MOTIONS

1. Motion on Concerning Opposition to the Development and Operation of a quarry at Richmond in North Leeward.

To be moved by Dr. the Honourable Godwin Friday and seconded by Major the Honourable St. Clair Leacock

Concerning Opposition to the Development and Operation
of a quarry at Richmond in North Leeward

WHEREAS the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has entered into an agreement with Rayneau Construction and Industrial Equipment Ltd (“Rayneau Construction”) for the development and operation by Rayneau Construction of a quarry at Richmond in North Leeward and for that purpose has leased 58.8 acres of land to Rayneau Construction for a period of thirty years;

AND WHEREAS in January 2022, without warning to farmers, heavy equipment drove through farmlands in Richmond to gain access to the quarry site, and Rayneau Construction began work developing the quarry;

AND WHEREAS the quarry will cause significant changes to the landscape and other environmental changes that may seriously affect people, fauna and flora in the surrounding areas and, accordingly, it is necessary and in keeping with generally accepted standards that, prior to the commencement of such a project, an assessment of its impact on the environment and people be done;

AND WHEREAS no Environmental Impact Assessment was conducted in relation to the quarry project in Richmond being developed by Rayneau Construction;

AND WHEREAS under the agreement, lands for the quarry operations have been leased by the Government to Rayneau Construction for $12,000 per year and Rayneau Construction will pay the Government a fee of only $2 per tonne of aggregate sold by the quarry;

AND WHEREAS the failure to have any consultation with the people living in the surrounding areas prior to the commencement of the project, the absence of an Environmental Impact Assessment of the project, and the nature of the financial arrangements agreed to by the government for the operation of the quarry have all led to a public outcry and widespread opposition to the project and in calls from many, including villagers from the surrounding areas to stop the quarry, to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment, and to review the financial terms of the agreement;

AND WHEREAS the Government and Rayneau Construction have not halted the project and, notwithstanding the public outcry against it, work on the development of the quarry continues at a rapid pace;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the development of the quarry at Richmond by Rayneau Construction be halted immediately pending satisfactory consultation with residents including farmers, business people, fisherfolk and public sector workers, a satisfactory Environmental Impact Assessment of the project, and a satisfactory review of the financial arrangements between the Government and Rayneau Construction concerning the project.

Dated this 22nd day of April, 2022

MOTIONS

1*. 2021 ESTIMATES OF ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES

To be moved by the Honourable Camillo Gonsalves, Minister of Finance.

WHEREAS section 70(1) of the Constitution of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines provides that the Minister for the time being responsible for finance shall cause to be prepared and laid before the House of Assembly before, or not later than thirty days after, the commencement of each financial year Estimates of the Revenues and Expenditure of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for that financial year;

AND WHEREAS section 70 (2) of the Constitution provides for the approval of the Estimates of Expenditure by the House;

AND WHEREAS the Government had additionally decided to prepare Estimates on a triennial basis:

BE IT RESOLVED, that this Honourable House of Assembly do adopt the Estimates for the financial year ending 31st December, 2021;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Honourable House note the projections for the financial years ending 31st December, 2022 and 31st December, 2023.

27th January, 2021

MOTIONS

1*. 2021 SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES OF ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES

To be moved by the Honourable Camillo Gonsalves, Minister of Finance.

WHEREAS Section 70(3) of the Constitution of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines provides for the laying of Supplementary Estimates before the House of Assembly if in respect of any financial year it is found that the amount appropriated by the Appropriation Law to any purpose is insufficient or that a need has arisen for expenditure for a purpose to which no amount has been appropriated by that Law; or that any moneys have been expended for any purpose in excess of the amount appropriated to that purpose by the Appropriation Law or for a purpose to which no amount has been appropriated by that Law;

AND WHEREAS Supplementary Estimates 2021 have been prepared and laid in the House of Assembly.

BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House do approve the Supplementary Estimates 2021.

11th May, 2021

MOTIONS

Motion Moved by: Dr. the Honourable Godwin Friday, Leader of the Opposition and Member for Northern Grenadines

ON CONDUCT AND RESPONSIBILITY OF MEMBERS

WHEREAS this Honourable House must seek always to promote the values and principles enshrined in our laws and democratic traditions and to foster respect for the rule of law;

AND WHEREAS each Member of Parliament is accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office;

AND WHEREAS each Member of Parliament shall never undertake any action which would cause significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the House of Assembly as a whole, or of its Members generally;

AND WHEREAS it is alleged that Mr. Cornelius John was beaten and shot in his leg at his home in Diamond and that Senator and Deputy Speaker Ashelle Morgan was one of three assailants involved in the incident;

AND WHEREAS the Commissioner of Police has confirmed publicly that the matter is under police investigation and that Senator Morgan is a person of interest in the investigation;

AND WHEREAS this matter has stirred the conscience of our nation and caused many to question the administration of justice and the rule of law in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

AND WHEREAS Senator Morgan attended the meeting of the House of Assembly on May 11th, 2021 and the Leader of the Opposition with the full support of all members of the Opposition sought to invite Senator Morgan to withdraw from the sitting of the House or to have her suspended from the House pending the outcome of the police investigation into the serious allegations Concerning her;

AND WHEREAS Senator Morgan was appointed by the Governor General acting on the advice of the Prime Minister and that appointment can be revoked by the Governor General acting on the advice of the Prime Minister;

AND WHEREAS Senator Morgan has not withdrawn from the House and her appointment as senator has not been revoked and thus. she remains a member of the House and the Deputy Speaker;

AND WHEREAS the Speaker of the House has a constitutional duty to interpret and apply the Standing Orders so as to facilitate debate and promote the decorum and dignity of the House;

BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House call on Senator and Deputy Speaker Ashelle Morgan to withdraw from the sittings of House pending the outcome of the police investigation into the serious allegations made against her in relation to the beating and shooting of Cornelius John;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that should Senator Morgan fail or refuse to withdraw, she be Suspended for the sittings of the House pending the outcome of the police investigation into the serious allegations made against her in relation to the beating and shooting of Cornelius John.

6th July, 2021

MOTIONS

1*. 2021 SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES OF ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES

To be moved by the Honourable Camillo Gonsalves, Minister of Finance.

WHEREAS Section 70(3) of the Constitution of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines provides for the laying of Supplementary Estimates before the House of Assembly if in respect of any financial year it is found that the amount appropriated by the Appropriation Law to any purpose is insufficient or that a need has arisen for expenditure for a purpose to which no amount has been appropriated by that Law; or that any moneys have been expended for any purpose in excess of the amount appropriated to that purpose by the Appropriation Law or for a purpose to which no amount has been appropriated by that Law;

AND WHEREAS Supplementary Estimates (Nos. 2 to 5 of 2021) have been prepared and laid in the House of Assembly.

BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House do approve the Supplementary Estimates (Nos. 2 to 5 of 2021). 30th September, 2021

MOTIONS

1*. 2021 SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES OF ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES

To be moved by the Honourable Camillo Gonsalves, Minister of Finance.

WHEREAS Section 70(3) of the Constitution of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines provides for the laying of Supplementary Estimates before the House of Assembly if in respect of any financial year it is found that the amount appropriated by the Appropriation Law to any purpose is insufficient or that a need has arisen for expenditure for a purpose to which no amount has been appropriated by that Law; or that any moneys have been expended for any purpose in excess of the amount appropriated to that purpose by the Appropriation Law or for a purpose to which no amount has been appropriated by that Law;

AND WHEREAS Supplementary Estimates (Nos. 2 to 5 of 2021) have been prepared and laid in the House of Assembly.

BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House do approve the Supplementary Estimates (Nos. 2 to 5 of 2021). 30th October, 2021

MOTIONS

1*. 2020 SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES OF ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES

To be moved by the Honourable Camillo Gonsalves, Minister of Finance.

WHEREAS Section 70(3) of the Constitution of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines provides for the laying of Supplementary Estimates before the House of Assembly if in respect of any financial year it is found that the amount appropriated by the Appropriation Law to any purpose is insufficient or that a need has arisen for expenditure for a purpose to which no amount has been appropriated by that Law; or that any moneys have been expended for any purpose in excess of the amount appropriated to that purpose by the Appropriation Law or for a purpose to which no amount has been appropriated by that Law;

AND WHEREAS Supplementary Estimates 2020 have been prepared and laid in the House of Assembly.

BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House do approve the Supplementary Estimates 2020. 7th April, 2020

1*. Private Member’s Motion on the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Management of the Economic and Social Consequences of the Pandemic

To be moved by Dr the Honourable Godwin Friday, Leader of the Opposition

WHEREAS the quality of life in SVG has deteriorated over the last two decades.

AND WHEREAS employment for young people coming out of school is seldom available.

AND WHEREAS business activity and the economy have suffered from the arbitrary rule of the present Government.

AND WHEREAS economic activity has further suffered severely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

AND WHEREAS this Government has a practice of distributing aid and Government resources on a partisan political basis.

AND WHEREAS in order to ensure transparent and effective use of relief funds it is essential that all international aid and all funds approved by Parliament for COVID-19 relief be managed by a permanent select committee of Parliament.

AND WHEREAS to promote full, effective and speedy recovery from the COVID-19 crisis it is beneficial, practical and sensible to involve persons from various sectors of the economy and civil society who bring insight, experiences and expertise that would help the Government to fashion meaningful and effective policies and measures to promote and achieve economic and social recovery from the crisis.

BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House establish a permanent select committee of the House to supervise and report on the use of funds voted by Parliament for COVID-19 relief.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Government establish a broad-based task force that involves persons from various sectors of the economy and civil society who would bring insight, experiences and expertise that would help the government to fashion meaningful and effective policies and measures to aid and achieve economic and social recovery from the crisis.

Dated this 8th day of June, 2020

22nd June, 2020

1*. 2020 SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES OF ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES

To be moved by the Honourable Camillo Gonsalves, Minister of Finance.

WHEREAS Section 70(3) of the Constitution of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines provides for the laying of Supplementary Estimates before the House of Assembly if in respect of any financial year it is found that the amount appropriated by the Appropriation Law to any purpose is insufficient or that a need has arisen for expenditure for a purpose to which no amount has been appropriated by that Law; or that any moneys have been expended for any purpose in excess of the amount appropriated to that purpose by the Appropriation Law or for a purpose to which no amount has been appropriated by that Law;

AND WHEREAS Supplementary Estimates (No. 2) 2020 have been prepared and laid in the House of Assembly. BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House do approve the Supplementary Estimates (No.2) 2020.

13th August, 2020

1*. 2019 SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES OF ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES

To be moved by the Honourable Camillo Gonsalves, Minister of Finance.

WHEREAS Section 70(3) of the Constitution of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines provides for the laying of Supplementary Estimates before the House of Assembly if in respect of any financial year it is found that the amount appropriated by the Appropriation Law to any purpose is insufficient or that a need has arisen for expenditure for a purpose to which no amount has been appropriated by that Law; or that any moneys have been expended for any purpose in excess of the amount appropriated to that purpose by the Appropriation Law or for a purpose to which no amount has been appropriated by that Law;

AND WHEREAS Supplementary Estimates (No. 9 of 2019) have been prepared and laid in the House of Assembly.

BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House do approve the Supplementary Estimates (No. 9 of 2019).