Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698075164533.pdf (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ORDER PAPER No.8______________________________________________________________________23 _____________________________________________________________________________ THURSDAY 28TH JUNE, 2018 PRAYERS OBITUARIES CONGRATULATORY REMARKS CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF THE SITTINGS HELD ON THURSDAY 24th MAY 2018 ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SPEAKER STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS REPORTS FROM SELECT COMMITTEE PETITIONS 1.
The humble petition of the Trustees of the Wycliffe Bible Translators Caribbean (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) (Honourable Minister of Education) QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS 1.
Dr. the Honourable Godwin Friday, (Member for Northern Grenadines), to ask the Honourable Minister of Education, National Reconciliation, Ecclesiastical Affairs and Information: In the 2018 Estimates and Budget presented in Parliament, the government announced plans to re p air and improve the buildings of the Bequia Community High School which are desperately in need of repair.
Will the Minister please state what is the scope of the work to be done on the premises and when the work will start and when it will be completed.

1 No.8______________________________________________________________________24 2.
Dr. the Honourable Godwin Friday, (Member for Northern Grenadines), to ask the Honourable the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture: Given the importance of sports to our young people and the important uses playing fields are p ut to in our communities, will the Minister please state whether the government intends to equip playing fie lds in various communities around the country with lights and other amenities to make them more useful to the people who use them and to create better conditions for the development of sports and culture in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
3.

Dr. the Honourable Godwin Friday, (Member for Northern Grenadines), to ask the Honourable Ministe r of Tourism, Sports and Culture : The Buccament Bay Resort was abruptly closed over a year and a half ago.

Since the government has in various statements indicated that the resort would be reopened soon.

Will the Minister indicate: i) What is the status of plans to reopen the resort; ii) Who will be operating the resort; and iii) Whether it is being sold or leased to the new operators.

4.
4.

The Honourable Arnhim Eustace, (Member for East Kingstown) to ask the Honourable Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, Sustainable Development and Information Technology: i) Does the Government have any intention to establish a National Health Insurance Program to assist the public in financing their health insurance needs ; and If so when will such a program be established.

ii) 5.
ii) 5.

The Honourable Arnhim Eustace, (Member for East Kingstown) to ask the Honourable Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, Sustainable Development and Information Technology: i) ii) Is the Government contemplating the establishment of integrity legislation as in the case o f so many other countries to monitor the assets and liabilities of members of parliament; and If in the affirmative when can such legislation be expected .

6.
6.

The Honourable Arnhim Eustace, (Member for East Kingstown) to ask the Honourable Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, Sustainable Development and Information Technology: The Government of SVG has committed itself to reduce St Vincent and the Grenadines debt to GDP ratio to the internationally accepted level of 60% of GDP.

What additional steps are being contemplated to achieve this goal.

7.
7.

The Honourable Terrance Ollivierre, (Member for Southern Grenadines) to ask the Prime Ministe r and Minister of National Security, Legal Affairs, Grenadines Affairs and Energy : The people of the Southern Grenadines are deeply concerned about the state of the water catchme nts in the various islands, namely: a.

The catchment at Happy Hill, Canouan 2 No.8______________________________________________________________________25 b.
The catchment at Mayreau c. The catchment at Donaldson, Union Island The fences at these catchment areas are broken down and animals are allowed to enter leading to the contamination of the water.

This in turn poses serious health risks which should be of immediate priority.

Will the Minister i) Give the assurance that this matter be corrected expeditiously; and ii) State what measures will be put in place to ensure proper maintenance and security of these catchment areas.

8.
8.

The Honourable Terrance Ollivierre, (Member for Southern Grenadines) to ask the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture: The Sargassum seaweed is adversely affecting numerous beaches and bays around St. Vincent and the Grenadines, especially Clifton Harbour, Union Island, Spring and industry beaches and Paget Farm Bequia and other popular beaches.
It is posing a serious threat to our tourism and to public health because of the pile up at the beaches and habour and the stench which emanates from the rotting seaweed.

Can the Minister please state what measures if any have been put in place to deal with the removal and disposal of the seaweed and to deal with the problem for the future .

9.
9.

The Honourable Major St. Clair Leacock, (Member for Central Kingstown) to ask the Honourable Minister of Agriculture Forestry, Fisheries and Rural Transformation : To date the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has not formally invited the opposition NDP into any consultation on the proposed legitimization of the medicinal and religious use of marijuana.

(The Marijuana Industry).

Be that as it may will the Honourable Minister now share with the Honourable House I.
Any advice he has received to date from the following stakeholders: a.

The medical Association b.

The Pharmacists c. The Air and Sea Carriers d. The targeted ports of entry in the USA, Canada, UK and Caribbean e. The Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force f. Any other II.

The preliminary estimated size of the industry; and III.

The actions taken to date to secure a stake in the industry by the traditional growers (Ganja Farmers) 10.
The Honourable Major St. Clair Leacock, (Member for Central Kingstown) to ask the Honourable Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, Sustainable Development and Information Technology: The Government of St. Vincent & the Grenadines position on the “elsewhere” and otherwise referred “we nah sell passports” policy with reference to Citizen by Investment (CBI) Program is fully understo o d even though not appreciated.
This is against the background of consistent earnings in or around half a billion EC dollars per annum in the sister islands of Grenada, St. Lucia, Dominica and St. Kitts and Nevis.

3 No.8______________________________________________________________________26 To the extent we have in principle rejected this large revenue stream, please explain the justificatio n o f the following budgeted schedule of local and external loans over the last ten (10) years.
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 121m 144m 86m 104m 112m 169m 177m 178m 158m 148m All of which could have been financed from this new established sustainable source of income without being a burden on our taxpayers.

11.

The Honourable Major St. Clair Leacock, (Member for Central Kingstown) to ask the Honourable Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, Sustainable Development and Information Technology: In 2006 we earned 306 million dollars from Tourism.
The figure vacillated and dipped to 268 millio n dollars by 2016.

To date in 2018 we have not gotten back to 2006 earnings.

This represents a net loss of or around 40 million in circulation in the domestic economy.
In dollar terms how does the tourism decline compare to that in agriculture ; i) ii) What is the relative percentage decline in employment that we can attribute to this fall off and what categories of work are most affected; iii) How has this affected our local hoteliers; and iv) What is the forecast for getting back to our 2006 figures.

12.
12.

The Honourable Daniel Cummings, (Member for West Kingstown) to ask the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of National Security, Legal Affairs, Grenadines Affairs and Energy : The proposed port to be located in the Rose Place part of Kingstown has been approved by government for quite some time.

I have requested a copy of the report done by CDB on this project.

You Honourable minister promised in parliament that I will receive a briefing from your staff but that I cannot see the full report.
To date that has not happened.

Some of the residents on Rose Place have been approached by individuals from the project, making offers in lieu of their re mo val from the site.

Would the Honourable Prime Minister please state: i) Would the project proposal be made available to me as Parliamentary Representative for the area; ii) What is proposed to be offered to the people who live on the beach if they are to be moved; and iii) Would there be any alternative housing for those displaced if any.

13.
13.

The Honourable Daniel Cummings, (Member West Kingstown) to ask the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of National Security, Legal Affairs, Grenadines Affairs and Energy : In light of the proposed port development in Kingstown, the fisher folk in Rose Place would be adversely affected.

Since the devastation caused by heavy swells and flooding several years ag o, most of them are still to be compensated.
4 No.8______________________________________________________________________27 Would the Honourable Prime Minister please state what assistance is being considere d fo r the se people in lieu of their loss of accustomed livelihood.

Further how soon can they be given this assistance in order to prepare them for the negative changes.

14.
14.

The Honourable Daniel Cummings, (Member for West Kingstown) to ask the Honourable Minister of Education, National Reconciliation, Ecclesiastical Affairs and Information: For the “Nth” time I am asking for the relief to the students and teachers of the Kingstown Government School.

The portion of the school at the corner of Russell’s cinemas is blocked out b y three small abandoned buildings.

This prevents the entry of sunlight and fresh air.


The yard thoug h small is reduced during the rainy season by flooding due to inadequate drainage and lack of landscaping.

Would the Hon Minister please state if his ministry intends to address this long overdue relief and if so when.

15.
15.

The Honourable Roland Matthews, (Member for North Leeward) to ask the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Rural Transformation: In light of the fact that the Banana Adjustment Measures (BAM) program is coming to an official end soon.
Will the Minister please state: What is the situation regarding the following initiatives that were original identified for funding: i) The state of the art Abattoir ii) The Greenhouse Park iii) The 3 refurbished and upgraded pack houses and iv) The expanded irrigation unit v) The Marketing Information Desk / Unit that was to be established.

16.
16.

The Honourable Roland Matthews, (Member for North Leeward) to ask the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Rural Transformation: Given the socio-economic importance of the Arrowroot Industry in the present and future development of SVG, especially with regards to Food Security, Health, Rural Employment, and Foreign Exchange Earnings and given the repetitive farmers and workers payment problems: i.
Are there any considerations by the government to privatize the Industry in such a manne r that all stakeholders have a just share; and If yes will the Minister please give an update on the status of such considerations.

ii.

17.
ii.

17.

The Honourable Roland Matthews, (Member for North Leeward) to ask the Honourable Minister Transport and Works, Urban Development and Local Government: The government recently announced that very soon two privately owned companies will b e gin sand mining at two locations (Larakai and Wallibou) on the leeward coast.
Will the Minister please state: ii) Names of these companies; 5 No.8______________________________________________________________________28 iii) How soon will the companies begin mining; and iv) Is there a copy of the environmental impact study available for public scrutiny.

18.
18.

The Honourable Nigel Stephenson, (Member for South Leeward) to ask the Honourable Minister o f Transport and Works, Urban Development and Local Government: During the rehabilitation of the South Leeward highway several bypass roads were used to facilitate the flow of traffic.

It was proclaimed that those roads would be repaired after the completion of the highway.
Will the Honourable Minister please state when Spring Road in Top Questelles and the portion of road between St. Vincent Brewery and the junction at Merlene Hill will be repaired .
19The Honourable Nigel Stephenson, (Member for South Leeward) to ask the Honourable Ministe r of Transport and Works, Urban Development and Local Government: We are now in the hurricane season; a period where many rivers and streams are expected to overflow their banks which may result in catastrophic flooding in low lying areas.

Will the Honourable Minister please state definitively when river defenses will be constructed in the Buccament and Campden Park rivers.

19.
The Honourable Marcia Barnwell, (Opposition Senator) to ask the Honourable Minister of National Mobilisation, Social Development, Gender, Youth Family and persons with Disabilities: The Concluding Observation on the combined 4th to 8th periodic reports on St Vincent and the Grenadines conducted by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women urge the State to: “widen the definition of rape to include other forms of penetration or establish new offences to cover such conduct and consider using the Caricom sexual offences.” The 2015 Country Gender Assessment Report conducted by the Caribbean Development Bank in its assessment of the legal and institutional framework for gender equality recommended that: “Much legislation progress has been made to advance women’s rights… the legislative frame wo rk needs to be strengthened in targeted ways to address deficiencies which remain.” Recently, a man pleaded guilty to indecency with a child under the age of 14.
This offence carries a maximum sentence of imprisonment of one year.

The Sexual Offences section of the Criminal code was amended about 26 years ago.

In light of the recommendations and the ongoing public outcry about the rape and sexual offences on what basis has the government failed to reform the sexual offences laws.

20.
20.

The Honourable Marcia Barnwell, (Opposition Senator) to ask the Honourable Minister of National Mobilisation, Social Development, Gender, Youth Family and persons with Disabilities: If the government is one that seriously focuses on the protection and wellbeing of the most vulnerable Vincentians; why has the government failed or refused to provide legal aid to women who seek protection order in the family court and children who come into conflict with the law.
6 No.8______________________________________________________________________29 21.

The Honourable Kay Bacchus Baptiste, (Opposition Senator) to ask the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of National Security, Legal Affairs, Grenadines Affairs and Energy: What is the status of The Freedom of Information Act and when will it be truly operational.

ORDERS OF THE DAY (Government Orders are marked thus*) 1.

* 2.

* 3.

* Mustique Company Limited (Agreement amendment) Bill, 2018 (Hon.
Prime Minister/Minister of Grenadines Affairs) Copyright (Amendment) Act, 2018 (Hon.

Prime Minister/Minister of Legal Affairs) Child Justice Bill, 2018 (Honourable Frederick Stephenson/Minister of Social Development) 1st Reading 1st Reading 1st Reading 4.

Vincy Table Tennis Foundation Incorporation Bill 2018 Select Committee (Honourable Speaker) 5.

The Light House Ministries Inc Incorporation Bill, 2018 (Honourable Mr. Speaker) Select Committee 6.
The Harvest Bible Chapel Georgetown Incorporation Bill, 201 Select Committee (Honourable Mr. Speaker) 7.

The Association of Evangelical Churches of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Incorporation Bill, 2018 Select Committee (Honourable Mr. Speaker) 8.

The First Born Church Incorporation Bill, 2018 (Honourable Mr. Speaker) Select Committee ADJOURNMENT 7