The Virgin Islands Inquiries Bill, 2024, introduced into the House of Assembly on Tuesday, has ignited fierce criticism from the Leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, Honourable Ronnie Skelton.
Skelton lambasted the bill as the epitome of true dictatorship, voicing strong opposition to its provisions and questioning its compatibility with democratic principles.
He expressed alarm over the bill’s framework, which he argues sets rules for everyone except the governor, undermining the very essence of democracy.
A significant point of contention for Skelton is the unilateral power granted to the governor to appoint commissioners without consultation or referral to the House of Assembly or the Premier.
He criticized this aspect as antithetical to democratic values, emphasizing the necessity for decisions to be made with checks and balances.
The Territorial at Large Representative also voiced concerns over the potential dismantling of established systems to meet the bill’s requirements.
He highlighted issues such as the issuance of certificates for practising law and the remuneration of commissioners and staff, all of which, under the proposed bill, could be done without the consultation of the premier or the House of Assembly.