not have said it because it comes off a bit as you are talking down to the elected officials, which shouldn’t be, but we have our different views and opinions how we handle things.”