Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Oct 22, 2025

Hon Flax-Charles slams Deputy Gov's Office for 'last-minute' bills to HoA

Hon Flax-Charles slams Deputy Gov's Office for 'last-minute' bills to HoA

Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development Hon Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL) has warned against last-minute emergency bills coming to the House of Assembly (HoA), an issue she promises to be vocal about.

Hon Flax-Charles was speaking during the Continuation of the 7th Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Fourth House of Assembly on October 18, 2022, during debates on the Jury Act 2022, when she raised the issues of lack of consultation for the bill.

She said while more persons might have recommendations for the bill, those recommendations cannot be taken if the bill is rushed.

The bill emanated from the Deputy Governor's Office.

“I would implore every ministry, the Deputy Governor's office, whoever is bringing these bills to the House, do not come with any last-minute things at all that doesn't constitute an emergency because I will be getting up again.”

The Minister also revealed that a single zoom meeting was held for consultations which would not have been sufficient. She said the meeting was only announced hours before its scheduled time, which in itself was unacceptable.

“So I am putting y’all on guard. It needs to stop, because we the members of the House of Assembly, we get the blame…. Because the people don't have anybody else to turn to.”

Hon Flax-Charles continued, “So don't make something that you didn't do any emergency and come to this house and tell us you need to pass this because we miss our deadline. It is wrong.”

She added that the public must be able to voice their opinion on important matters like the Jury Act.

The public has since been given an online platform to give feedback on the bill.

The Office of the Deputy Governor has come in for criticism from Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development Hon Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL) for bringing last minute legislation to the House of Assembly.


Deputy Governor's Office chided


Hon Flax-Charles chided the Deputy Governor's Office for rushing bills to the HoA without proper consultation and also without allowing legislators ample time to review them.

“[There was] no adequate notice and I am very disturbed by that. How many times are we going to do this? It happened with the Registrar of Interest Act, where we got it the very morning we were coming in here. Where did that bill come from? Who wrote it? Why didn’t we see it before?” Flax-Charles questioned.

The bill was also taken back to the public for consultations, following pressure from legislators and public servants alike.

Hon Flax-Charles added, “It is wrong. I've seen it happen too many times, Madam Speaker. And it needs to be rectified and the blame needs to be put with it needs to go to, and there's no excuse."

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Crackdown in Landmark Court Battle
Nicolas Sarkozy begins five-year prison term at La Santé in Paris
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
The Sydney Sweeney and Jeans Storm: “The Outcome Surpassed Our Wildest Dreams”
Erika Kirk Delivers Moving Tribute at White House as Trump Awards Charlie Presidential Medal of Freedom
British Food Influencer ‘Big John’ Detained in Australia After Visa Dispute
ScamBodia: The Chinese Fraud Empire Shielded by Cambodia’s Ruling Elite
French PM Suspends Macron’s Pension Reform Until After 2027 in Bid to Stabilize Government
Orange, Bouygues and Free Make €17 Billion Bid for Drahi’s Altice France Telecom Assets
Dutch Government Seizes Chipmaker After U.S. Presses for Removal of Chinese CEO
Bessent Accuses China of Dragging Down Global Economy Amid New Trade Curbs
U.S. Revokes Visas of Foreign Nationals Who ‘Celebrated’ Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
AI and Cybersecurity at Forefront as GITEX Global 2025 Kicks Off in Dubai
×