Saint Lucia govt present new bills in parliament, Ernest Hilaire shares update

Castries, Saint Lucia: Deputy Prime Minister of Saint Lucia- Ernest Hilaire shared the update on the bills, which will be presented in the Sitting of the house of assembly on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.

A Sitting of the House of Assembly is scheduled for Tuesday, March 7, 2023 with Papers to be laid by Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Development and the Youth Economy- Philip J Pierre and Minister for Justice and National Security, Minister for Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training and Minister for Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs.

The Motion for consideration is as follows:

BE IT RESOLVED that Parliament authorizes the Minister of Finance to guarantee an overdraft facility in the amount of EC$3,500,000.00 from the Republic Bank (Eastern Caribbean) Limited to the St. Jude Hospital for the purpose of assisting with working capital requirements;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that —
(a) the repayment of the advances are on demand;
(b) the interest is payable monthly at the Bank’s Base Lending Rate from time to
time less four per cent (4%) per annum with a present effective rate of six percent (6%) per annum;
(c) a commitment fee of Five Thousand Dollars is payable on acceptance of the commitment letter

The following Bills are down for consideration:
1. Constitution of Saint Lucia (Amendment) (No. 2)
2. Credit Reporting

Tuesday’s Sitting is scheduled to commence at 10:00a.m. The Sitting of the Senate is scheduled for Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
Please access the Bills via the link below:
https://drive.google.com/…/1bSZ1pO89bMnpR…

Prime Minister of Saint Lucia- Philip J Pierre also shared the update and stated that they have succeeded in protecting the Constitution from any future injury as was experienced from 2016-2021 by the non-appointment of a Deputy Speaker.

By the authority of the two-thirds majority in the House of Assembly, as mandated by the Constitution, the constitutional amendment will have the effect of allowing the position of Deputy Speaker to be occupied by non-elected Members of the House of Assembly.

“We will continue to responsibly discharge our duties to this country by ensuring that the necessary legislation is amended and enacted to protect our country and its laws from any further disrepute,” said the prime minister.