Freedom of information legislation, tougher gun penalties, and a regulated public assistance programme are in the works for the 2014 legislative session, Governor Boyd McCleary said during the Speech from the Throne at the opening of a new House of Assembly session Monday.
As usual, the order of the day was rearranged to have Mr. McCleary’s speech precede ministerial statements and the scheduled question-and-answer session. However, after the governor’s address, Premier Dr. Orlando Smith moved to have the House recess until Oct. 14. The vote passed.
After Mr. McCleary listed the 24 bills passed in the House since the National Democratic Party gained control of government in November 2011, he outlined the government’s list of nearly 50 new laws and amendments planned for this session. Most of them also had been promised in last year’s Speech from the Throne.
Among the items listed were an updated Hotel Aid Ordinance, environmental management legislation, legislation to regulate the planned National Health Insurance system, and an Arbitration Act to “enable this territory to develop as an international centre for arbitration.”
Mr. McCleary also listed two items that were scheduled to be introduced in the House Monday, but are expected to be introduced on Oct. 14 instead: Status of Children legislation and an updated Disaster Management Act.
“This is an ambitious programme, Madame Speaker,” Mr. McCleary said. “But all in all, my government fully recognises the importance of modernising legislation in key areas as a way of building a better Virgin Islands.”
See the October 10, 2013 edition for full coverage.
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