1 Prayers 5 Throne Speech 5 Dr. Hon. the Ralph Gonsalves 10
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No. 1 Tuesday Fifth Session 25th January, 2010 Eighth Parliament SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) ADVANCE COPY OFFICIAL REPORT CONTENTS Monday 25th January 2010 Prayers 5 Throne Speech 5 Dr. Hon. the Ralph Gonsalves 10 Suspension 64 1 THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES OFFICIAL REPORT PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE FIRST 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. SECOND SITTING 25th JANUARY 2010 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY The Honourable House of Assembly met at 4:00 p.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 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 Minister of Education Member for Marriaqua Honourable Girlyn Miguel 2 Minister of Rural Transformation, Information, Member for South Central Postal Service and Ecclesiastical Affairs Windward Honourable Selmon Walters 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 Minister of Tourism, Member for South Windward Honourable Glen Beache Honourable Conrad Sayers Member for Central Kingstown Minister of Housing, Informal Human Settlements, Physical Planning Lands and Surveys Government Senator Honourable Saboto Caesar Honourable Julian Francis Government Senator Honourable Rochelle Forde Government Senator/ Deputy Speaker 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 3 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 Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Commerce and Trade Member for Central Leeward Honourable Louis Straker 4 ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY th MONDAY 25 DECEMBER 2010 PRAYERS HONOURABLE SPEAKER: Honourable Hendrick Alexander, read the prayers of the House. DR. THE HONOURABLE RALPH GONSALVES: Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, I beg to move under Standing Order 12(5) that the proceedings of today’s sitting be exempted from the provisions of the Standing Order hours of sitting. HONOURABLE MICHAEL BROWNE: Mr. Speaker, I beg to second the motion. Question put and agreed to. House suspended at 4:02 p.m. to await the arrival of His Excellency, the Governor General and his party. House resumed at 4:12 p.m. THRONE SPEECH DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY SIR FREDERICK BALLANTYNE, GCMG, OBE GOVERNOR GENERAL AT THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE EIGHT PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY KINGSTOWN, ST. VINCENT HIS EXCELENCY GOVERNOR GENERAL: Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, it is with profound pleasure that I present the Speech from the Throne in this Fifth Session of the Eighth Parliament. 5 My Government must be commended for adhering to the principles of good governance while piloting this nation through very turbulent, testing, economic times during 2009. My Government has had to make many sacrifices both to initiate and to reconfigure policies while planning strategies to provide the nation with a relatively smooth passage through the rough terrain and challenges of the global financial crisis. I say this against the backdrop of what our regional and international neighbours have suffered as they confronted the virtual or imminent collapse of their economies. Mr. Speaker, the world is experiencing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Global credit flows have literally dried up; financial institutions are facing severe hardships; the world is now plunged into economic and financial recession. Despite the extraordinarily difficult times faced, my government was not distracted from the issues that mattered, and has remained resolute and focused. My government has provided much-needed ‘fiscal stimuli’ to ensure that the main arteries of the economy were not blocked. Mr. Speaker, while we reflect on the implications of the State of the world economy on our own nation, our thoughts and our prayers must also focus on our sister Caribbean nation, Haiti; after the catastrophic impact of the deadly earthquake of January 12th. Haiti’s plight is a reminder to all us of the fragility of life and human endeavours and also of how precious are the blessings that we too often take for granted. Mr. Speaker, for the first time in the history of this nation, a comprehensive Constitutional review took place. The process which allowed Vincentians to fashion a document which would firmly anchor and secure their democratic rights. This culminated in the Referendum of November 25, 2009. Needless to say, this age in which we live calls for active participation by all citizens in the developmental affairs of the State. The results of the Referendum on Constitutional Reform are now part of the past. My Government remains convinced, however, that our efforts will be vindicated by history. Mr. Speaker, as we move forward in 2010, the driving goal of my Government is to buttress the nation’s economy to deliver greater prosperity, security and opportunities for all Vincentians. Only a robust economy will guarantee financial security for families. My Government therefore strongly advocates the following: Strengthening external/foreign relations in promoting national interest, through collaboration with friendly Governments. Promoting a sustainable public sector investment programme as detailed in the 2010 Estimates of Expenditure which amounts to in excess of $300 million dollars. 6 Focusing on major capital projects, including the work on the Argyle International Airport, the Road Network, Learning Resource Centres, the Rehabilitation of Little Tokyo and the Clean-up of Kingstown, the Low-Income and No-Income Housing Programme, and a series of strategic interventions on behalf of the poor. Further strengthening infrastructural investment in education with the opening of the ultra modern public library and the construction of the West St. George Secondary School. Placing considerable focus on the infrastructural development of the Health Sector with the completion of the Medical Complex at Georgetown, the continued upgrading of polyclinics and a relocation study for a modern state of the art facility to replace the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. Stabilising the Financial system, including the banking and insurance sectors throughout the mechanism of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union. Demonstrating my government’s commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society as we continue to support the mental and physically challenged, with a focused programme to improve the lot of the disadvantaged and dispossessed. Continuing to deepen regionalism with the operationalising of a Treaty on the OECS Economic Union which is designed to establish the framework for a single financial, economic and trading space in the sub-region. Encouraging Private Sector Initiatives to consolidate the gains from the Tourism, Information Technology, Fishing, Agriculture and Construction industries, Entrepreneurship and Small Enterprise development. Further promoting greater investments in the Agricultural sector. Emphasising the marked reduction of incidents of criminal activities following on the heels of this trend in 2009. Particular attention will be paid to crime mitigation. In this, we will collaborate with other regional governments and related international partners. Implementing our legislative agenda to modernise further the legal and paralegal mechanisms, and Confronting global climate change and meeting our environmental responsibilities while taking up economic opportunities. Mr. Speaker, my Government is acutely aware of the measures just outlined, the enormity of the economic challenges and the need to further strengthen Government’s machinery to achieve greater 7 efficiency and effectiveness. In this regard, my Government will address with urgency critical areas which will alleviate the challenges envisaged. Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I will outline the bold initiatives which my Government will detail during the Debate on the Appropriation Bill for the 2010 fiscal year. My Government will continue with its foreign policy thrust by solidifying relations with existing allies, seeking membership on strategic committees and councils, expanding diplomatic relations with countries that share our vision, values; with whom we have common heritage and history and who do not and will not hesitate to support and promote our interests. We will achieve these goals