Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698075212603.pdf (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ORDER PAPER ORDER PAPER ORDER PAPER ORDER PAPER _______________________________44447777 ____________________________________________________________________ No.No.No.No.11118888_____________________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _______________ __________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ _______________ _______________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ TUESDAY 29TH OCTOBER, 2013 PRAYERS PRAYERS PRAYERS PRAYERS OBITUARIES OBITUARIES OBITUARIES OBITUARIES CONGRATULATORY REMARKS CONGRATULATORY REMARKS CONGRATULATORY REMARKS CONGRATULATORY REMARKS CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF THE SITTINGS HELD ON CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF THE SITTINGS HELD ON CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF THE SITTINGS HELD ON CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF THE SITTINGS HELD ON AUGUST & 19191919THTHTHTH SSSSEPTEMBER 2013 15151515thththth AUGUST & EPTEMBER 2013 EPTEMBER 2013 EPTEMBER 2013 AUGUST & AUGUST & ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SPEAKER STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS FROM SELECT COMMITTEES REPORTS FROM SELECT COMMITTEES REPORTS FROM SELECT COMMITTEES FROM SELECT COMMITTEES REPORTS REPORTS PETITIONS PETITIONS PETITIONS PETITIONS PAPERS PAPERS PAPERS PAPERS 1.
House of Assembly Paper No.

5 of 2013 National Lotteries Authority Financial Statements for the year ended July 31st 2011 (Honourable Prime Minister/Minister of Finance) QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWERS 1.
The Honourable Arnhim Eustace, (Leader of the Opposition), to ask the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, National Security, Legal Affairs and Grenadines Affairs: Kindly give the fiscal outturn for the period July to September, 2013 as compared to the same period for2012.
1 _______________________________48 ________________________________________________48 _____________________________________ No.No.No.No.18181818____________________ _______________________________48 _______________________________48 _________________ _________________ ____________________ ____________________ 2.
The Honourable Arnhim Eustace, (Leader of the Opposition) to ask the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, National Security, Legal Affairs and Grenadines Affairs: Would the Honourable Prime Minister indicate the updated status of negotiations with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago with reference to that Government’s desire to reduce their contribution with respect to payments to BAICO investors by US $50 million.

3.
3.

The Honourable Arnhim Eustace, (Leader of the Opposition), to ask the Honourable Minister of Agriculture Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation and Industry.

Kindly give the status of the Banana Accompanying Measures project particularly in relation to the commencement of disbursement to banana farmers.

4.
Dr. the Honourable Godwin Friday, (Northern Grenadines), to ask the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, National Security, Legal Affairs and Grenadines Affairs: In his 2012 Budget Address, the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance noted that with the introduction of the market value assessment (MVA) for determining property tax some people’s property tax would increase significantly and, accordingly, transitional relief would be offered for individual’s property tax which increases by more than twenty-five percent by placing a cap on the applied rate.
Has this been done and if not what relief is available to individuals whose property taxes have gone up under the MVA system by more than twenty-five percent and in some cases by more than one hundred percent.

5.

Dr. the Honourable Godwin Friday, (Northern Grenadines), to ask the Honourable Minister of Transport and Works: The Paget Farm main road at Bluff Point continues to deteriorate and pose serious risks to the public.
Earlier in this Honourable House, the Minister promised to assess the situation to determine how to address the problems.

Will the Minister please state what progress if any has been made to fix the road at this location and other badly deteriorated areas along that main road.

6.

Dr. the Honourable Godwin Friday, (Northern Grenadines), to ask the Honourable Minister of Education: How have students of St. Vincent and mathematics examinations over the most recent six years (i.e.
2008 through 2013) and, in particular, indicate the following: the Grenadines performed in Advanced Level how many students wrote A-Level mathematics exams in each year; a. b. what is the pass rate in each year and; c. how many students received each of the grades awarded.

7.
7.

The Honourable Terrence Ollivierre, (Southern Grenadines), to ask the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, National Security, Legal Affairs and Grenadines Affairs: There was an incident recently in which two (2) persons were seriously injured while on their yacht which was anchored in our waters at Frigate Rock, Union Island.

Distress calls were sent out but were not answered by local coast guard nor police but by Grenadians.

a.
a.

Are there VHF radios or other surveillance equipment at strategic locations in the state to monitor distress calls from persons in difficulties in our waters.

b.

What mechanisms are put in place to guarantee a prompt response to such distress calls in times of difficulties.

8.
The Honourable Terrence Ollivierre, (Southern Grenadines), to ask the Honourable Minister Education: 2 _______________________________49 ____________________________________________________________________49 No.No.No.No.18181818_____________________________________ _______________________________49 _______________________________49 _____________________________________ _____________________________________ Within that past couple weeks, it was discovered that there are cracks and other structural damages to the Canouan Government School.
Has an engineer assessed the damage to the structure of the school.

a. b.

What are the findings.

c. When will repairs be done at the school for the safety of the teachers and students.

9.

The Honourable St. Clair Leacock, (Central Kingstown), to ask the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, National Security, Legal Affairs and Grenadines Affairs: a.

What was the average contribution of VINLEC’s consumers to its Sales Revenue in the b. c. years: 2000, 2001, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Is it correct to say that the amount of money contributed by each consumer to VINLEC on the basic cost not to talk of the surcharge has consistently increased over the last decade.

Is the Government prepared to grant a reduction of eight (8) cents from the present fifty (50) cents to all users of electricity of one hundred (100) units or less.

10.
10.

The Honourable St. Clair Leacock, (Central Kingstown), to ask the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, National Security, Legal Affairs and Grenadines Affairs: a.

Will the Honourable Prime Minister please provide the balance of trade update for this b. country for the last five (5) years: 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, and 2008.

How much is the decline in bananas contributing to the escalating worsening of our balance of trade.
c. What sectors of the economy are being targeted to reduce our balance of trade.

d. Which firm or firms if any have been identified for assistance in our export lead thrust.

11.
11.

The Honourable St. Clair Leacock, Member of Parliament for Central Kingstown, to ask the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, National Security, Legal Affairs and Grenadines Affairs: Since the Government’s policy on the use of concrete in road repairs was announced, even more roads have fallen into a state of disrepair.

a.
a.

Will the Government be prepared to either relax this policy or show some more flexibility to allow a cement mixer of concrete into the constituency of Central Kingstown or any other constituency for that matter to effect the fixing of innumerable pot holes.

If in the affirmative will you lend the able assistance of the traffic department on an agreed weekend to assist in this exercise.

b.

12.
b.

12.

The Honourable Daniel Cummings, (West Kingstown), to ask the Honourable Minister of Education: It has been quite a while (over sixteen months) since the Honourable Minister promised to have the problems in the yard of the Kingstown Government School fixed.

Indeed the offer from the Parliamentary Representative to work with the teachers and parents was soundly rejected.
Would the Honourable Minister please state the reason for the long delay and when would the work begin to enhance the learning environment and safe guard the health and safety of students and teachers.

13.
13.

The Honourable Daniel Cummings, (West Kingstown), to ask the Honourable Minister of Transport and Works, Urban Development and Local Government: Since the heavy rains in the North Windward part of St. Vincent in 2011, there has been a large boulder on the bridge in Gorse Mangrove along the Windward highway.

First painted yellow, it is now painted white and remains an extreme hazard to unsuspecting motorists.
3 _______________________________50 ____________________________________________________________________50 No.No.No.No.18181818_____________________________________ _______________________________50 _______________________________50 _____________________________________ _____________________________________ Would the Minister please explain why the stone has remained there so long, what has to be done to permit a free and safe flow of traffic and when it is expected to be removed.

14.
14.

The Honourable Daniel Cummings, Member of Parliament for West Kingstown, to ask the Honourable Minister of Transport and Works, Urban Development and Local Government: a.

Would the Honourable Minister give details of the plans to resolve the closure of the main b. c. road to the Mesopotamia Valley in the Belmont area?
In particular, would the Honourable Minister state what restorative mechanism would be employed, if that work would maintain the existing alignment of the road or if a straightening of the corner would be the option?

Further, would the Honourable Minister state what options were considered and what were their relative advantages and costs?

15.
15.

The Honourable Roland Matthews, Member of Parliament for North Leeward, to ask the Honourable Minister of Transport and Works, Urban Development and Local Government: The ‘German Gutter’ after years of eroding its bank is within 10 feet from the dwelling house of Mr. Raphael “Gailey” Cottle and other households in Troumaca.
The residents of this area are very concerned about their safety especially in the rainy season when erosion is most prevalent.Will the minister please state: a. b. c. d. If there are any plans to relocate the households that are within close proximity to this gutter.

How soon will this relocation begin.

If there are any short term measures being considered to stem the erosion of the gutter in the area where it poses the most danger.
How soon can residents of this area expect action from the ministry in dealing with this issue.

16.

The Honourable Roland Matthews, (North Leeward), to ask the Honourable Minister of Agriculture Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation and Industry.

Banana production levels appear to be way below the projected target for 2013.
Will the minister please state; a. b. c. d. The monthly exports by number of boxes shipped to the UK market for the year thus far; Approximately what is the revenue received from these shipments; The monthly exports by boxes shipped to the regional market for the year thus far and; The revenue from shipments to the regional market.

17.
17.

The Honourable Roland Matthews, (North Leeward), to ask the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture: After several months of inactivity, work has restarted on the Cumberland Playing Field which is now in its tenth year of construction.

Will the Minister please state: a.

When will this facility be ready for use by the general public.

b.

What is the total cost of this facility.

c. d. How much monies have been expended thus far on this facility.
Is there a firm or individual responsible for the construction of this facility and if there is, what is the name of that firm or individual.

18.
The Honourable Nigel Stephenson, (South Leeward), to ask the Honourable Minister of Transport and Works, Urban Development and Local Government: 4 _______________________________51 ____________________________________________________________________51 No.No.No.No.18181818_____________________________________ _______________________________51 _______________________________51 _____________________________________ _____________________________________ Given the fact that a signing ceremony was held to signal the start of work to rehabilitate the South Leeward Highway: Will the Honourable Minister please state whether there are properties along the route that may have to be acquired to facilitate the project and if yes whose properties are involved and at what cost.
19.

The Honourable Nigel Stephenson, (South Leeward), to ask the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture: Will the Honourable Minister please give an outline of the government's progress with respect to establishing: a.

The Indoor Sport Facility b.

The National Stadium 20.

The Honourable Nigel Stephenson, (South Leeward), to ask the Honourable Minister of Health and the Environment: Now that the Clare Valley clinic has been relocated to the property of the late Morris Slater: a.
Will the Honourable Minister please state the cost of housing the clinic at that facility to tax payers.

b.

When exactly is work expected to commence to rehabilitate the clinic.

21.
The Honourable Vynette Frederick, (Senator), to ask the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, National Security, Legal Affairs and Grenadines Affairs: Given the work being done by the Family Court to intervene in cases which require the removal of children from homes in conflict to placement in Foster Care, the challenges faced by Family Services to monitor those children while in foster care, and sometimes the complaint that the private sector refuses government vouchers issued by the Family Services Department for support to children including those in foster care, would the Minister please indicate the following: a. b. c. The number of children who are presently living in government assisted Foster Care; The value of the assistance being provided by Government for foster care givers; The mechanism used and the criteria to be satisfied for determining those who are accepted to function as foster care givers.
22.

The Honourable Vynette Frederick, (Senator), to ask the Honourable Minister of Health and the Environment: Since April of 2013, a number of GMR machines and the accompanying strips became available to the Ministry of Health and should have been distributed by now: a.

What has become of these GMR machines?

b.

How soon will they be distributed?

23.


Dr. the Honourable Linton A. Lewis, (Senator), to ask the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, National Security, Legal Affairs and Grenadines Affairs: Given the prevalence of reports about property crimes in St. Vincent and the Grenadines will the Minister please state; a.

How many reports were made of theft, robbery, burglary and praedial larceny for the years 2011, 2012 and the end of July 2013; b.
With respect to the said crimes how many persons were charged; c. d. How many of those charged were convicted; How many were acquitted and; 5 _______________________________52 ____________________________________________________________________52 No.No.No.No.18181818_____________________________________ _______________________________52 _______________________________52 _____________________________________ _____________________________________ e. How many of the said reports in each category are still under investigation.
24.

Dr. the Honourable Linton A. Lewis, (Senator), to ask the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, National Security, Legal Affairs and Grenadines Affairs: The Calliaqua Police Station is responsible for the second largest Police District which extends from Gomea in the west to Diamond in the east.

It has only one vehicle which is sometimes used by the Stubbs and Mesopotamia Police Stations.
Given the relatively large area to be patrolled and the frequency of criminal reports in that district will the Minister please State; a.

Whether there are any plans to acquire more vehicles for use by the police at the Calliaqua Police Station and if so; b.

When will they be acquired; c. Whether there are any plans to increase the number of police Stations in that Police District and if so; d. When and where will construction commence.

25.
25.

Dr. the Honourable Linton A. Lewis, (Senator), to ask the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, National Security, Legal Affairs and Grenadines Afffairs: For the period January to August, 2013 how many international trusts, international banks, international business companies, international insurances and mutual funds were newly registered.

RDERS OF THE DAY OOOORDERS OF THE DAY RDERS OF THE DAY RDERS OF THE DAY (Government Orders are marked thus*) BILLS BILLS BILLS BILLS 1*.
Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2013 (Honourable Prime Minister/Minister of Finance) 2*.

Witness (Special Measures) Bill, 2013 (Honourable Prime Minister/Minister of Finance) 3*.

National Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2013 (Honourable Prime Minister/Minister of Finance) 4*.

Proceeds of Crime Bill, 2013 (Honourable Prime Minister/Minister of Finance) 5*.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority (Amendment) Bill 2013 (Honourable Minister Tourism) 6*.
Immigration Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2013 (Honourable Prime Minister/Minister of Finance) 7*.

Lennox John Pension (Declaration) Bill 2013 (Honourable Prime Minister/Minister of Finance) 8*.

Elaine Ollivierre Pension (Declaration) Bill 2013 (Honourable Prime Minister/Minister of Finance) 9*.

Cools Vanloo Pension (Declaration) Bill 2013 (Honourable Prime Minister/Minister of Finance) 10*.
Joy Cato Pension (Declaration) Bill 2013 (Honourable Prime Minister/Minister of Finance) 6 1st Reading 1st Reading 1st Reading 1st Reading 1st Reading 1st Reading 1st Reading 1st Reading 1st Reading 1st Reading _______________________________53 __________________________________________________________53 _____________________________________ No.No.No.No.18181818__________ _______________________________53 _______________________________53 ___________________________ ___________________________ __________ __________ 11*.
Rudol Sutherland Pension (Declaration) Bill 2013 (Honourable Prime Minister/Minister of Finance) 12*.

Ensley Williams Pension (Declaration) Bill 2013 (Honourable Prime Minister/Minister of Finance) 13*.
Peter Ballantyne Pension Bill 2013 (Honourable Prime Minister/Minister of Finance) 1st Reading 1st Reading 1st Reading RESOLUTION RESOLUTION RESOLUTION RESOLUTION The Honourable Prime Minister/ Minister of Finance to move the following motion: WHEREAS on the 4th day of December 2012 this Honourable House passed a Resolution to authorize the Minister of Finance to borrow by means of fluctuating overdraft or otherwise from CIBC First Caribbean International Bank or the RBTT Bank Caribbean Limited or the Bank of Nova Scotia, the Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines Limited, money to an amount not exceeding in the aggregate $35 million (thirty-five million dollars) during the period 1st January, 2013 to 31st December, 2013 for the purpose of meeting the current requirements of the Government.
AND WHEREAS it is necessary to increase the borrowing limit from $35 million (thirty- five million dollars) to $50 million (fifty million dollars).

BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House do approve the increase in the borrowing limit from $ 35 million (thirty- five million dollars) to $50 million (fifty million dollars).

ADJOURNMENT 7