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  by pltm
• Jan 17, 2019
• 2

(PLTM) - Governor Augustus Jaspert is encroaching on the power of elected representatives of the Territory, and legislation is being put into place to allow it. This is the complaint of Third District Representative, Hon. Julian Fraser.

The House of Assembly is today, January 17, in committee to consider the Elections Amendment Act 2019; however, Hon. Fraser is dissatisfied and concerned about sections of the legislation.

“I really believe that the authority that’s been vested in elected members, particularly at the head, is slipping, slipping into the hands of the Governor,” he stated during the debate of the bill.

Attempting to justify his statement, he pointed to the legislation being examined for passage.

“I noticed the way the legislation is written, which needs a serious piece of amendment to it,” he stated.

“It says, ‘whenever a member of the House of Assembly vacates his or her seat for any reason other than a dissolution of the House of Assembly, a by election shall be held to fill the vacancy on such date that the Governor shall appoint by proclamation published in the gazette,” Hon. Fraser disclosed.

The legislator highlighted that the precedence set, and practiced over the years in the BVI, is one where the Governor consults with the Premier before making such decisions.

“I think that this needs to be amended to say after consultation with the Premier…It should be enshrined in the legislation,” he stated.

According o Hon. Fraser, “It gives the impression that the Governor makes the decision and I know fully well that based on our Constitution and practice, that’s not the way it works.”

He further lamented the decision that was taken by the Governor to forego the by election for District Five, following the death of Hon. Delores Christopher.

“The Fifth District has been disenfranchised because the wisdom of the powers that be have decided not to have a by election. Instead, they are going to move the General Election up. That was a disservice to the people of the Fifth District,” he told members of the House.

“The constituents of every district are entitled to a representative. I really and truly didn’t think it was up to the Governor and the Premier to have the people of the district disenfranchised. That it was in this collective wisdom that they came up with this formula,” he added.