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  by pltm
• Jan 17, 2019
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(PLTM) - Reform Action Alliance (RAA) is today focussing its movement for change on urgently-needed laws that have failed to be presented in the House of Assembly, or require amendments. RAA views these pieces of legislation as what should be the first line of business in any House of Assembly - current or future - because they address long overdue protections for the people and dangerously lacking standards and regulations for the restoration of integrity to the Territory’s governance. RAA member Cindy Rosan-Jones states that, “To continue to stall, block, ignore, fail to present and equivocate on these laws and amendments is reprehensible, and to return Legislators who have failed to pass these laws to office, would be a clear and tragic blow to the vision of a Territory where statesmanship, dedication to duty, people’s rights and common sense are the order of the day.” According to the RAA, the nine respective Acts, Codes, and Bills cited below, which still languish in the House of Assembly, or await presentation or amendment, highlight the extreme seriousness of this issue:

● Human Rights Commission Act - ensures the rights of all residents under the United Nations covenants, including the right to clean air, clean water and the right to have conditions of inequality addressed. ● Freedom of Information Bill - improves Transparency and Accountability in public affairs. ● Code of Conduct - governs how government Ministers operate and sets standards for restoring and maintaining the Integrity of public offices. *The RAA would propose that this code be extended to all House of Assembly members and also Senior Public Officers. ● Register of Interests Act and Complaints Commission Act - these further strengthen the restoration and maintenance of Integrity in conducting the people’s business. ● Consumer Protection Bill and Regulatory Code - these two pieces insure the rights of, and set protective regulations for, consumers, businesses, banks, insurance companies and money services. This Bill should include protections of consumer rights in exceptional circumstances and disasters. ● Environmental Management, Biodiversity Conservation & Climate Change Adaptation Bill - addresses the myriad concerns regarding current damage and threats to the people’s health due to lack of environmental protection standards or enforcement. ● Labour Code 2010 - enhances the regulation, efficiency and transparency of the Work Permit process and helps to better manage layoffs following a disaster. “There is legislation to protect the people that was introduced nearly twenty years ago, and other pieces in need of amendment to close loopholes that weaken the law or allow for misinterpretation that could lead to the misuse of power for personal gain or other assaults to the well-being of the people.”

Cindy Rosan-Jones In light of the fast approaching General Election, RAA also identifies what it sees as another very serious fault on the part of our lawmakers, i.e., their failure to implement any of the eight reforms recommended by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association after our snap elections of June, 2015. In a recent written statement to the UK government made public on Facebook social media, Dancia Penn-Sallah, former BVI Attorney General and Deputy Governor, noted that these recommendations were “obviously intended to improve the electoral process and to create greater transparency and accountability in the electoral system, and included recommendations such as the creation of a permanent Electoral Commission to oversee the Office of The Supervisor of Elections, as well as introducing clear campaign finance guidelines.”

The RAA strongly agrees with Dancia Penn’s concerns with regard to needed improvements to our electoral process and also agrees with her concerns regarding our Judicial System. In the same submission to the UK, Ms. Penn-Sallah made what RAA members see as three other disconcerting observations, i.e., “The judicial system is not as robust and balanced as it should be. There are issues of access to justice especially by ordinary citizens and, delays in the delivery of justice as well as inequalities in the system. There appears not to be sufficient recognition of the importance of the civil and criminal justice systems to the rule of law and the functioning of a democracy.” As a watchdog and advocacy organisation, the RAA intends to keep the issues of critically needed legislation, electoral and judicial reform, and the lack of basic human rights, such as clean air and water, in the public eye and high on the list of the demands that courageous people who love the BVI are now making. The RAA invites persons who care about the BVI - voters and non-voters - to share their concerns and ideas by making contact at info@raabvi.org where participation will be valued and respected. The group also notes that volunteers and donations are sincerely welcome and their website at RAABVI.org clearly displays their Mission, Vision and Values.

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