Five new Bills will be introduced when the Second Meeting of the First Session of the Eleventh Parliament convenes on Tuesday morning.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit made the announcement while addressing a press briefing held recently.
According to him, the Bills include The Status of Children, Maintenance of Children, Maintenance of Spouses and Parents, Domestic Violence, and Children Care and Protection.
“Tuesday 25, 2023 we shall convene Parliament at 10 a.m. and on the agenda for this meeting of the House of Assembly, the family Bills which seek to improve the circumstances of our women, children, and elderly and offer them greater protection, care, and support under our laws,” Prime Minister Skerrit said.
He continued, “Last time I spoke to you, the press, I raised concerns about the need for us to go with what we have already and I am happy that the appropriate authorities have responded…”
Skerrit added, “The Bills include measures to provide for the equal status of children, meaning that all discriminatory provisions in the law relating to a child born out of wedlock will be removed.”
He explained that this measure will allow children to have equal status under the law regardless of the marital status of their parents.
“Importantly it also addresses matters of succession and inheritance,” he explained.
Skerrit said for example, if the parent dies without a will that each child will be treated equally under the law.
He also pointed out that an act relating to the maintenance of children will also be introduced to conform to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
“The law will seek to improve the existing provisions relating to the obligations of parents to maintain the child, the specifics of the maintenance order, duration of the order, and method of payment among other related matters,” the Prime Minister noted.
He pointed out also that the issue of child maintenance is always current and a matter of great importance, especially for single parents and children within our communities.
The Bill, he said, will provide children with security and protection.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister disclosed that the government will also introduce a Bill for an Act relating to the maintenance of spouses and parents.
“The Act makes provision for these two groups in our society who may be left vulnerable and unprotected under the law,” he explained. “It provides for the reasonable maintenance of spouses after cohabitation has ended, meaning after the relationship has ended or dissolved.”
He added, “The Act also addresses the care and support of parents and grandparents who are in need of maintenance by reason of age, physical or mental infirmity or disability.”
The Prime Minister pointed out that against the backdrop of incidents of domestic violence late last year, the government will see the introduction of a Bill of an Act to provide greater protection for victims of domestic violence and for the granting of protection orders to promote their safety.
“And there is also a Bill for an Act to provide for the care and protection of children as it relates, especially to adoption services,” he revealed.
Skerrit noted that these Bills are of great significance to society as they will help to ensure that the rights and responsibilities of family members are protected in any situation and that they are treated fairly and equitably under the country’s laws in Dominica.
Meanwhile, he revealed that the Cabinet has approved a new structure for the social services department for the more effective and efficient administration of welfare matters relating to the care of children, women, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups.
He said the welfare Division will operate within this new structure with an increased staff component.
He went on to state that the newly structured department will also provide support for family laws which will go before Parliament on Tuesday to ensure they are properly implemented and monitored for effectiveness.
“And just to say to you that the increased budget, just for salaries for this new structure will be close to $400,000 per annum in addition to the existing budget of the welfare department of the government,” Skerrit revealed.
He mentioned also that a subunit of the Criminal Investigations Unit of the police force will be created to focus solely on reports of child abuse and domestic violence in Dominica.
“…and those officers will be provided with proper training so that we are more responsive to those calls for investigations and ensure that investigations are successful and resources are placed for investigations,” Skerrit said.
Roosevelt, once again, has taken control of the narrative in the news. Instead of focusing on correcting the electoral deformities; bizarre arrangements concerning the financing of the ghost airport; the severe scarcity of job opportunities; this spineless local media falls in the trap set by a conman who perverts the truth every time he opens his mouth.
We expect the usual suspects, DNO, Kairi, DBS, GIS to fall for this subterfuge. Additionally, the self-infatuated, airheaded sensationalist on Q95 in the morning has also fall for Roosevelt’s ruse.
We have problem in Dominica with support and it should be dealt with…..
But I believe the devil is in the details. The GOVT should provide statistical data to understand whether a law will resolve this issue.
If the Statistical DATA reflects:
80% of working men and 10% of the unemployed men are providing support.
1. Then the GOVT would want to reduce the unemployment % bf going to parliament to past any law….bc DATA support unemployment is heavily leading to non-support.
2. This may cause surge in crime as the unemployment men to avoid jail time will start robbing, stealing and getting into drug dealing to provide support.
The superficial nature of deal with issue in DA is very telling and the GOVT may want to use statistical DATA because they may create more issues on implementing heavy handed laws.
–
What an oddity! This is no legitimate government and no credible opposition either occupying this august place of government.. The Roosevelt posse takes their lies, empty promises and belligerent behaviour to parliament while the entire ‘opposition’ has ZERO experience in dealing with legislation.
This is a House of hollowness and vacuity filled with deplorables who have a stranglehold on the governance of the country..To complicate matters, there is a bellicose ignoramus in the chair of the Speaker.
In all the other jurisdictions in the sub Caribbean, real and robust debate takes place. Dominica is unique. It is a pariah nation.
In the meantime ELECTORAL REFORM will be delayed for another 5 years while Skerrit keep you all busy with whatever he pleases…Next time the house convenes, he will come with something even juicier!!!
He is indeed smater than you all, (not me for sure).
Blows then Skerro!
You are way smarter than them!!!