TIMES.VG

BVI, Caribbeanand International News
TIMES.VG

UK-imposed legislation not the best for the BVI — Fraser

UK-imposed legislation not the best for the BVI — Fraser

Opposition Leader Julian Fraser has argued that legislation imposed by the United Kingdom (UK) on the BVI is not always best for the territory’s residents.
Fraser was speaking at a community meeting in his district last week, where the issue of the controversial Police Bill was raised by residents. The Bill was withdrawn by lawmakers after sections of the proposed revised Act again attracted major concerns and public backlash.

Fraser commented that the United Kingdom had previously imposed “imperial legislation“ on the territory when members of the House of Assembly (HOA) declined to move forward with a bill on capital punishment, that was brought by a previous governor.

“We just refused to lift the death penalty but the British government said, well, it’s out of step with the norm, for the time that we are living in, and they will do it. And they did it,” Fraser explained.

However, the Third District Representative pointed out at the same time that the UK, through the governor, cannot simply pass any law it wishes without the agreement of the HOA. He said the governor can only pass a law on his own in the BVI – as per section 81 of the constitution, which speaks to the governor’s reserved powers – in instances where there are foreign implications.

According to Fraser, as far as imperial legislation is concerned, there are some laws that even he, as a legislator, would not touch. He cited the example of the Register of Interests (ROI) Act which was brought to the HOA by the governor in the wake of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report. That Bill was withdrawn and revised by lawmakers before being passed after it saw pushback from civil servants.

Fraser implored fellow lawmakers that they too should not touch certain legislation brought by the UK. “If the British government wants [the laws], let them put them on us,” he stated.

You cannot know what’s best for me

In the meantime, Fraser argued that he considered himself a member of the community and just the same as ordinary residents who would ultimately be affected by any laws imposed by the UK.

“No matter how you talk to the British government about the people of the territory and what’s best for them, they always think that they know better — what’s best for you,” Fraser argued.

The Opposition Leader told residents that he explained this to UK Overseas Territories Minister Lord Zac Goldsmith in correspondence he exchanged when Lord Goldsmith visited the territory recently.

“I know you [Lord Goldsmith] and everyone else will be telling us that … they only want to do what’s best for the people of the Virgin Islands,” Fraser said. “But I said to him, how can you know when we are the same people you’re talking about what’s best for? You cannot know what’s best for me.”

He continued: “If I say this is best for us, I can’t see somebody else coming from somewhere else telling me that something else is better for us.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

TIMES.VG
Close
0:00
0:00
Donald Trump arrested – Twitter goes wild with doctored pictures
NYPD is setting up barricades outside Manhattan Criminal Court ahead of Trump arrest.
Credit Suisse's Scandalous History Resulted in an Obvious Collapse - It's time for regulators who fail to do their job to be held accountable and serve as an example by being behind bars.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman tours potential migrant housing in Rwanda as asylum deal remains mired in legal challenges
Paris Rioting vs Macron anti democratic law
'Sexual Fantasy' Assignment At US School Outrages Parents
Credit Suisse to borrow $54 billion from Swiss central bank
Russian Hackers Preparing New Cyber Assault Against Ukraine
Jeremy Hunt insists his Budget will get young parents and over-50s back into work
If this was in Tehran, Moscow or Hong Kong
TRUMP: "Standing before you today, I am the only candidate who can make this promise: I will prevent World War III."
Mexican President Claims Mexico is Safer than the U.S.
A brief banking situation report
Lady bites police officer and gets instantly reaction
We are witnessing widespread bank fails and the president just gave a 5 min speech then walked off camera.
Donald Trump's asked by Tucker Carlson question on if the U.S. should support regime change in Russia?.
Silicon Valley Bank exec was Lehman Brothers CFO
In a potential last-ditch effort, HSBC is considering a rescue deal to save Silicon Valley Bank UK from insolvency
BBC Director General, Tim Davie, has apologized, but not resigned, yet, following the disruption of sports programmes over the weekend
Elon Musk Is Planning To Build A Town In Texas For His Employees
The Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse effect is spreading around the world, affecting startup companies across the globe
City officials in Berlin announced on Thursday that all swimmers at public pools will soon be allowed to swim topless
Fitness scam
Market Chaos as USDC Loses Peg to USD after $3.3 Billion Reserves Held by Silicon Valley Bank Closed.
Senator Tom Cotton: If the Mexican Government Won’t Stop Cartels from Killing Americans, Then U.S. Government Should
Banking regulators close SVB, the largest bank failure since the financial crisis
The unelected UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, an immigrant himself, defends new controversial crackdown on illegal migration
Man’s penis amputated by mistake after he’s wrongly diagnosed with a tumour
In a major snub to Downing Street's Silicon Valley dreams, UK chip giant Arm has dealt a serious blow to the government's economic strategy by opting for a US listing
It's the question on everyone's lips: could a four-day workweek be the future of employment?
Is Gold the Ultimate Safe Haven Asset in Times of Uncertainty?
Spain officials quit over trains that were too wide for tunnels...
Don Lemon, a CNN anchor, has provided a list of five areas that he believes the black community needs to address.
Hello. Here is our news digest from London.
Corruption and Influence Buying Uncovered in International Mainstream Media: Investigation Reveals Growing Disinformation Mercenaries
Givenchy Store in New York Robbed of $50,000 in Merchandise
European MP Clare Daly condemns US attack on Nord Stream
Former U.S. President Carter will spend his remaining time at home and receive hospice care instead of medication
Tucker Carlson called Trump a 'demonic force'
US Joins 15 NATO Nations in Largest Space Data Collection Initiative in History
White House: No ETs over the United States
U.S. Jet Shoots Down Flying Object Over Canada
Being a Tiktoker might be expensive…
SpaceX, the private space exploration company, made a significant breakthrough in their mission to reach space.
China's top tech firms, including Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu, NetEase, and JD.com, are developing their own versions of Open AI's AI-powered chatbot, ChatGPT
This shocking picture, showing how terrible is the results of the earthquake in Turkey
President Joe Biden delivered the 2023 State of the Union Address , in order to help Americans that missed the 2022 speech, do not have internet, and suffer from short memory.
The desk of King Carlos Alberto of Sardinia has many secret compartments
Today's news from Britain - 9th February 2023
The five largest oil companies in the West generated combined profits of nearly $200 billion in 2022, which has led to increased calls for governments to impose tougher windfall taxes
×