Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/5820/-1/140/
|
Speaker Encouraging Greater Debate In House
|
Speaker of the Anguilla House of Assembly, the Hon. David Carty, has emphasised the importance of using available opportunities to debate various issues of interest and concern to the people of the island.
|
|
Hon. David Carty
|
He was at the time speaking at the end of the sitting of the House on Thursday, March 27. His comments followed the debate and passage of a Motion by Minister of Finance, Victor Banks, to enable the Government to borrow EC$27 million to finance the island’s public sector infrastructure programme.
Mr. Carty stressed that in addition to discussions in the House of Assembly, it was important to discuss the issues facing the island at whatever other forum was available to do so. He also observed that “I think it is heartening that you members [of the House] have recognised the fact that this institution needs to meet more often and to debate the issues,” he stated.
The Speaker went on. “The debates would be far more productive, succinct and concise if members focus their discussions on the issues which the people are raising and which they want to have discussed in the House. If I provide latitude to a member who has strayed from a Motion, I am obliged to provide that same latitude in a manner of fairness to every member.
“In that case the motion or debate would tend to waffle off course, be less than concise and less than meaningful and certainly less than impactful as I hope it would be. I am urging members that when you come to the House, to observe the Order Paper carefully. You have an opportunity, and I, as Speaker, have the authority to exercise some serious latitude to allow you to bring a concise motion to the House on a particular issue that you may wish to ventilate.
“In doing also, I think it expands the reach of the House in its debate on the variety and, indeed, the plethora of issues that face the development of Anguilla at this point in time. There is so much for us to talk about that I don’t think that we have the time every week or every month to deal with. I urge members on behalf of the institution, and also with respect to the Rules of Procedure, to try to be a little more concise and targeted, do some home work and use the House in preparing your motions in advance to speak about things that are more specifically relevant or which are burning issues in your constituencies or among your people.”