No. 3 TUESDAY Second Session 19 th February 2002 Seventh Parliament SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) ADVANCE COPY OFFICIAL REPORT CONTENTS th Tuesday 19 February, 2002 Prayers 6 Announcement by the Speaker 6 Obituaries 6 Congratulatory Remarks 8 Apologies 12 Announcement by the Prime Minister 12 Minutes 12 Statements 12 Reports from Select Committee 23 1 Petitions 24 Papers 24 Questions 25 Motion 47 Private Members Motion 48 The Trade (Bottle Deposit Levy) (Amendment) Bill, 2002 (First, second and third readings) 66 The Public Sector Investment Loan Bill, 2002 (First, second and third readings) 69 The General Local Loan Bill, 2002 (First, second and third readings) 73 Living Water Ministries International (SVG) Incorporation Bill, 2002 (First reading) 73 The Wells of Living Water Church (SVG) Incorporation Bill, 2002 (First reading) 74 Apostolic Deliverance Church (SVG) Incorporation Bill, 2002 (First reading) 74 Bethany Baptist Church (SVG) Incorporation Bill, 2002 (First reading) 74 Halibethian Church of the Epiphany (SVG) Incorporation Bill, 2002 (First reading) 74 National Parks Bill, 2002 (Second reading) 74 National Lotteries Authority Bill, 2002 (Second reading) 82 Adjournment 84 2 THE THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES OFFICIAL REPORT PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE THIRD MEETING, SECOND SESSION OF THE SEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES CONSTITUTED AS SET OUT IN SCHEDULE 2 TO THE SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES ORDER, 1979. TENTH SITTING 19 th February 2002 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, Planning, Economic Development, Labour, Information, Grenadines and Legal Affairs. Dr. The Honourable Ralph Gonsalves Member for North Central Windward Attorney General Honourable Judith Jones-Morgan Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Commerce and Trade. Honourable Louis Straker Member for Central Leeward 3 Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Honourable Michael Browne Member for West St. George Minister of Social Development, Co-operatives, The Family, Gender and Ecclesiastical Affairs Honourable Girlyn Miguel Member for Marriaqua Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries Honourable Selmon Walters Member for South Central Windward Minister of Telecommunications, Science Technology and Industry Honourable Dr. Jerrol Thompson Member for North Leeward Minister of Tourism and Culture Honourable Rene Baptist Member for West Kingstown Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports Honourable Clayton Burgin Member for East St. George Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries Honourable Montgomery Daniel Member for North Windward Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Commerce and Trade Honourable Conrad Sayers Member for Central Kingstown Minister of Transport, Works and Housing Honourable Julian Francis Government Senator Honourable Edwin Snagg Government Senator, Parliamentary Prime Minister’s Office, Special Responsibility for Labour and Grenadines Affairs 4 OTHER MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE Honourable Arnhim Eustace Member for East Kingstown/ Leader of the Opposition Dr. the Honourable Godwin Friday Member for Northern Grenadines Honourable Terrance Ollivierre Member for Southern Grenadines Honourable Juliet George Government Senator Honourable Andrea Young Government Senator/Deputy Speaker Honourable Gerard Shallow Opposition Senator Honourable Major St. Claire Leacock Opposition Senator ABSENT Minister of National Security, the Public Service and Airport Development Honourable Vincent Beache Member for South Windward Minister of Health and the Environment Honourable Dr. Douglas Slater Member for South Leeward 5 SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY TUESDAY 19 TH FEBRUARY, 2002 PRAYERS The Hon. Speaker Hendrick Alexander read the Prayers of the House. HONOURABLE MR. SPEAKER : Before we take the Obituaries I would want Honourable Members to extend a welcome to students from the Petit Bordel Secondary School who are here with us this morning observing the proceedings of Parliament. We want you to know that you are welcome. Thank you. OBITUARIES DR. THE HONOURABLE RALPH GONSALVES : Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, I would like to join you with the welcome of the students of the Petit Bordel Secondary School. We are always very, very pleased to have young people come to the House. We are also happy to have within the precincts of the House, I believe that an attempt is being made by the Minister of Works to see if some additional chairs can be secured for the students from the North Union Secondary School and the Girls’ High School. I understand that the students from the North Union Secondary School, the staff and the students are involved in an exercise relating to the prevention and the fight against HIV/AIDS and when we came in this morning Mr. Speaker, they pinned these red ribbons on us and we are very, very grateful to be involved in this symbolic fight against HIV/AIDS and I want to commend very much the teachers and the students, the parents at the North Union Secondary School for being involved in this particular exercise [applause]. It is unfortunate that the Opposition Members have seen it fit not to accept the ribbon and I have.., because the colour is red [applause] Mr. Speaker, this is what I mean, partisanship has reached such a stage among some that they do not recognize that this colour is an international colour for the fight against AIDS. It is not a National colour. Presumably, those who do not like the colour red would cease eating red meat, do not wear red dresses, do not associate themselves with the colour red in any simple way that they will seek to change their blood from red to green or blue or yellow. It is politics taken to its absurdity; it is the absurdity of politics. And just as I commend those who have been involved in the exercise of pinning these ribbons and being associated with the symbolism of today’s activity it is unfortunate that there are persons who would not want to wear it because the colour of the ribbon is red. I want to say that there was a particular activity in which I was involved not too long ago where I was given a something which was yellow or gold. I didn’t think that it was an 6 N.D.P because I have items in my wardrobe which are green and gold and blue and it’s really we are going to ridiculous with this nonsense. Anyway the public will make their own judgments. We have to go beyond the narrowness of tribe and look to the larger issues of nation and international community. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, I thank you very much for permitting me to make the preliminary remarks relating to the students and the activity and I want under the rubric obituaries briefly to pay tribute to Her Royal Highness, to the Princess Margaret who died recently. As we know Her Royal Highness was the sister of Her Majesty, the Queen who is the Head of State of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. And it is quite proper that we pay a tribute to her sister. His Excellency the Governor General had hitherto transmitted on the behalf of the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on behalf of himself the condolences to Her Majesty and I also on behalf of the Government and people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines had done likewise. And Mr. Speaker that we also were among the first to sign the book of condolences which is still available at the British High Commission, His Excellency signed first, I signed second and the other Members of the Cabinet. Mr. Speaker, Her Royal Highness has been very much association with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and more particularly, Mustique. Whether or not one supports the Monarchial System of Government as we do have in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines or whether one is a republican does not mean that in circumstances like these where someone who is the sister of sovereign that we ought to pay tribute here in this House and to extend to Her Royal Highnesses immediate family, her children, to Her Majesty herself, the Queen’s mother who is the mother of Princess Margaret and to all her friends and all the other relatives. May she rest in peace and may light perpetual shine upon her. I’m obliged. HONOURABLE MR. SPEAKER : Honourable Leader of the Opposition. HONOURABLE ARNHIM EUSTACE : Mr. Speaker, I too join with the Honourable Prime Minister in welcoming the three schools, the young people from those schools and their teachers who are present in this Honourable House today to hear the day’s proceedings. I wish to say however, that as Leader of the Opposition and as President of the New Democratic Party, we will determine for ourselves what is absurd and what is not absurd and we will decide when we wear, what we wear at any time [applause]. HONOURABLE MR. SPEAKER : I would ask members of the gallery please to desist from participating in the proceedings of the House. You will sit, you listen and you would do so quietly for me please. Okay, thank you. HONOURABLE ARNHIM EUSTACE : Mr. Speaker, I wish also to join in the tribute to Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret who passed away Friday before last. As indicated by the Prime Minister, she is the sister of the Head of State for our country and in a sense she has been associated with Saint Vincent in a very direct way. Being very often present on the island of 7 Mustique. So I believe we seen her and felt her presence more than any other member of the Royal Family. I believe it is also true to say Mr.