Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jul 15, 2025

HoA to seek more exemptions for Hon Neville A. Smith

HoA to seek more exemptions for Hon Neville A. Smith

Two motions to prevent Deputy Speaker Hon Neville A. Smith (AL) from having to vacate his seat as a legislator because a company he is affiliated to is seeking to or has entered into contracts with the Government of the Virgin Islands, will be moved at the 12th Sitting of the 3rd Session of the 4th House of Assembly (HoA), which starts today, September 22, 2021.
Motions to exempt Hon Smith from Vacating HoA seat


According to the Order Paper, Hon Smith is the Director of Caribbean Security Limited, which is desirous of providing services to the Government of the Virgin Islands for the installation of Access Control, Video Surveillance and Burglar Alarm in the Ministry of Finance and additional installation including Building Wide Fire System at RFG Place, Road Town, Tortola for a total contract sum of Eighty-seven thousand and thirteen dollars ($87,013.00).

In a second motion, also to be brought by Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), exemption will be sought for Hon Smith to not have to vacate his HoA seat since the Government of the Virgin Islands, through the Ministry of Finance, entered into a contract with Caribbean Security Limited on December 6, 2019 for the delivery of items such as access controls and intercoms for the refurbished Police Headquarters at Sir Olva George’s Plaza for a total contract sum of fifteen thousand, nine hundred and eighty dollars and twenty-four cents ($15,980.24).

It was on July 29, 2021, that the HoA voted to exempt Hon Smith from vacating his seat after the company the legislator is a Director of entered into two contracts with the Government of the Virgin Islands.

What the constitution says?


Section 67(3)(e) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007 (U.K.S.I. 2007 No. 1678) provides that subject to subsection (7), an elected member of the House of Assembly shall vacate his or her seat if the member becomes a party to a contract with the Government of the Virgin Islands for or on account of the public service, or if any firm in which the member is or becomes a partner, or a company of which the member is or becomes a director or manager becomes a party to a contract with the Government of the Virgin Islands.

Section 67(7); however, provides that if in the circumstances it appears just to do so, “the House of Assembly may exempt an elected member from vacating his or her seat under subsection (3)(e) if the member, before becoming a party to a contract, or before or as soon as practicable after becoming interested in a contract with the Government of the Virgin Islands by virtue of being a partner in a firm or director or manager in a company which has a contract with the Government, discloses to the House of 14 Assembly the nature of the contract and his or her interest in the firm or company involved in the contract.”

44 questions from Opposition


Meanwhile, the Opposition will be waiting in the wings with some 44 questions ready to be fired.

The HoA Sitting is slated to start at 10:00am and will be carried live on CBN Radio 90.9 FM, CBN-Television Channel 101 on Flow TV and can also be followed on the HoA YoutTube channel and online at www.cbnvirginislands.com.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
×