The House of Assembly has passed a motion to allow Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton to retain his seat even though a company he leads is renewing a $36,000-a-month contract to rent warehouse space to the government.
Skelton Properties Limited — of which Mr. Skelton is a director and CEO — plans to extend its 2020 deal to rent part of “Building #12” in Fish Bay, according to the motion, which did not disclose the square footage or other details.
Under the Constitution, HOA members need HOA permission to keep their seat while gaining financially from a business deal with the government.
The HOA routinely okays such deals, and Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said when introducing the motion on July 2 that he believed the need for transparency in the matter had been met.
“It is routine practice for us to have these resolutions in the House, because, of course, we have members of the House of Assembly who are businesspersons, and it’s a small community,” he said. “It is in keeping with the Constitution.”
‘Complete support’
The premier added that the original contract — which initially covered a period of two years in the first instance — was signed when Mr. Skelton was not an HOA member.
“He has done everything he is supposed to do,” Dr. Wheatley said. “He has brought the requisite information. I am in complete support of us doing that. This is so the government can renew the contract which existed before Ronnie Skelton was returned to the House of Assembly.”
Opposition member Mitch Turnbull (R-D2) also supported the motion.
“He doesn’t necessarily prefer to do business with the government, but that’s from the business side of it,” Mr. Turnbull said.
“The country and the government of the Virgin Islands needed the services that his business provided due to the space necessary.”
‘Integrity framework’
The premier added that the move is in line with improving governance.
“We just have to strengthen our integrity framework,” he said. “We are taking the steps to do that. I believe the Constitutional Review Commission as well found that there was no challenge with members contracting with government — just that appropriate measures need to be taken.”
He added that HOA members have been busy with Commission of Inquiry reforms but need to debate the Constitutional Review Commission’s report soon.