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Stacy Mather Is Deputy Speaker After Premier Admits Blunder

by pltm
May 18, 2023
13

(PLTM) - Government’s attempt to have Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Luce Hodge-Smith, appointed Deputy Speaker was thwarted after the opposition raised objections based on the constitutional provisions governing the appointment.

Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. Natalio Wheatley successfully steered the reelection of Corine George-Massicote during the first sitting of the Fifth House of Assembly today, May 18.

However, the Premier was challenged by Hon. Julian Fraser when he moved to have Hon. Hodge-Smith appointed as Deputy Speaker which led to first-time Legislator Stacy Mather receiving support for the position.

Hon. Fraser who has been a long-time legislature warned that the House needed to be careful because at the time the Constitution was written back in 2007 there were no junior ministers.

“The Junior Ministers came after and the document which obtains for the Junior Ministers came replete with all the provisions and conditions under which a Junior Minister should sit, and we have gone through this in committee stages. Hon. Fraser stated.

He added, “It has been clear for us that the same provisions that obtain for Ministers obtains for Deputy Ministers when it comes to holding office in the House of Assembly and the deputy position no less."

Hon. Fraser also pointed out that Junior Ministers are not eligible to hold positions such as the Deputy Speaker position and they can’t sit on the Public Accounts Committee which states emphatically that Ministers cannot sit on the Public Accounts Committee.

“I don’t know why we are looking at this this morning to have a Junior Minister sit as Deputy Speaker,” Hon. Fraser noted.

The Premier initially stated that based on the Constitution, “As long as the member is not a member of Cabinet they can be elected as the Deputy Speaker.” “Madam Speaker I am asking that we proceed with the vote,” the Premier stated.

However, following a recess, the Premier explained that upon review, indeed Junior Ministers cannot hold office in the HOA.

Mather subsequently accepted to serve as Deputy Speaker.

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Reader Opinion

Please note that the opinions posted are the opinions of its author and does not in any way reflect the views of the management, staff, parent company or sponsors of Virgin Islands Platinum News.

No Blonder

Trust me when I say this was \"No blonder\" it was stage and the correct results were achieve.

Jake

Well! The Premier stared off well - with a genuine mistake. These are interesting times.

Observer

I suspect that the Premier knew exactly what he was doing and that in the end he got the result that he actually wanted.

Stupes

I believe so too, but he is the one that looked like a fool

ANOTHER ONE

SHOULDN\'T THE RULER OF A COUNTRY KNOW THE LAWS OF THE SAME COUNTRY ? ? ( OR , JUST ANOTHER HONEST MISTAKE AS USUAL

Youth man

What foolishness some mean why Massicote has to go through this process. The position does not belong to her or no one else. Note I am supporting her, but I also support democracy, and this is true democracy at work. We trust that the Government will always make the correct decision but let democracy take its course so when or if she gets it again or not, or Mather becomes Deputy or not, she and everyone else in public life will understand that nothing is automatic or guaranteed in life.

East Lady

I am confident the VIP Government once remaining levelheaded and respectful to each other while keeping country above self, will successfully navigate the country and themselves through these modern day worldwide turbulent times.

Legal debate

Congratulations. I have picked no sides, but the government should get a judiciary review on certain issues one being is a Junior Minister really a Minister. If this is so, then there are many other laws of the Virgin Islands which contradicts such and those would need to be amended. A Jr. Minister can only sit in Cabinet if they are sworn in as a Minister which means they are not a Minister. This issue as well as a few others need legal judiciary review for clarity for future reference rather than relying on conventional interpretations. Do not wait for another COI to prove us wrong.

Please

Stop talking piddle because it is obvious that junior ministers perform as ministers when the minister is out / point-junior minister for the 4th district acted for at-large minister Sharia while she was on duty travel. I do think though that the deputy speaker should come from outside as well so as to keep the playing field neutral. I know our speaker is not going to pick sides, nor is Mather going to pick sides either.

EXPERIENCE MATTERS

FRASER IS THE MAN

WIL LOCKS

2 DREADLOCKS RUNNING THE HOUSE...NO WIGS...LOL

Speaker

The Speaker doesn\'t have dreads lol

Good thing

I love it !

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