Parliament got underway on Tuesday with President Nicholas Liverpool championing the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in his opening speech.
The Head of State said measures had been put in place to ensure the independence of the CCJ.
Opposition parliamentarians of the United Workers Party stayed away in protest during the speech and returned for the rest of the session.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit was expected to present the $437 million national budget later during the proceedings.
Three recently deceased former parliamentarians, Ambassador Charles Maynard, former health minister John Fabien, and former Wesley MP Elford Henry were eulogized by both government and opposition MPs during the morning session of the sitting.
The opening of parliament was accompanied by pomp and ceremony led by the Music Lovers Government Band, with police and firefighters marching through sections of Roseau before heading to the parliament building on Victoria Street.
I think the PM and Financial Secretary has done another tremendous job with presenting such a budget amidst the economic crisis globally. Traditional sources of help are closing up and I can only slightly imagine the work and thought gone through to compile a budget which would continue to take us forward. Commendations to the PM and his Cabinet. To take this a notch higher, I think the time is right for a Cabinet reshuffling. We need to feel the direct impact of all ministers and parliamentary representatives. It is not enough to just have media addresses but the work must be done. My humble consideration is for more of the ‘Blackmoore’ effect – real work on the ground. Changes must come in Agriculture, Health, Tourism. The relevant ministers must wake up and if they cannot step up to the plate, they should do the honorable thing to resign or ask for a change. Portsmouth needs to feel the effect of quality leadership and not the legacy of the ‘Douglas’ administration. The youth needs focus and the community needs development. PM lets have Minister Blackmoore bring some change to another area of government as he has done with road developments, energy and ports… Food for thought.
Skerro did Spaggs a great disservice today. Poor boy he does not have enough time to practice and rehearse his response to the budget. He has less than 24 hours to do so. Judging from last year’s performance,I believe we are in for xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Skerro you should not have doen that anyway. even if Lennox write the speech for him, he will still not be able to present it.
grand bay needs a proper parlrep justina is asleep
the ccj willnever be independent.wh do u guys in the club think u fooling?we sat cambridge too u know.csc cantab.
and allu really think a new candidate will make a difference. Take a look at st. joe, vince gone and what they got is a ghost of a parl rep.
Pics look marvelous but why firemen with guns?
In order to achieve the next level in the soufriere constituency, sam martin has to go. Sam has gotten a big F as parl rep. This is the worse parl rep in the history of the world. He doesnt represent and he doesnt care. His just found excuse lately is that he had an operation. Long before his operation he was non-existent. PM we cannot take another minute of sam, let alone another 5 years. This parl rep has to go.
Shame, Shame on he Opposition. No respect for the President, Head of the State. Won’t do this with the New President who will soon be sworn in anyway fellas.
Alas Ambrose! Do something for us down Loubiere, Wallhouse etc. Look at our roads. At least the main road, just re-surface the thing. Too many patches, too many holes. Concrete on the main road usless. You not doing anything for us. You forget us man? I doesn’t hear you talking about Newtown, Citronier, Castle Comfort, Wallhouse, not even Loubiere. Awar! Best we get somebody else wee.
i died ma
to bad for all you
Once again we see the unfairness of the Skerrit Labor Party. Reading of the friendly budget took over two hours,God knows how long it took Skerrit and his team to prepare it, but he gave the opposition approximately one day for the reply.Skerrit must understand that the opposition has some powerful politicians that will give a tremendous account of themselves.
u all laborites a so hypocrite with u all self. what we need is a change of gorvernment.
wow what a friendly budget!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
kudos to firefighter Lawrence nice to see u bro
Is Isidore sick or out of the country? I think Spaggs might need him to brake down the figures.
i looked at all the pictures and i doe see a chinese i suprised wii…. i hear roseau was their own…buh i doe see none
Take a trip and see for yourself.
Ohhh…what happen?? Can’t afford??
You sure right can’t afford because it is HARD all over and not dominica alone.
Love that response
Norris Prevost representing them, he has the biggest share from their Rent money!!!
I would like to congratulate the two leading females of the day. Mrs. V. Letang, Leader of the Govt band and Mrs. Yvonne Alexander commander in charge of the armed forces. Well done ladies. You have both made us very proud.
Never knew DA had ‘ armed forces’? Nice to know
we the people of newtown red green blue are saying enough is enough and we need a new new candiate we know dlp is very strong and we are appealing to PM skerro to get a proper new candidate
100% with you on that 1…time for change
As for Soufriere, we have a sleeping Parl Rep.
It’s your Parl Rep So wake him up.
worse parl rep ever.
why because handouts stop, the parl rep doh good?
lmao