Parliament prorogued

By Linda Straker

THE Keith Mitchell-led administration of the New National Party, which was elected on February 19, 2013, has concluded its first session of the Ninth Parliament.

Governor-General, Her Excellency Dame Cecile La Grenade, GCMG, by a Proclamation dated August 28, 2013, prorogued the First Session of the Ninth Parliament of Grenada with effect from September 2, 2013.

During the session, a number of bills were approved by both Houses. The most controversial of these were the Electronic Crimes Bill, which was at one time withdrawn and the Citizenship by Investment Bill, which were both among the last batch of bills to be approved by the Senate when it had its concluding session on August 21.

A number of questions, especially those submitted by Ray Roberts, Labour Representative in the Senate, were also unanswered and he had sought permission from the President to print the questions in the local newspapers.

A date is yet to be set for the opening of the second session, but it is expected to resume during the month of October with the ceremonial opening of the Throne Speech from the Governor-General.

This will be the first Throne Speech by Dame Cecile La Grenade as she was appointed after the opening of the first session. Former Governor-General, Sir Carlyle Glean, delivered the Throne Speech for the First Session of the Ninth Parliament.

The ceremonial speech outlines the plans and programmes expected to be undertaken by Government for the parliamentary year. Following the ceremonial opening, the next significant parliamentary activity will be the presentation of the 2014 Budget, which Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell, who is also Minister of Finance, has promised will be delivered in early December.