Persons listening to or, viewing the debates in the Anguilla House of Assembly, these days, may have observed
that there appears to be a spirit of cooperation, unity and respect across the aisle.
Except, perhaps, for body language on a few occasions, there are clearly not the outbursts of disrespect, disharmony that once characterised meetings of the House. There seems to be order and decorum from the Speaker’s Chair down to the Government and Opposition benches. After all, the Atlin Noraldo Harrigan Parliamentary Building is called the Honourable House.
At the outset of the new parliament, following the general elections, the Speaker, Mrs. Barbara Webster-Bourne, spoke about ensuring that there is order, respect and tolerance in the House, as part of enforcing the Rules of Procedure.
Premier Dr. Ellis Webster, Leader of Government Business, told The Anguillian newspaper that he was satisfied with the level of debate and conduct in the Assembly meetings.
Speaking to the newspaper, following the October 16 ceremonial handing over of the keys for the House to the Speaker by Governor Foy, Premier Webster stated:
“I am very satisfied with how the House performs. I think it is a sense of cooperation and collaboration. You don’t oppose for opposing sake – and I like that. I think that is what Anguilla should represent in this House. Being the conduit to the people, that is the type of cooperation that should exist as we deliberate. There will be sometimes that we don’t agree ideologically but we have to do it in a dignified manner. I feel that this is necessary. This is the people’s House and what we see here reflects on what Anguilla is.”
Premier Webster also spoke about other related matters affecting the public interest. “I would like to see that we have more digital communication; that whatever is going to be deliberated in the House goes out to the people ahead of time so that they are aware of it. I would like to see more public consultation before bills or policies come into the House. That is something we campaigned for and we are pushing for it. In term of the committee phases, I would like to see that we get some input from the people. Instead of just the members of the House being able to deliberate during the committee phase, between the second and third readings of the bill, I think that people should be allowed to voice any concerns that they may have.”
Asked about his Government’s plans to take a number of bills to the House, Premier Webster replied: “We are working on that legislative agenda. We had a retreat with the Attorney Generals Chambers to prioritise the list of bills. We certainly want to see a bill that deals with medical marijuana – that decriminalises marijuana in terms of certain amounts. We want to see a Child Justice Bill where we are not into the punishment of children for breaking the law but actually trying to rehabilitate them. That would also include that if children have a record for non-violent crimes that it can be expunged.”
