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Education questions left unanswered for four months prompted Second District Representative Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull to challenge Minister Sharie de Castro’s absence from the House of Assembly last week, accusing her of failing to fulfil her responsibility to residents.
The Speaker, however, informed the House that the Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports was unable to attend because of a personal matter.
Turnbull said other ministers, including the Premier, had made themselves available to answer questions, while his questions on education and community facilities were being deferred again.
“For four months these questions have been posed,” he said. “Then I come to ask my questions, it’s automatically being placed to the next sitting. When is the next sitting going to happen? After the election?...This is not right, this is abuse. And it's sad.”
He described the repeated postponements as “abuse”, arguing that prepared answers should have been made available through the Premier or Acting Premier if the minister could not attend.
“These answers should have been prepared,” Turnbull said. “These answers should have been provided, or be able to be answered.”
His questions concerned schools, recreation facilities and youth facilities. He stressed that his district contained six schools and said he could not properly represent those communities without answers.
“I am here to ask questions now and I can’t get the answers,” he complained.
Turnbull also questioned what he viewed as selective attendance, contrasting the difficulty obtaining answers with minister de Castro's presence when seeking support for her portfolio during the budget process.
“It seems that the only time some people come here is when they have to deal with their subject matter,” he said.
He maintained that ministerial duties extended beyond promoting individual ministries and required accountability to the wider public.
“You have a responsibility to the people,” Turnbull said. “I believe it is important that all of us take our jobs with that type of urgency.”
The Speaker, however, informed the House that the Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports was unable to attend because of a personal matter.
Turnbull said other ministers, including the Premier, had made themselves available to answer questions, while his questions on education and community facilities were being deferred again.
“For four months these questions have been posed,” he said. “Then I come to ask my questions, it’s automatically being placed to the next sitting. When is the next sitting going to happen? After the election?...This is not right, this is abuse. And it's sad.”
He described the repeated postponements as “abuse”, arguing that prepared answers should have been made available through the Premier or Acting Premier if the minister could not attend.
“These answers should have been prepared,” Turnbull said. “These answers should have been provided, or be able to be answered.”
His questions concerned schools, recreation facilities and youth facilities. He stressed that his district contained six schools and said he could not properly represent those communities without answers.
“I am here to ask questions now and I can’t get the answers,” he complained.
Turnbull also questioned what he viewed as selective attendance, contrasting the difficulty obtaining answers with minister de Castro's presence when seeking support for her portfolio during the budget process.
“It seems that the only time some people come here is when they have to deal with their subject matter,” he said.
He maintained that ministerial duties extended beyond promoting individual ministries and required accountability to the wider public.
“You have a responsibility to the people,” Turnbull said. “I believe it is important that all of us take our jobs with that type of urgency.”
© 2026 BVI Platinum News. This article is original BVI Platinum content. Reproduction or republication without written permission is prohibited.
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