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No. 8 Friday Fifth Session 4th March, 2010 Eighth Parliament SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) ADVANCE COPY OFFICIAL REPORT CONTENTS Thursday 4th March 2010 Prayers 5 Election of Deputy Speaker 5 Affirmation of Allegiance 5 Oath/Affirmation of Allegiance 6 Obituaries 6 Congratulatory Remarks 10 Confirmation of Minutes 17 Announcements by the Speaker 18 Statements by Ministers 18 Paper 35 Questions for Oral Answers 35 Motion 41 Bills 59 Adjournment 105 1 THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES OFFICIAL REPORT PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE THIRD MEETING, FIFTH SESSION OF THE EIGHTH PARLIAMENT OF SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES CONSTITUTED AS SET OUT IN SCHEDULE 2 TO THE SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES ORDER, 1979. EIGHT SITTING 4th March 2010 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY The Honourable House of Assembly met at 10:15 a.m. in the Assembly Chamber, Court House, Kingstown. PRAYERS MR. SPEAKER IN THE CHAIR Honourable Hendrick Alexander Present MEMBERS OF CABINET Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, National Security, Grenadines and Legal Affairs Member for Central Windward Dr. the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves Attorney General Honourable Judith Jones-Morgan Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Commerce and Trade Member for Central Leeward Honourable Louis Straker Minister of National Mobilisation, Social Development, Gender Affairs, Non-Governmental Organisations, Local Government, Persons with Disabilities, Youths and Sports Member for West St. George Honourable Michael Browne 2 Minister of Education Member for Marriaqua Honourable Girlyn Miguel Minister of Rural Transformation, Information, Postal Service and Ecclesiastical Affairs Member for South Central Honourable Selmon Walters Windward Minister of Health and the Environment Member for South Leeward Dr. Douglas Slater Minister of Urban Development, Culture, Labour and Electoral Matters Member for West Kingstown Rene Baptiste Minister of Transport and Works Member for East St. George Honourable Clayton Burgin Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Member for North Windward Honourable Montgomery Daniel Minister of Telecommunications, Science Technology and Industry Member for North Leeward Honourable Dr. Jerrol Thompson Honourable Conrad Sayers Member for Central Kingstown Deputy Speaker Minister of State in the Ministry of National Mobilisation, Social Development, Gender Affairs, Non-Governmental Organisations, Local Government, Persons with Disabilities, Youths and Sports Honourable Cecil McKie Minister of Housing, Informal Human Settlements, Physical Planning Lands and Surveys Government Senator Honourable Saboto Caesar Honourable Julian Francis Government Senator 3 Parliamentary Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office Honourable Michelle Fife Government Senator OTHER MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE Honourable Arnhim Eustace Leader of the Opposition Member for East Kingstown Dr. the Honourable Godwin Friday Member for Northern Grenadines Terrance Ollivierre Member for Southern Grenadines Honourable Major St. Claire Leacock Opposition Senator Honourable Daniel Cummings Opposition Senator ABSENT Minister of Tourism, Member for South Windward Honourable Glen Beache 4 ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY THURSDAY 4TH MARCH 2010 PRAYERS Honourable Mr. Speaker, Mr. Hendrick Alexander, read the prayers of the House of Assembly. ELECTION OF DEPUTY SPEAKER DR. THE HONOURABLE RALPH GONSALVES: Mr. Speaker, I beg to nominate Honourable Conrad Sayers, Member for Central Kingstown as Deputy Speaker. HONOURABLE SIR LOUIS STRAKER: Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion. Question put and agreed to. HONOURABLE MR. SPEAKER: I therefore declare Honourable Conrad Sayers as being elected Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly. AFFIRMATION OF ALLEGIANCE HONOURABLE CONRAD SAYERS: I CONRAD SAYERS do solemnly, sincerely AFFIRM, AND DECLARE that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND, in the office of Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly. So help Me, God! HONOURABLE MR. SPEAKER: I therefore declare Honourable Conrad Sayers as being elected Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly. OATH/ AFFIRMATION OF ALLEGIANCE OF OFFICE HONOURABLE CECIL MCKIE: I CECIL MCKIE do solemnly and sincerely AFFIRM AND DECLARE that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND, Her Heirs and Successors according to the Law. So help Me, God! 5 OBITUARIES HONOURABLE MR. SPEAKER: Honourable Leader of the Opposition. HONOURABLE ARNHIM EUSTACE: Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer condolences to the family of the late ‘Scobie’ Taylor who passed away recently. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Taylor was well-known in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for his contribution to sports particularly football. All of us in this House are aware of his contribution in that regard and there have been many congratulations to him both on radio and in the print media since his passing. Mr. Speaker, at his funeral a few days ago, I was struck by one thing, and that is the love displayed by his family. It was a feature of his life that I was unaware of, but it was clear from the tribute paid by his children that he really was a wonderful family man. A person who held family meetings at least once a year in St. Vincent or outside of St. Vincent where everyone was required to attend and as his children described it, it was a time when he discussed with them, matters pertaining to the family and things about life generally, in one instance his children and encouragement to his wife and children. It really to my mind, Mr. Speaker, gave me a more complete picture of the man they call ‘Scobie’ Taylor. I wish simply to say to his family that we offer our sincerest condolences and we know that the God who guides us all will take care of him. Much obliged. HONOURABLE MR. SPEAKER: Honourable Senator Leacock. HONOURABLE ST. CLAIR LEACOCK: Thank you, very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too rise to extend condolences to Sylvester ‘Scobie’ Taylor, and to a young footballer Matika Ferdinand. Mr. Speaker, I have known of Sylvester ‘Scobie’ Taylor very many years but my closest contact with him came in the year 1979. Mr. Speaker, for the benefit of the Girl Guides in the audience, 1979 may sound like stone age, history, but in 1979, Mr. Speaker, if I may take the opportunity to bring it to their attention, is turning out to be one of the most historic years for this blessed land of ours. It is the year in which the Soufriere erupted, it is the year in which we gained independence, it is also the year in which the sporting circles we broke through in football, and became second, as the second most powerful nation of football in the Caribbean and believe it was also the same year of the Union Island uprising. Very, very momentous incidents indeed, but, Mr. Speaker, back to the ‘Scobie’ Taylor story, in 1979 he was president of the Football Association as it was called then, and I was a young member then of that association, which gave yeomen service to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. And through his dedication, managerial know-how and personal commitment which was said at the funeral, went beyond himself but included his own household. Even the children having to prepare sandwiches, juice and to get them to the venues; and the way he commanded the respect of the players and other administration and marshalled the forces; I have no doubt in my mind that it contributed in large measure to the success St. Vincent obtained in Suriname, which then was a powerhouse in football in those days under the presidency of one Mr. Camper Veen who was later assassinated in unfortunate circumstances. 6 Mr. Speaker, I eventually replaced ‘Scobie’ Taylor in 1981 as president of football. And others subsequently replaced me. The passion for football for ‘Scobie’ Taylor was as such, that he could never take himself away from the sport and while it may be controversial, it is true, that successive presidents always had ‘Scobie’ looking over their shoulders to make sure that the sports he loved so much was well served. In fact, at his own expense he would travel abroad to football missions and stay in nearby hotels to make sure that whoever had succeeded him was delivering administration in the way he would have liked. Sometimes it created a little uneasiness but that is only evidence of his passion. Mr. Speaker, as we have learnt in the tributes that were paid to him he also was involved in other sports, cricket, we were told at one time he travelled from St. Vincent to Barbados, and drove from airport to the grounds with his pads on, to St. Lucia, yes, with his pads on; and that he faced one ball and came out and advised the incoming batsman that the ball was swinging both ways. Mr. Speaker, in better times, I think an Honourable Member of this House shared a story with me of ‘Scobie’ Taylor who had fallen in love with a beautiful young lady [from] Park Hill and was determined that he had to sleep there under all circumstances, I believe on one occasion when he was making it back to Kingstown on foot he claimed that he saw some lights, I do not know if it was ‘Jack- o-Lantern or what, it was Colonaire, that person is giving away himself, Mr. Speaker, so I will end it there. And he doubled back to Park Hill, hoping he could spend the night with the love of his life, I gathered they accommodated him but not in the same room. And our good friend ‘Scobie’ never tried that stunt again. That is on the lighter side. Mr. Speaker, ‘Scobie’ had sons that became very good footballers. His son Carlson Taylor I know played for Grammar School, outstanding centre forward as we called them in those days. And Gilbert, the other son was also an avid footballer; he played for the Dreads Team in Calliaqua.