By L.K. Hewlett
St. Kitts Reporter
Prime Minster Hon. Denzil Douglas along with all other elected parliamentarians will be debating quite a number of issues on this week’s Cabinet Agenda.
The St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly met on Thursday to debate six bills which included the Anti-terrorism Bill 2007, the Firearms (Amendment) Bill 2007, the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College Bill, The Nevis Methodist Trust Incorporation Bill 2007, Interpretation and General Clauses (Amendment) Bill, and the Finance Bill 2007.
All bills were be given their second and third readings and passed with the exception of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College Bill, which got its first reading in the National Assembly.
The Bill provides for the establishment and operation of the educational institution as a corporate body with perpetual succession and a common seal. It sets out the functions of the college to include the provision of instruction, the conduct of research and the dissemination of knowledge of a standard required and expected of a college of the highest standard in the liberal and creative arts, business, science, technology, agriculture and other branches of learning in an environment which fosters academic freedom and excellence.
In keeping with the policy of consultation and good governance, the bill will be made available for scrutiny, comments and suggestions members of the public and organisations before going back to the lawmaking body for debate and approval.
The National Assembly approved the Finance Administration Bill, 2007 which seeks to clarify and reform the system for the management and control of public money.
The bill, which stands in the name of Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, will also provide for the control of the consolidated fund, for the authorization of expenditures, for the establishment of special funds and deposit funds and for the raising of money by the government.
The Finance Administration Bill, 2007 also provides for the management and control of the public debt and the giving of guarantees, for the investment public money, for the preparation of the Public Accounts and for the governance of statutory bodies.
The absence of last week’s Parliament session was due to the prime minister’s diplomatic trip to Washington D.C. where he attended the Caribbean Council for CARICOM Heads of Government. Douglas and other Caribbean leaders have agreed with United States President George Bush for an enhanced Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) for the region. The two sides agreed to continue dialogue on a range of issues including security, trade, and deportees.
Douglas plugged education and health including HIV/AIDS and social development. On the issue of assistance on HIV/AIDS in particular, he noted that while the US is providing assistance to Guyana and Haiti through PEPFAR he suggested that other CARICOM countries benefit from this arrangement.
In terms of economic integration, it was suggested that the US could also support the CARICOM Regional Development Fund, which is attempting to develop the economies of all the CARICOM countries through the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
