The newly appointed Registrar of Interests has expressed her confidence that a good working relationship will be forged between her and representatives of the House of Assembly. The registrar, Victoreen Romney-Varlack was appointed on Monday February 18, the same day that the Register of Interests Act 2006 came into effect.

The appointment was made by Governor David Pearey who also read the proclamation written by Premier Ralph T. O’Neal to bring the Act into force.

Romney-Varlack noted that the House of Assembly is the law-making body of the land and that the representatives of the House must set the best example.

“Members are held in high esteem and are looked upon not only as the Representatives of the people but also as the “saviours” of the people,” she said in a prepared statement.

The registrar further stated that she is aware that the onus is upon her to not only exercise her integrity and professionalism, but to also safeguard the Office of the Registrar and all that is entrusted to her.

“I therefore crave God’s continued wisdom and guidance in all that I do. I promise to do my best at all times and to be held accountable for all my actions,” Romney-Varlack stated.

She thanked the Governor, the Deputy Governor, the Premier and Cabinet and for supporting her appointment.

In confirming the Registrar’s appointment, Governor Pearey said he is confident that she is the right person to full the post and she will do her job without showing fear or favour to any party.

He further stated that he is disappointed that the position was not filled earlier and since his appointment as Governor to the Virgin Islands , he made it his duty to find someone with the ability to do the job.

Meanwhile, the Registry will be temporarily located in the Offices of the Supervisor of Elections until a permanent location is found.

The Registrar of Interests Act makes provision for the declaration of Interests of Members of the House of Assembly, including the Speaker and the Attorney General, within 30 days of February 18, 2008, that is the day the act came into force. The declaration must include interests held on the date that the Act came into effect, and interests held by the Member’s spouse and their children under the age of 18 years. Those children may include legitimate children, adopted children, and other children of their family. Subsequently, on each anniversary thereafter, declarations are to be made. The Act also provides for additional declarations if any of change occur during the course of the year.

It is to be noted that under the Act, a Standing Select Committee of the House of Assembly is to be appointed. The Registrar will be the Clerk of the Committee. That Committee will be charged with the consideration of matters relating to the Register, including receiving reports from the Registrar and advising the House of Assembly on matters relating thereto.

In response to a question from this reporter, Registrar Romney-Varlack said she will be writing to members of the House to remind them of their obligation under the law to state their interests within the specified period.

According to Section 7 of the Register of Interest Act 2006 under “Report submitted to Legislative Council”, the section states that where a member:

(a)       fails to make a declaration within a period of three months from the date on which the duty to make that declaration accrued,

(b)       fails to comply with a notice given by the Registrar under section 5(4) and has not, within the period allowed for compliance with the notice, shown that he has reasonable grounds for not complying with it,

(c)       has failed to comply with a notice given by the Registrar under section 6(1) and has not, before the end of the period allowed for compliance with the notice, shown to the satisfaction of the Registrar that he has reasonable grounds for not complying with it, or

(d)       has made a statement which the Registrar is satisfied is false or misleading in a material particular,

The Member shall be in breach of the provisions of this Act, and the Registrar shall, within fourteen days of the knowledge of such breach, submit a report of such breach to the Committee, which shall meet to consider the report within twenty-one days of its submission.

Section 8 of the Act went on to state (1) After the receipt of a report from the Registrar and where the Committee, after hearing the Member and such witnesses as the Committee or the Member desires to call, and after due consideration of the matter, is satisfied that

(a)       the Member is in breach in accordance with section 7(a) and (c), the Committee may require the Member to remedy his failure by making the declaration or complying with the notice of the Registrar within such period not exceeding twenty-eight days as it may determine; or

(b)       the Member is in breach in accordance with sections 7(b) or (d), the Committee shall make a report to the Legislative Council which may be accompanied by a recommendation as to the type of action to be taken.

(2) The Legislative Council shall debate the report submitted by the Committee under subsection (1) at a special meeting to be held within fourteen days of the date of the report.

(3) Where the Legislative Council, after debating the report of the findings of the Committee is satisfied that the Member is in breach as described in section 7(b) or (d), the Legislative Council may impose on the Member a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or suspend the Member from sitting or voting in the Legislative Council for such period not exceeding two consecutive sittings of the Legislative Council as the Legislative Council may determine, or both.

(4) Where a Member fails to comply with a requirement under subsection (1)(a) within the period determined under that section by the Committee, the Committee shall prepare a report on that failure and present it to the Legislative Council.

(5) The Legislative Council shall debate a report submitted by the Committee under subsection (4) at a special meeting to be held within fourteen days of the date of the report.

(6) Where the Legislative Council, after debating the report of the Committee is satisfied that the Member has failed to comply with a requirement under subsection (1)(a) to remedy his earlier failure within the period determined by the Committee, the Legislative Council may impose on the Member a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, or suspend the Member from sitting or voting in the Legislative Council for such period not exceeding two consecutive meetings of the Legislative Council as the Legislative Council may determine, or both. 

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