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by pltm
(PLTM) - Junior Minister of Tourism, Hon. Sharie de Castro while stating that she is conflicted, fully backed the amended Motion in relation to the Speaker of the House of Assembly Hon. Julian Willock legal fees.
Speaking this afternoon, November 4, on the proposed Motion, de Castro said that she read all the documents afforded to her and did observation on the ongoing controversial matter.
“After considering all the circumstances as it relates to this matter, I have to admit that I am conflicted. Conflicted in the sense that I do believe that the Speaker may have been acting in his official capacity and with good intentions. Yet I have concluded that the necessary processes were not fully observed in addition to the ruling from the judge on the matter, a complication has now arisen, and it is no longer just a straightforward matter,” she told the House.
She added, “This is why I am in full agreement with the decision being forwarded to a select committee of the House to assess and investigate all the factors and come to a conclusion that will then be forwarded to the whole House for consideration.”
Her position comes after her colleague Junior Minister of Trade and Investment Hon. Shereen Flax-Charles said she is against the Motion. So far, de Castro and two other Government members have backed the Motion moved by Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon. Andrew Fahie.
Hon. de Castro said that she is aware that her position is not a popular one.
“I know this may not be the most popular stance especially on a matter that has sparked such public outrage which heightens the temptation to act impulsively but I will not do that. I have to feel comfortable within myself that I am taking a position that gives due process to all sides because I endeavor to always be fair and objective because that is my obligation to the people,” she said.
The At-Large Representative also spoke to the fact that there was no public outcry over the lawyers for the CoI reportedly breaking the laws of the Virgin Islands.
“I am in full agreement that anyone practicing law in the Virgin Islands should be doing so legally. In fact, I am unapologetic in my conviction that if it is that the laws are being circumvented by the lawyers in question or anyone for that matter, they should be held to account. So as for me, the matter of whether or not a legal challenge was warranted is not up for debate today, as I believe it was merited. In fact, I am perturbed that there wasn’t public outcry in this regard.”
She added, “The fact that the lawyers in question belatedly applied to the High Court for consideration to be admitted to practice as solicitors in the Territory should answer that question. So, then it is now not a matter of if, but a matter of how.”
However, she said that if they are opposing a challenge that someone is circumventing ‘our’ laws it is incumbent upon them in doing so, to also not circumvent their own processes.
“As such for me, this is where I have a challenge with this whole thing. Now this discomfort should not come as a surprise to any of my colleagues…[her opinions] which contributed to an amendment to the previous Resolution and resulted in the one that is before us now that I can say is one that I can now lend my full support to,” she said.
Hon. de Castro said that she believes that it was a sound decision to bring the case forward.
“I have to reiterate that even though I am of the opinion that there is sound reasoning for the decision to bring the case in question, its importance and relevance have seemingly [been] lost by the people and I think it is because of what appears to be a disregard for the relevant processes.”
She said that a concerted effort should have been made to inform the people on the how, why, and the intention behind the decision.
“I think at this point it was particularly important to do so, especially considering that funding is required for other priority areas,” she stated.
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