Hon Fraser was at the time debating the BVI Business Companies (Amendment) Act, 2022, at the Sixth Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Fourth House of Assembly at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom, Tortola on July 21, 2022.

The bill was scheduled to receive three readings in one sitting, according to the Order Paper.

According to Hon Fraser, bills especially relating to the financial services sector should not be rushed through the House of Assembly without them being properly vetted by legislators.

“You can’t get the bill in order to scrutinise it before, you come into the house Thursday morning, I think that we are being taken for granted and somebody needs to do something about it,” Hon Fraser said.

“There has got to be a better way for members of the House of Assembly to get an opportunity to scrutinise these bills. We don’t draft them obviously [but] we have to pass them so we are responsible for them,” he added.

Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) says there is almost a mutual agreement for the HoA and the financial services sector to not interfere in the affairs of each other.

Proper discourse of bills needed- Hon Fraser

Hon Fraser said it is not right that important bills just show up and are passed in the HoA, sometimes receiving three readings in one sitting.

The Opposition Leader called for proper discourse over bills, especially relating to the financial sector, since it has reached a point where legislators cannot get to question the bills properly.

He said it is already the case where there is a mutual agreement for the financial services sector and the House of Assembly to not interfere in the affairs of each other.

“In other words, you don't see the financial services come before the House of Assembly at any time for anything except for when there is a bill to be passed,” he added.

Other legislators also expressed their agreement that more time needs to be given to properly scrutinise bills.