NDP Urged to Restore HOA Questions
Opposition figures and callers are pressing NDP Leader Marlon Penn to push the government to reinstate oral question time in the House of Assembly, arguing the absence undermines transparency and public accountability. The call comes amid concerns about consumer protection, the suspension of the Trade Commission framework, and wider debates over constitutional reform and legislative scrutiny.
Opposition Leader Marlon Penn is being urged to step up pressure on the government to restore the oral question-and-answer segment in the House of Assembly, following public complaints that the absence of scheduled question time is leaving residents without a key mechanism for holding ministers to account.
A caller on the National Democratic Party’s weekly radio programme this week urged the party to “make more noise” about the removal of oral questions, saying: “This foolishness needs to stop [regarding] what this government is doing. You can’t have a country and we don't know what’s going on.” The caller also criticised the government’s handling of consumer protection and the suspension of the Trade Commission framework.
Second District Representative Melvin Turnbull, speaking on the same programme, said the NDP would continue to press for public opportunities to question the government in the House. “One of the things that we are indeed pushing for is to get to a position where we are indeed asking these questions and not being silenced,” Turnbull said, adding that oversight should not rest solely with a minister or a single department.
Penn has repeatedly raised governance and accountability concerns in recent media appearances. On the Talking Points radio programme earlier this month he acknowledged public frustration over political engagement and transparency, saying: “We don’t engage enough or we don’t seem to listen to the public’s view enough right now as it stands.” He emphasised that elected officials must be open to scrutiny: “The people need to have tools to hold us accountable.
And if you're in the political process, you should be willing to have yourself held accountable.” For BVI residents, oral questions in the House of Assembly are an established parliamentary device that allows members to ask ministers directly about policies, spending, and administrative decisions.
Restoring question time would provide an immediate, public mechanism for clarifying government actions and addressing constituents’ concerns in real time. Calls for stronger scrutiny have been amplified amid ongoing debates about constitutional reform recommendations and previous public concerns about transparency in the legislature.
The NDP says it plans to expand public engagement ahead of the next general election, including community meetings and further radio discussions across the territory, which it aims to use to press for greater parliamentary openness. It remains to be seen whether the government will reinstate oral question time or propose alternative accountability measures.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders say they will continue to advocate for clearer, more consistent opportunities for the public and elected members to question ministers directly.
Primary source: BVI News