The lateness won’t work anymore!
Although they’ve promised to deliver quality leadership throughout the new legislative term, it seems elected leaders have not decided to part with their habitual lateness, which was the subject of much criticism during that last legislative term.
While delivering his first speech in the House of Assembly (HOA) on May 18, Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton berated his colleagues for their tardiness, stating that they shouldn’t waste his time by being late for sittings of the HOA.
Skelton hinted that he and House Speaker Corine George-Massicote were the only two members of the HOA who were early for the day’s proceedings.
“If we set meetings for 10 o’ clock Madam Speaker I can guarantee you I will be here — you and I will be here on time. So I would like my colleagues to assist me in not wasting my time. Be here on time and let us get the people’s business done and move on,” Skelton stated.
He added that if leaders can’t be on time for government business, they shouldn’t champion the narrative of self-governance for the territory.
“The institutions of this country need our attention. If we don’t build the institutions of this country, we can’t go anywhere talking about internal self-government. This House should be the primary institution of this country. We cannot continue to take this House in a light manner,” Skelton said.
Skelton isn’t the first elected leader to call out his colleagues for tardiness. In the last sitting of the House, former Territorial At-Large Representative, Neville ‘Sheep’ Smith and Shereen Flax-Charles called out their fellow legislators for their constant lateness.
At the time, Smith had revealed that the repeated pleas of Speaker George-Massicote had fallen on deaf ears. He also argued that the poor behaviour also negatively affected the staff of the HOA who are often left waiting on legislators for hours.
Smith had also suggested that a fine be put in place to punish members who are constantly late.
Skelton hinted that he and House Speaker Corine George-Massicote were the only two members of the HOA who were early for the day’s proceedings.
“If we set meetings for 10 o’ clock Madam Speaker I can guarantee you I will be here — you and I will be here on time. So I would like my colleagues to assist me in not wasting my time. Be here on time and let us get the people’s business done and move on,” Skelton stated.
He added that if leaders can’t be on time for government business, they shouldn’t champion the narrative of self-governance for the territory.
“The institutions of this country need our attention. If we don’t build the institutions of this country, we can’t go anywhere talking about internal self-government. This House should be the primary institution of this country. We cannot continue to take this House in a light manner,” Skelton said.
Skelton isn’t the first elected leader to call out his colleagues for tardiness. In the last sitting of the House, former Territorial At-Large Representative, Neville ‘Sheep’ Smith and Shereen Flax-Charles called out their fellow legislators for their constant lateness.
At the time, Smith had revealed that the repeated pleas of Speaker George-Massicote had fallen on deaf ears. He also argued that the poor behaviour also negatively affected the staff of the HOA who are often left waiting on legislators for hours.
Smith had also suggested that a fine be put in place to punish members who are constantly late.
