TCI News
Turks and Caicos House of Assembly opens to Throne Speech, Budget Communication
#Grand Turk – Turks and Caicos Islands – Monday June 18, 2018 – It has been more than seven weeks since House of Assembly members convened for country business at Parliament; today the Members of the House gathered and welcomed into the people’s chamber, the Governor of the Territory for a ceremonial start to the First (1st ) Sitting of the First Meeting of the Second Session of the Eleventh (11th ) Legislature. 
The Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly was prorogued on April 27, 2018 and earlier it had been announced that the national budget would be late; the new fiscal year was due to start since April 1, 2018.
On the agenda for this sitting: the traditional reading of the Speech from the Throne which lays out the policy agenda of the Governing People’s Democratic Movement (PDM); this will be read by the Governor, His Excellency Dr. John Freeman.
The Leader of the Opposition, Hon C. Washington Misick delivered a response to the Speech on behalf of the Progressive National Party, PNP, after which, there is be robust debate on the Speech. 
A key agenda item during this sitting is the laying of the Appropriation 2018/2019 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure and the Constitutional and Statutory Bodies Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure 2018/2019.
More simply called, The Budget Presentation which is delivered by the Minister of Finance; Hon Sharlene Robinson.
The House of Assembly is also expected to see six Bills presented, read for the first time and proposing significant changes to the law with two of those amendments coming from the Ministry of Border Control and Employment.
The Immigration Amendment Bill (2018) and the Turks and Caicos Islands Status Amendment Bill (2018); both to be moved by the Deputy Premier and Minister, Hon Sean Astwood.
Also on the list of Bills to be moved in a first reading are Companies Amendment Bill 2018 by the Attorney General; the Electricity Validation Bill 2018 by Infrastructure Minister, Hon Goldray Ewing; Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Amendment Bill 2018 by Finance Minister and premier, Hon Sharlene Robinson and the Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2018 by the Home Affairs Minister, Delroy Williams. 
The ceremonial opening was carried live on Radio Turks and Caicos, covered extensively by TCI media and featured singing talent, Angel Coleby Taylor who opened with both the National Anthem and National Song.
PHOTO OF HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, FILE PHOTO