SENATE
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            10^th Parliament                                            Monday

^5th Session                                                            13^th December, 2021

No. 6 of 2021                                                        at 9:00 a.m.

ORDER PAPER

(Pursuant to Standing Order No. 13)

(BUDGET)

 

 

 

1. Formal Entry of Mr. President.

2. Prayers.

3. Oath of Allegiance or Affirmation of a new Senator.

4. Confirmation of Minutes:

• Confirmation of the Minutes of the proceedings of a Sitting of the Senate held at the Parliament Chamber, Mt. Wheldale, St. George’s on Wednesday 15th September, 2021.
• Confirmation of the Minutes of the Ceremonial State Opening of Parliament held at the Parliament Chamber, Mt. Wheldale, St. George’s, on Friday October 15, 2021.
• Confirmation of the Minutes of the proceedings of a Special Sitting of the Senate held at the Parliament Chamber, Mt. Wheldale, St. George’s on Thursday November 04, 2021.

 

5. Messages from the Governor-General.

6. Announcements by Mr. President.

7. Ministerial Statements.

8. Presentation of Papers and Reports from Select Committees:

1.  Report of the Director of Audit on the Financial Statements of the OECS Regional Tourism Competitiveness (ORTC) Project, the period ended 31st December, 2020.
2. Report of the Director of Audit on the Financial Statements of the Regional Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project (RDVRP) for the period ended 31st December, 2020.
3. Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year 2022.
4. Fiscal Risk Statement – Budget 2022.
5. Medium Term Debt Management Strategy 2022 – 2024.
6. Annual Debt Report 2020.
7. Grenada: Fiscal Risk Statement (State-Owned Enterprises).
8. Recovery Plan 2023 – 2024.
9. Integrity Commission’s Budget and Plan.
10. Office of the Ombudsman 2022 Budget and Plan.
11. Suspension Order Memorandum – November, 2021.

 

9. Petitions.

10.Government Notices.

11.Unofficial Notices.

12.Questions:

Senator the Honourable Tessa St. Cyr, will ask the Leader of Government’s Business, Senator the Honourable Simon Stiell, the following questions:

QUESTION NO. 1

Question to the Leader of Government’s Business on List of Advisors to the Government

Can the Leader of Government’s Business provide a list of all advisors to the government recruited during the period 2013 – 2018 and 2018 to present, their job descriptions, remuneration and benefit packages.

 

QUESTION NO. 2

Question to the Leader of Government’s Business on Contracts

As it relates to the types of employment contract being used by government, can the Leader of Government’s Business:
a). Explain the difference between Contracts of Service and Contracts for Service, including duration/length of contract?

b). What criteria are being used to determine who gets Contracts of Service and Contracts for Service?

c). What is the difference in remuneration and benefits of the above-mentioned contracts?

 

QUESTION NO.3

Questions to the Leader of Government’s Business

1. *What is the current debt of the government, inclusive of borrowing and obligations to all the various entities to whom the government is indebted? (Oral response)

2. As it relates to youth initiatives:
(a) What is the current status of the Mpower program, inclusive of the number of participants, a list of service providers, finances, achievements and challenges?
(b) How many Imani trainees have been in receipt of contract employment, in
which sectors and what is the length/duration of the contract?

3. * As it relates to the education system (Oral response):
(a) What is the current status and future plans for the STAR program?
(b) What is the current status of the school feeding program, inclusive of human
and financial resources? (Oral response)

QUESTION NO. 4

Question to Senator the Honourable Norland Cox

1. *As it relates to Parks and Recreational facilities (Oral response):
(a) Can an update be presented on the status of and plans for the Pearls playing field?
(b) What is the total sum of money expended on the La Poterie playing field and when is the project expected to be completed?

 

 

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Senator the Honourable Roderick St. Clair would ask the Leader of Government Business, Senator the Honourable Simon Stiell the following questions:

QUESTION NO. 1

Question to the Leader of Government’s Business on Praedial Larceny Fund

Bearing in mind that the Praedial Larceny Act was established in 2005 to set up a fund and we are in 2021, based on the response provided, what has taken us so long in having this fund established?

Question No. 2

Questions to the Leader of Government’s Business on the requirement for every Ministry and Department to prepare workplans as is required by Division 4, Clause 16 (3) of the Public Finance Management Act Regulations of 2015.

a). Are workplans in the form required by the Public Finance Management Act Regulations 2015, section 16 (3) available for the following Ministries and their related Departments:
i. Agriculture
ii. Lands
iii. Fisheries

b). Provide copy of the workplan that are available for each Ministry and their related Departments as identified below:
i. Agriculture
ii. Lands
iii. Fisheries

c). As is required by section 16 (5) (c) of the Public Finance Management Act Regulations of 2015, provide the Uniform Resource Locators (urls) for the Corporate Plan of each of the Ministries and their related Departments identified below:
i. Agriculture
ii. Lands
iii. Fisheries

 

Question No. 3

Questions to the Leader of Government’s Business on Scholarships awarded to Grenadians in the field of Agriculture and Fisheries and their related fields over the past ten (10) years at the Bachelor, Masters, PhD and Post-Doctoral levels.

a). Provide the number of Scholarships in Agriculture and its related fields by the following criteria in the table below by year for the past 10 years:

b). Provide number of Scholarships in Fisheries and its related fields by the following criteria in the table below by year for the past 10 years:

c). Provide the total number of Scholarships by year, field of study and degree
level for the past 10 years in the table below.

(SEE ATTACHED)

 

Question No. 4

Questions to the Leader of Government’s Business on Government’s action in providing relief to seamoss farmers and fishermen from sargassum sea weed.

Can the Leader of Government’s Business inform the Senate on the following as it relates to the Sargassum Seaweed:

(a) Does government have a documented plan in place for the management of this invasive species of Sargassum to alleviate its negative effect on the Seamoss farmers and fishers?

(b) If yes, then please provide a copy of the plan.

(c) If no plan is available, when can one be expected?

(d) Is there a monitoring mechanism in place to measure the levels of hydrogen sulfide gas emitted from the sargassum? If yes, are the readings within acceptable range?

 

Question No. 5

Questions to the Leader of Government’s Business on Grenada’s status relative to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization.

(a) Is Grenada a signatory to the Nagoya Protocol? If yes, in what year did Grenada signed on?

(b) Has Grenada ratified its position relative the Nagoya Protocol? If yes, indicate the year.

(c) If no, is it Government’s policy to ratify the Nagoya protocol?

(d) If no, please provide reason(s) for Grenada not ratifying the Nagoya protocol to date.

(e) Is there a fee or charge associated with ratifying the Nagoya Protocol? If yes, what is the fee or charge?

 

Question No. 6

*Questions to the Leader of Government’s Business on the availability of Fishermen ID Cards for fishermen.

(a) Can the Senate be updated on the status of the processing of Fishermen ID cards?

 

 

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Senator the Honourable Andre Lewis, will ask the Leader of Government’s Business, Senator the Honourable Simon Stiell, the following questions:

Question No. 1

Could the Honourable Minister advise the House as to whether the Gravel, Concrete and Emulsion Company has disposed of any of its fixed assets, by way of sale , lease or otherwise, within the last 24 months and if so:

a. Which specific asset or assets was or were disposed of?

b. What is (or are) the name(s) and nationality (ies) of the legal entity (ies) to whom those assets were disposed?

c. When did this (or these) transaction(s) occur?

 

 

Question No. 2

1. If the answer to question 1 is in the affirmative, that is that an asset or assets of the said company were disposed of during the period mentioned, then can the Minister tell us what are the terms of that disposition, in particular:

a. If it is a lease, then what is the term of the lease (for how long) and what remuneration has the Company received or is going to receive over the term of the lease and in what manner?

b. If it is a sale, then what is the sale price and when and in what manner is the Company to be paid for the asset?

c. Would the Minister provide the House with a copy of the contractual document or documents pursuant to which the asset or assets was or were disposed of?

 

 

Question No. 3

2. If the answer to question 1 is in the affirmative, that is, that an asset or assets of the said company were disposed of during the period mentioned, then can the Minister tell us whether the standard procurement procedures provided for in our laws and regulations followed, in particular:

a. Was any invitation to tender published in relation to the disposition of the asset or assets and if so, in what publication (or through what medium) and for how long?

b. How many Expressions of Interest were received from different entities

c. Were these Expressions of Interest ( or Tenders) evaluated by the Tenders Board or any other body or committee specifically charged with the mandate of evaluating such tenders on behalf of Government or State
owned Enterprises

d. Was the contract given to the entity recommended by the Tenders Board or other body or committee specifically charged with the mandate of evaluating such tenders on behalf of Government or State owned Enterprises

 

 

 

 

Personal Explanations.

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13.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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14. Bills:

 

For First Reading and Remaining Stages:

• Appropriation (2022) Bill, 2021
• 2022 Budget Loan Authorisation Bill, 2021
• Securities (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
• Public Health (Amendment) Bill, 2021;

 

 

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15. Public Business:

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.

 

 

16. Adjournment.