Attorney general promises debate on issues emanating from commission of enquiry at next sitting of the senate

Tuesday, February 16, 2010 – The Senate convened its first sitting for the year on Tuesday, with several matters of government business on the agenda.

At Tuesday's sitting, members of the upper chamber gave authorisation to Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Honourable Stephenson King, to guarantee three loans totalling ten million dollars from the National Insurance Corporation (NIC).

The loans are being sourced on behalf of the Saint Lucia Development Bank (SLDB), for the purpose of funding the education, housing and productive sectors.

As the leader of government business in the Senate, Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Senator the Honourable Dr. Nicholas Frederick, presented the motion for consideration by the senators.

“Madame President, it is not difficult to understand why government is supporting such a guarantee to the SLDB. Based on the informal evidence of public enthusiasm and good management, we are confident that the funds will be properly disbursed and the loan from the NIC will be properly serviced by the SLDB,” Senator Frederick said confidently.

Meanwhile, the attorney general has also expressed optimism that senators will have another opportunity to debate a contentious resolution which was brought before the Senate on Tuesday.

At the sitting, the president of the Senate deferred debate on the resolution.

Speaking in an interview with the GIS, Dr. Frederick indicated that the resolution dealt with recommendations emanating from the Ramsahoye lead Commission of Enquiry relating to mismanagement.

“The Senate is very concerned about mismanagement particularly the government Senators and we came here to debate the issue upon the directives of our government and the discussion did not take place at today's sitting but it will certainly take place at the next sitting of the Senate when we will discuss three bills which seek to correct the mismanagement that has been identified by the Commission of Enquiry.”

Dr. Frederick says the three bills he expects to facilitate Senate debate on the contention resolution are the Civil Code Amendment Bill, the Finance Administration Act Amendment, and the Crown Proceedings Amendment Bill.

Those bills have already been tabled in Parliament for the first reading.

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