No. 8 TUESDAY First Session 16 th October, 2001 Seventh Parliament SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) ADVANCE COPY OFFICIAL REPORT CONTENTS Tuesday 16 th October, 2001 Prayers 6 Oath of Allegiance 6 Obituaries 6 Announcement by the Speaker 9 Congratulatory Remarks 9 Minutes 13 i Statement 13 Report from Select Committee 14 Questions 15 Motion 37 The Banana Restructuring Bill, 2001 (First, second and third readings) 37 Motions (Cotonou Partnership Agreement) 99 Adjournment 107 ii THE THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES OFFICIAL REPORT PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE EIGHT MEETING, FIRST 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. TWELFTH SITTING 16 th October, 2001 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY The Honourable House of Assembly met at 10:10 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 Minister of National Security, the Public Service and Airport Development Honourable Vincent Beache Member for South Windward 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 Health and the Environment Honourable Dr. Douglas Slater Member for South Leeward 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 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 Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Commerce and Trade. Honourable Louis Straker Member for Central Leeward Honourable Edwin Snagg Government Senator, Parliamentary Prime Minister’s Office, Special Responsibility for Labour and Grenadines Affairs 5 SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY TUESDAY 16 TH OCTOBER 2001 PRAYERS Mr. Speaker read the Prayers of the House. OATH OF ALLEGIANCE Honourable Senator St. Claire Leacock took the Oath of Allegiance. OBITUARIES DR. THE HONOURABLE RALPH GONSALVES : Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members I would like to place on record the profound sadness of this Honourable House. And I believe I speak for both sides of the House concerning the untimely passing of a former Member of the House of Assembly, Michael Hamlett. This is the first occasion Mr. Speaker, that this House is in regular session since the death of our beloved brother, comrade and former parliamentarian. Last month we had a meeting of the House but it was of a formal nature with His Excellency the Premier of the Republic of China, and we thought that it would have been inappropriate to have at that time obituaries even for a former distinguished member. I do not intend to be long today, Mr. Speaker since I spoke extensively at the funeral in a eulogy which has been published, and which perhaps at an appropriate time be made a document of the House. Perhaps we can so do or perhaps at a subsequent occasion. Michael Hamlett from a very young age had taken an interest in public life but this did not prevent him, whilst taking an interest in public life to be a sportsman, to be very much involved in culture and in music, and in other activities which the youths tend to excel at. I make that point Mr. Speaker because there is a tendency in some quarters to believe that politics is not for young people, that the life of the youth is supposed to be fun loving and politics is a serious business which can wait until later. Well Michael Hamlett indicated the falsity of that proposition, and I believe that it is generally acknowledged to be a false idea. He was in this House for a short period of time, and he was the spokesperson for the Unity Labour Party (then in Opposition) in the areas of tourism, youth, sports and 6 culture. And I think the Hansard is replete with magnificent speeches by Michael Hamlett. He contested the East Kingstown Constituency on three occasions. On two of those occasions against the Honourable Leader of the Opposition now, lost narrowly in 1988 by 27 votes I believe, and in the year 2001 by 40 votes. It must be remembered that he was then running against his sitting Prime Minister, and when you come within 40 votes of a sitting Prime Minister, you can chalk that up as a fantastic performance. Michael Hamlett has distinguished himself in business at the bank and in an executive position. He was a lively personality, full of laughter, but a wise and humble human being stuffed with wisdom beyond these years. I know that his mother and father have missed him dearly, and so do we. But like his parents and his family, we have come to accept the fact that the good Lord knows best, and there are certain things which we cannot quite comprehend why someone should be taken away from us in their youthful prime. Michael Hamlett lives in me, and I hope my own contribution henceforth would be a tribute to him. As it is, I hope that how I conduct myself will be a tribute to my father who died not too long before Michael Hamlett. And to Rosie Douglas whose birthday was yesterday. He is now 60 years old. They all live in me and I hope the ideals that prompted them all, and in this case, Michael Hamlett would be strengthened in my utterances and in my actions. May his soul rest in peace. HONOURABLE ARNHIM EUSTACE : Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, I too would like, on behalf of this side of the House to say a word or two concerning the passing of Michael Hamlett. Mr. Speaker I believe that probably more than anyone else in this House, I had an association with Michael Hamlett. This association stems not only from the realm of politics, but out of the realm of close family friendships dating back prior to his birth. In fact, his parents and my parents, former Senator Mrs. Margaret Cato, and other members of the family were indeed a very close-knit group. As early as I can remember Mr. Speaker, our families, particularly on August Monday, always picnicked together when I was just a tot, even before my colleague was born. And when he came on the scene he was a further addition to the list of persons who normally attended those family picnics. But I knew him for a very long time, and his parents also for a very long time. And indeed, although we had a few days notice of his illness, it is fair to say that we did not expect him to pass on, but such is the will of Almighty God. And he has gone Mr. Speaker, hopefully, to a better place. 7 Mr. Speaker, as is known, I contested Elections in East Kingstown against Michael on two occasions. And on both occasions he was a hard campaigner. He never gave up, always on the move and always trying to ensure that he emerged victorious. However, that was not to be. But Mr. Speaker, I want to refer to a statement by the Honourable Prime Minister with respect of the participation of youth in our politics. And I agree Mr. Speaker, that there are certain views which we have in our society and certain actions that we ourselves as politicians take sometimes which militate against young persons entering the political arena. And I hope Mr. Speaker, that our population recognises that persons like Michael Hamlett had played that role from a very young age and it would be good if many more of our young people could participate at the level at which he had participated. This is a very serious matter Mr. Speaker as we move into more and more difficult times we need to ensure that the young people in our nation, particularly those who are undergoing training of all types feel comfortable in participating in the political process. I want to say Mr. Speaker that I saw, and I felt the grief of Mr. And Mrs. Hamlett. They have lost their only son and their youngest child. And that is not an easy thing to do Mr. Speaker. It surely is not easy for parents to bury their youngest. But they have exhibited Mr. Speaker, that faith and trust in Almighty God, which is of absolute importance if one is to weather the storm – those storms of grief. And I am sure that over the next month while they will feel the pangs of grief.