Turks and Caicos, April 18, 2017 – Grand Turk – Historically today, the Turks and Caicos will hear the financial plan of a new government which is led by a lady, who also happens to be the country’s Minister of Finance, Investment and Trade, Hon Sharlene Robinson.
It has been 13 years since the People’s Democratic Movement as Government has laid out their fiscal strategy for the Turks and Caicos Islands, and while the budget is said to have a continuation of many PNP projects there are allotments which the PDM is touting as characteristic of what their party deems important to national development.
In a debrief this morning, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Dwayne Taylor shared with Magnetic Media that coverage of the session will be wide with live streaming online at Facebook courtesy of Life Productions, on Digicel Play Ch2 also courtesy of Life Productions; on radio via Radio Turks and Caicos which also has live audio streaming from its website and aired over Ch53 on the PTV network and there is live coverage by 4News on the Digicel network.
Hon Taylor said he anticipates 100% attendance by all elected and appointed members of Parliament for the convening which opened at 10am and opening prayer is by Rev. Claire Robinson. Acting Attorney General, Dr. Michael Dillon will be sworn in to fill the ex-officio role of the AG in the House of Assembly, as Hon RhondaLee Braithwaite-Knowles is absent.
The Appropriations Bill 2017-2018 will be presented by Premier Robinson, a rebuttal by the Leader of the Opposition PNP or a designate will follow. “It is expected that debate on the Budget will take up most of the proceedings and we expect that the Bill will go through all three readings today,” explained Speaker Taylor.
While you never know, the Speaker said he expects there to be no hiccups in HOA operations today, and announced that within this fiscal year it is expected that the House of Assembly will again be relocated for 3-4 months for repairs, which includes the leaky roof of the NJS Francis Building, which is where parliament is housed. The building is a part of an already heralded ‘green project’ by the PDM Administration.
Two other bills are on the agenda for a possible first reading, and the hot button issue of service charges to hospitality workers will see the Private Members Motion requesting an amendment to the law likely to a second reading within this session which runs until this Friday, April 21, 2017.
The Premier does have the prerogative to re-order the agenda, so things could change explained the Speaker. On the order paper, five questions from the Opposition; four from Leeward and Long Bay Hills member, Hon Akierra Missick and one question from Appointed member for the PNP, Hon Royal Robinson.
The House of Assembly is currently in session.
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