Bills, 19 questions from Opposition on Thursday’s order paper

Three bills are down for their first reading during the sitting of the House of Assembly this Thursday.{{more}}

The Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2013, the Witness (Special Measures) Bill, 2013 and the Patents (Amendment) Bill, 2013 will be presented by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

The Opposition will also ask 19 questions for oral answer, including a question from Leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace to Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves to give the fiscal out-turn for the period January to June 2013, as compared with the same period of 2012.

Eustace will also ask Gonsalves to indicate the current situation with respect to the British American/CLICO situation, in particular with regard to further payments on special annuities.

Also included is a question from member for the Northern Grenadines Dr Godwin Friday, who will ask Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation and Industry Saboto Caesar, in light of the recent opening of a new market for fish in New York, USA, what are the quantity and types of fish or other seafood that can be supplied to this market; the level of readiness of our fishing industry to meet the demands of this and other markets; and what his government is doing to assist fishermen to obtain or upgrade their fishing boats and other equipment to ensure that they, and by extension this country, are able to take full advantage of the opportunities offered in this market.

Also listed is a question from Member of Parliament for Central Kingstown St Claire Leacock, who will ask the Prime Minister whether VINLEC’s recent announcement of a three million ($3,000,000) initiative into photovoltaic energy will realize any reduction in the basic cost of fifty cents per unit to the domestic consumer; how soon will the photovoltaic initiative translate into a reduced energy surcharge to domestic consumers; what is the minimum capital investment in plant that is necessary to realize a 5-10 per cent reduced cost to consumers; what is the earliest forecast of this government for the reduction in electricity bills to consumers and what is the projected cost of the investment.