Near the end of last Thursday’s House of Assembly sitting, Opposition Leader Andrew Fahie criticised government lawmakers for churning out legislation too swiftly without sufficiently reviewing each bill.

Over three days, legislators read, debated, reviewed and passed seven laws, ranging in topic from an environmental tax to coroner policy to criminal justice legislation amendments.

“I am asking that we limit the number of second and third readings so we can do these bills justice for the people of the territory,” Mr. Fahie (R-D1) said. “Because I’m not saying that I can’t keep up with the pace, but I know that … when we leave here the people just pick us off one by one and ask us about each and every single bill we pass here, and ask us in-depth, and not all of us can answer. That’s not the job.”

The opposition leader noted that most HOA members are not lawyers, and would need more time to adequately review each piece of legislation.

The seven laws passed last week are the following.

• The Environment Protection and Tourism Improvement Fund Act, 2017, which established a $10 tourist arrival levy intended to stockpile money for an environmental protection fund.

• The BVI Ports Authority (Amendment) Act, 2017, which modernised language throughout the original 1990 act, as well as adding the director of the BVI Tourist Board as an ex officio member of the BVIPA board.

• The Coroners Act, 2017, which modernises coroner policy that is 67 years old, according to Health and Social Development Minister Ronnie Skelton.

• The Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) (Amendment) Act, 2017, which eliminates a requirement for the government to designate a list of countries to which the VI can provide mutual legal assistance, instead allowing Cabinet to provide for the enforcement of any order made by a court in a foreign country or territory.

• The Proceeds of Criminal Conduct (Amendment) Act, 2017, which allows the Financial Investigation Agency to charge administrative penalties for offences committed under the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Code of Practice, 2008, and allows it to deposit those penalties into the agency’s asset sharing fund.

• The Drug Trafficking Offences (Amendment) Act, 2017, which amends the original 1992 legislation and also eliminates a requirement for government to designate a list of countries to which the VI can provide mutual legal assistance.

• The Virgin Islands Financial Investigation Agency (Amendment) Act, 2017, which modernises the legal relationship between the FIA and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force

These descriptions were based off of comments from lawmakers and drafts of the bills Gazetted on March 23. Yet-to-be publicised amendments could have altered some of them.

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