MOTIONS

 

(a) By the Leader of Government’s Business:

WHEREAS debate on the Gracious Address delivered by the Governor General on the occasion of the Ceremonial State Opening of the Fifth Session of the Tenth Parliament on 15th October, 2021 was deferred to a date to be fixed;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the said Address be now debated by the Senate.

PURSUANT TO STANDING ORDER NO. 63

 

(b) By the Leader of Government’s Business:

WHEREAS Standing Order No. 63 (1a) (The Committee of Selection) of the Senate’s Standing Orders provides for the appointment of a Committee to consist of the President as Chairman, and two other Senators to be known as the Committee of Selection;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Honourable Senate doth now appoint the two other Senators to the said Committee.

(c) By the Leader of Government’s Business:

WHEREAS Standing Order No. 63 (1b) of the Senate Standing Orders, provides for the appointment of a Committee to consist of the President, as Chairman and two Members, to be known as the Standing Orders Committee;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Honourable Senate doth now appoint the two Members to the said Committee.

 

(d) By the Leader of Government’s Business:

WHEREAS Standing Order No. 63 (1c) of the Senate Standing Orders, provides for the appointment of a Committee to consist of the President, as Chairman and two Members, to be known as the House Committee;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Honourable Senate doth now appoint the two Members to the said Committee.

 

(e) By the Leader of Government’s Business:

WHEREAS Standing Order No. 63 (1d) of the Senate Standing Orders provides for the appointment of a Committee to consist of the President as Chairman, and four Members to be known as the Committee of Privileges which shall be elected as soon as may be after the beginning of each session;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Honourable Senate doth now appoint the four Members
to the said Committee.

 

(f) By the Minister for Finance:

WHEREAS it is necessary to provide for the services of the State of Grenada for the Year 2022 by means of an Appropriation Act;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the Fiscal Year January 1st to December 31st, 2022 be approved.

 

 

 

 

 

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Public Business

(Private Members Motions)

1.

Motion by Senator the Honourable Andre Lewis on vaccination and workers

WHEREAS we are experiencing a worldwide health pandemic (COVID-19) which has and continue to infect and claim the lives of millions of people across the world;

AND WHEREAS this Pandemic has caused economic and social fallout unknown to man in recent history;

AND WHEREAS these fall outs have impacted many working people to the extent of degrading their social status to that of poor and marginalised;

AND WHEREAS to save lives and address the economic and social fallout from the Pandemic the State of Grenada imposed a State of Emergency (SOE);

AND WHEREAS the State of Grenada (Grenada) has been following the protocols set out by the World Health Organisation (WHO);

AND WHEREAS those measures have caused the citizens to so far enjoy protection from the Pandemic;

AND WHEREAS vaccination has been introduced as another measure to contain the spread of Covid-19 and to save lives;

AND WHEREAS the ongoing reopening of the Country’s border will continue to increase the risk of possible Covid-19 infections;

AND WHEREAS the Government through the Prime Minister has declared that the State will not make vaccination mandatory;

AND WHEREAS some employers are now openly or surreptitiously making vaccination mandatory as a condition for the continued employment of workers;

AND WHEREAS for existing workers vaccination was never a condition of employment;

AND WHEREAS many workers are opposed to and resisting the concept of mandatory vaccination on principle or as violation of rights or out of sheer health concerns;

AND WHEREAS with the impact of social and other media pushing conspiracy and other theories against the taking of the vaccine many people are genuinely confused and could only be enlightened through active and organized public education campaigns;

AND WHEREAS in light of the above making the vaccination mandatory may lead ultimately to more industrial disputes and confrontation between employer and employee which would not be in the best interest of the country at this time;

NOW THEREFORE, this Parliamentary Sitting of the Senate hereby resolves as follows:

1. That no employer should make vaccination a condition of employment for
   existing workers.
2. That no worker should suffer any loss of benefits (pay etc.) for not taking the
   vaccine.
3. That where workers are coerced into taking the vaccine, the employer should
   be liable where there are adverse reactions associated with vaccination.
4. Employers must consider securing adequate health insurance for all workers
   in the face of the new challenges brought on by Covid-19.
5. That there should be at least two brands of vaccines to allow for choices on
   the part of those wishing to be vaccinated.
6. Those workers who are not vaccinated ought to be tested periodically and be
   required and expected to function in accordance strict enforcement of the
   protocols.
7. That the State ought to put measures in place to support a pro-active
   education campaign throughout Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique to
   highlight the pros and cons of taking the vaccine.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT:

If affirmed this resolution be forwarded by way of message to the House of Representatives.

 

 

2.

By Senator the Honourable Andre Lewis

Motion on setting aside funds from the Grenada National Lotteries Association for Health Services

WHEREAS we have seen the many challenges confronting the Ministry of Health as it relates to the provision of Health Care Services;

AND WHEREAS from time to time there are reports of lack of medication and equipment especially at the Nation’s Hospital and Out-Station Facilities;

AND WHEREAS recently, the Public were advised that the X-ray Machine services were available only to hospitalized/inpatient individuals;

AND WHEREAS it is known that the State does not have its own CT Scan services.

AND WHEREAS hospitalized patients have to access CT Scan services from a private provider at sums that may be beyond the reach of most working class and other Grenadians;

AND WHEREAS the state does not own/have MRI facilities which is a very important medical service;

AND WHEREAS it is recognized that resources or the allocation of resources may be a contributing factor to some of the challenges faced at the Ministry of Health and Hospital services;

AND WHEREAS accepting that the Grenada National Lotteries Authority as a statutory body is a source of income for national development;

NOW THEREFORE, this Parliamentary Sitting of the Senate hereby resolves as follows:

1. The Grenada National Lotteries Authorities to contribute directly to the
   Ministry of Health for the provision of Health Care Service
2. That in the first instance the contributions be used to ensure that Grenada
   have functioning X-Ray machines at our three (3) Hospitals that is, the
   General Hospital, St. George, Princess Alice Hospital, St. Andrew and
   Princess Royal Hospital, Carriacou.
3. That the funds be directed also to ensure that Grenada has its own CT Scan
   facility within one (1) year or a period to be advised by suitable qualified
   personnel.
4. That fund from the Authority be set aside to ensure that Grenada obtains an
   MRI facility within a period of two (2) years or a time advised by suitably
   qualified personnel.
5. That the tag line “Supporting Sports Culture and Nation Building” be amended
   to say “Supporting Sports, Culture, Health and Nation Building”.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT:
If affirmed this resolution be forwarded by way of message to the House of Representatives.

 

 

 

3.

By Senator the Honourable Roderick St. Clair
On including the time for activities in the annual Estimate of Revenue and
Expenditure document.

WHEREAS it is necessary to provide for the services of the State of Grenada in any budget cycle by means of an Appropriation Act;

AND WHEREAS the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the Fiscal Year 1st January to 31st December, 2021 was approved at the sitting of the Senate in December, 2021;

AND WHEREAS the approved Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure presented the activities and work programme for the various Government Departments and Ministries;

AND WHEREAS the activities and work plans of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for Fiscal year 1st January to 31st December, 2021 and previous ones so passed, did not provide a time when each activity or project is scheduled to take place;

AND WHEREAS specifying a time when each activity is scheduled to take place will contribute to improved delivery to the citizens, improved implementation, improved job performance and improved cash flow management;

AND WHEREAS monitoring and evaluation is a prudent management process to improve delivery and implementation rates;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the activities and projects items that would be presented in Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the Fiscal Year 1st January to 31st December, 2022 and beyond, be presented in a format that shows the time such as the quarter in which each activity is scheduled to take place such that citizens can benefit from improved government services, improved planning, improved job performance, improved implementation and improved monitoring.

 

 

 

4.

By Senator the Honourable Roderick St. Clair
On the provision of a Jetty in the Parish of St. Marks

WHEREAS fish is Grenada’s leading agriculture export amounting to over EC$25 Million annually;

WHEREAS the parish of St. Mark is one of Grenada’s key fishing communities and home to dozens of fisherfolks and their boats;

WHEREAS there is no jetty infrastructure in St. Mark to facilitate the safe boarding and disembarking of fisherfolks and their equipment, and for the landing of their catch;

WHEREAS the fisherfolks in St. Mark and connecting villages have highlighted that the lack of a jetty in St. Mark poses a major problem for their personal safety, plus the safety of their boats, equipment and catch;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate recommends that the Executive Branch of Government take swift action to correct this situation:

(a) By consulting with the fisherfolks and the necessary competent technical
persons to identify a suitable site in the parish of St. Mark for the construction of
an appropriate jetty in St. Mark;

(b) Prioritize funding and construct the jetty at the recommended site in St. Mark in a
timely manner;

(c) Provide regular progress update on key actions towards providing jetty facility in
St. Mark for the fisherfolks.

 

 

5.
By Senator the Honourable Tessa St. Cyr
On flooding in the Town of Grenville

WHEREAS the town of Grenville has been consistently flooding during heavy rainfall;

AND WHEREAS the Government of Grenada has consistently promised to address the matter;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate recommends that a timetable and the 2022 budget allocation be provided by the Ministry of Works / Minister for Implementation of a flood mitigation project in the town of Grenville.