No. 9 Monday Fifth Session 25th October, 2010 Eighth Parliament SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) ADVANCE COPY OFFICIAL REPORT CONTENTS Monday 25th October 2010 Prayers 5 Obituaries 5 Congratulatory Remarks 11 Confirmation of the Minutes 16 Statements by Ministers 16 Papers 21 Questions for Oral Answers 22 Orders of the Day 38 Motion 44 Suspension 48 1 THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES OFFICIAL REPORT PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE NINTH 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. FOURTEENTH SITTING 25TH OCTOBER 2010 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY The Honourable House of Assembly met at 10:20 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 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 Housing, Informal Human Settlements, Physical Planning Lands and Surveys Government Senator Honourable Saboto Caesar Honourable Julian Francis Government Senator Minister of State in the Ministry of National Mobilisation, Social Development, Gender Affairs, Non-Governmental Organisations Relations, Persons with Disabilities, Youth and Sports Honourable Cecil Mckie Parliamentary Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office Government Senator Honourable Michelle Fife 3 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 Rural Transformation, Information, Postal Service and Ecclesiastical Affairs Member for South Central Honourable Selmon Walters Windward Minister of Tourism Member for South Windward Honourable Glen Beache 4 ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY MONDAY 25TH OCTOBER, 2010 PRAYER HONOURABLE MR. SPEAKER: Let us pray. Honourable Hendrick Alexander read the prayers of the House of Assembly. HONOURABLE MR. SPEAKER: Pray be seated. OBITUARIES HONOURABLE MR. SPEAKER: Honourable Member for East St. George. HONOURABLE CLAYTON BURGIN: Thank you, very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just want to acknowledge the passing of one whom, I believe as the oldest living person at the time, Mrs. Beatrice Caine who died at the age of 106, just under two weeks ago. On behalf of myself and constituents of East St. George and the rest of this Parliament, I would like to acknowledge [A PAUSE] HONOURABLE MR. SPEAKER: Minister take your seat and let us just sort this out. HONOURABLE CLAYTON BURGIN: Yes, Mr. Speaker, I acknowledge the passing of the late Mrs. Beatrice Caine and want to express our deepest condolences to bereaved family and pray that her soul may rest in peace. Much obliged, Mr. Speaker. HONOURABLE MR. SPEAKER: Honourable Member for North Leeward. HONOURABLE DR. JERROL THOMPSON: I rise to bring condolences to the family of Fred Beache Donnelly Providence who passed last month. He was a true son of Troumaca; a favourite son. And he hails from a family that continues to make a significant mark on the development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He was as they say an early protégée of the Alfonso Dennie who was at the time principal of the West Wood Government School, and in those days it was rare when rural persons won a scholarship to go to the Boys’ Grammar School. But, he then embarked on a long history of public service in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He would later become the youngest Accountant General here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 1978 and later the Director of Audit from 1981, to 1998 a total of 17 years. He has spanned the careers of many like Michael Da Silva, Monty Maule, Reggie Thomas of the NIS and others. He had six girls, but was the father of many. And he not only made Troumaca proud, I think that in view of his achievements he certainly made St. Vincent and the Grenadines proud. 5 I also take the opportunity to extend my deepest condolence on the passing of Lucille Antoine of Chateaubelair another humble benevolent, strong, royal lady. She was the mother of ULP, I would say, in Sharpes, Chateaubelair, and she would be solely missed and I ask too that she rests in peace. HONOURABLE MR. SPEAKER: Honourable Member for West Kingstown. HONOURABLE RENE BAPTISTE: Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, I rise on this occasion to pay brief tribute to Miss Sylvia Wilson, on behalf of the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and particularly on behalf of the Carnival Development Corporation and Carnival Bands Association. Most people would remember her as a very lively individual always ready to give assistance anywhere. She was particularly affiliated with Edison Sheggie John and her last portrayal I think was as individual of the band when she won Individual of the Year with Moon Goddess from the presentation Legend of the Cou Cou Macka. In the United States where she spent her later years, she was always present at Café Omar to greet me on my arrival there when we were promoting the carnival in New York City. Ms. Wilson served as a Carnival Administrator in the late 1960’s and 1970’s and was the first Chairperson of the Carnival Queen Pageant Committee, the forerunner of the beauty shows committee, in 1973 when the Carnival Development Committee was established. Many persons paid tribute to her at Requiem Mass which was held in her memory and I wish to let her family and friends know that she would be deeply missed. Her contribution to the carnival culture of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has been indelibly marked the books of history when the CDC took the decision to name the Junior Band of the Year title in honour of Sylvia V. Wilson in the year 2005. May she rest in peace. HONOURABLE MR. SPEAKER: Honourable Member for Central Kingstown. HONOURABLE CONRAD SAYERS: Thank you, very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise to make expressions of condolences. First I want to associate myself with the sentiments of condolence expressed on behalf of Fred Providence and the late Sylvia Wilson. I know both of them having outstanding performance in St. Vincent Netball and so forth. Mr. Speaker, I really want to however focus on the sad lost of the late Derron Jack, son and only child of Tyrone and Johann Jack of Level Gardens. Mr. Speaker, this young man left St. Vincent three years ago, on a tennis scholarship to the Virginia State University. When I heard the news on the 5th of October, Mr. Speaker, it brought a tremendous shock and sadness to me. Few deaths hit me that hard, I sat on the platform at Paul’s Avenue and I took a few minutes to bring myself together. I saw him as a young man growing up, and I knew that he had a lot of promise. He was born on the 25th of August, 1987, he was given a tennis scholarship to study Civil Engineering, and was to graduate in December of this year. Derron, Mr. Speaker, has always been known to be a genuine young man. He gives, and gives, and gives. I tried my best to bring some consolation to the parents but I know it would take some time before they can get over this. I must say I am proud at the way they are handling it; even though pain is dwelling within their heart. The comfort of God is evident in their hearts. Derron was struck down by someone who could not show an apparent motive at this time, Mr. Speaker. But we know he had a lot of home and he had already started winning successes for his university, and we were hoping for him to get back here, to 6 do the same for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Fortunately, a tennis tournament was named in his honour and we are hoping that here in St. Vincent something similar would be done by those authorities within the sport. Mr. Speaker, it is with that depth of grief and concern that I wish the parents God’s best comfort and blessing at this time of their sadness and bereavement. I thank you. HONOURABLE MR. SPEAKER: The Honourable Leader of the Opposition, Member for East Kingstown. HONOURABLE ARNHIM EUSTACE: Mr. Speaker, I rise to express condolences in respect of three persons, Mr. Fred Providence, who like myself a public servant for many, many years, a civil servant. I must say I think I knew him for all of my life, but I was very impressed with him as a civil servant in this country and the contribution he made particularly in areas on the financial side of government business, both in his capacity as Accountant General and also as Director of Audit.