ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI– Opposition Legislator Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) has called on the Government to consider more time when passing legislation in the House of Assembly (HoA) so that those whom the bill will have implications on will have time to understand the legislation.
“We cannot continue to come to this House [and] rush through legislation that is going to have huge implications on the well-being of the public and the people who is going to be impacted without any kind of consultation,” Hon Penn told the House during the Continuation of the Ninth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly on March 7, 2024.
Adding to the pile of Opposition criticisms surrounding the Registers of Interest Amendment Bill, Hon Penn said while public servants don’t have a problem with being subject to the Register, they still need a conversation.
“The civil servants that I’ve spoken to that reached out to me since we’ve been in this House and said we have no challenge in terms of having to have to register, but they require a conversation, a proper conversation that even we in this House, the members who are tied to responsibility to pass this bill have not had.”
Pile of criticisms from the opposition
Mr Penn’s criticisms followed that of Opposition Legislator Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL), who said the Government is rushing legislation to meet the deadlines for the implementation of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) recommendations.
Like Hon Penn, Hon Walwyn said there is a rush without proper consideration for the implications of decisions to the detriment of the people subjected to said legislation.
“So we’re here today standing with the responsibility, to past this piece of legislation and this amendments and the far-reaching implications of its amendment without having the benefit of a conversation with the drafter,” Hon Penn said.
“Premier and your government, let us have a conversation with the public servants. Let us have a conversation with the principals who drafted the bill. Let us understand where we’re doing and what our intentions are, to ensure that we do not disenfranchise persons and violate their constitutional rights,“ he said.
