Editorial – March 29, 2019
Today was supposed to be Brexit Day which eventually was postponed, for reasons we tried to inform as per our front page story as ‘Brexit mess: How did we get here. But we also expose what was or is, also a mess with our Parliament (Legislative Assembly – LegAss).
It was surprising that after the big mouthed or rather loud mouthed questions regarding Brexit and Montserrat (OTs), there was none regarding Brexit on the very day the whole of Britain was marching and arguing pro-Brexit and anti-Brexit; to include those calling for 2nd Referendum.
The Premier, Donaldson Romeo did give a Statement where he dealt with the serious matters contained in the Imposition laws affecting the Overseas Territories Constitutions. The issues arose out of the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) report following their six-months plus old Inquiry.
The matter being looked at specifically, and which affects all or most of the OTs, is concerned with ‘beneficial ownership’ of companies.
However what we would highlight coming out of all the Brexit mess is the one fact that finally we note is getting some attention is that ‘people’ are highlighting people held a counter-demo coming together both leavers & remainers against far-right attempts to use the #BrexitDay crisis to whip up racism. Stand Up To Racism @AntiRacismDay.
Then there was also highlighted the fact, not spoken much of before, that the Brexit campaign was dishonestly conducted and at no time did the Brexit proponents, knowingly or otherwise, tell of the disasters that might lie ahead.
One general position held, “amazement at how many Brits don’t know about the astounding database of EU myths collected over 25 years: the myths that badly educated half of ‘the people’ of Britain about the EU (link: https://blogs.ec.europa.eu/ECintheUK/euromyths-a-z-index/) blogs.ec.europa.eu/ECintheUK/euro… #Brexit #BrexitDay
The general idea of now the facts and lies and false and misleading arguments have been expose: “Parliament votes 286-344, rejecting Theresa May’s Brexit deal for a *3rd time* Now that May has had 3 attempts at getting her deal through…we, the electorate, should be granted a #PeoplesVote now that the facts around Brexit have changed.
Popular Sadiq Khan @SadiqKhan had this to say, “Theresa May’s #Brexit deal was a bad deal for jobs, our economy and for communities in London. Her deal is now dead. The PM must now do the right thing – immediately revoke Article 50 and give the British public the final say on Brexit.” #BrexitDay – the general thought.
What of Montserrat’s Legislative Assembly mess? The business of the house for some time has been carried live, that aspect as is allowed for public consumption. But, today there are people whose interest has waned because of the ‘poor’ behaviour and discourses that occur at almost every sitting. There seems never to be one that the people can take away anything, that is of such that warrants any further debate or follow up, other than wait for the next opportunity to see if anything would be different, only because there are those of us who should have an interest one way or the another.
This time, legislators became so emotional because they differed with the Speaker’s rulings and/or admonitions, to the point of reportedly using bad or foul language, and walking out of the Assembly. The kind of behaviour which as far as we understand can have serious outcomes for the members involved and their dishonourable behaviour.
Has it ever been like this, or are we either expecting too much or just plain making something out of nothing? At the risk of being wrong, we do believe that the answer to the question is that something has gone very wrong, and we expect to hear that corrective and most likely some punitive action should take place.
It is now inconsequential that we think this mess has been brewing, nor who has been responsible. That has gone on for too long. It is not even too distant to believe that the former left (one of his reasons) because he saw this coming.
