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by pltm
(PLTM) - There might be a possible battle between Ministers of the Government and Members of the proposed Recovery Agency. This is according to government backbencher, Hon. Dr. Hubert O’Neal.
Speaking last evening, March 22, under the proposed controversial bill—Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency Act, 2018, Dr. O’Neal, said that he is in full support of the legislation; however, he cited two concerns he has with how the agency will operate.
“The possible conflict with our ministerial form of government and this agency. What is the relationship going to be between the agency and our elected government, our ministerial system? It is still unclear to me how that system is going to work, and it could create some constitutional conflicts, something we need to look at very closely. We cannot compromise our own constitution for the sake of developing this agency,” the Ninth District Representative said.
The National Democratic Party (NDP) administration is deeply divided over the requirements set out by the United Kingdom (UK) to access $400M in loans and grants for post-hurricane recovery.
The legislation will implement a UK-driven framework to manage expenditure of the loan funds. The UK has given the BVI government until April 1 to pass the legislation.
Several government backbenchers are against the setting up of the agency and believe it will be a government within a government.
Another concern raised by Dr. O’Neal is a section of the proposed bill which implies that local contractors may be shafted.
“I am also concerned too with the UK and their instance on possibly bringing multi-national companies to do the projects which are going to be undertaken in this recovery efforts…I am not sure whether the terms of the agency allows that to happen and I think we as a government should never allow that to happen,” he lamented last evening.
He added, “We should look after our own people to ensure our local companies benefit from whatever projects are done during the recovery…I will argue for our local contractors…I know there might be arguments that our local companies may not be qualify for certain things but we as a government has to ensure that does not happen.”
The Ninth District Representative said that he wants these things to be addressed during the committee stage.
UK Not Interested
Meanwhile, Hon. Dr O’Neal does not feel that the UK is interested in taking over the Territory’s finances. According to him, the UK has its own financial problems.
“The UK is not interested in taking over the finances of this territory, I firmly believe that. They have their own financial problems so why would they want to take up our problems. The Governor has expressed that the UK only wants to help us, be a good partner. I am confident that the UK government is committed in that respect.”
He reminded residents that the BVI is not independent.
“We have to remember too that we are still a territory and when it comes to borrowing or doing any financial matters we still have to seek the UK approval even if we are borrowing from our own Social Security Board.”
He added, “it still has to be approved by the UK government. We are not an independent country as yet.”
He said that things need to move along swiftly as persons are suffering in the various communities.
“My greatest motivation to support this bill lies with the people,” he stated, noting that his district allocation has been depleted and, “my own pocket drying up…I feel the pain for my people.”
Other members who spoke on the bill so far are Premier Hon. Dr. D. Orlando Smith, Hon. Dr. Kedrick Pickering, Deputy Premier and Opposition Member and Third District Representative, Hon Julian Fraser.
The debate continues this morning.
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