Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act, 2014; Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2014 and the Grenada Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Act, 2014.
The senate is also expected to approve the Provisional Collection of Taxes (Validation of collection of Customs Service Charge) Bill, 2014; Government Fees Bill, 2014; the Interviewing of Suspects for Serious Crimes Bill, 2014 and the Protection of Witnesses Bill, 2014.
The Senate comprises seven representatives from the Government, three from the Opposition and one each from the Business, Farming and Labour communities.
On today’s Order Paper, are various questions which range from the appointment of honorary ambassadors to the type of fruits and vegetables imported into the country.
Senator the Honourable Raymond Roberts, will ask the Leader of Government Business, Senator the Honourable Kenny Lalsingh, the following questions:
UNANSWERED AT SITTINGS OF 29 NOVEMBER AND 20 DECEMBER, 2013 (Question 1 ONLY)
Question No. 1: Will the Leader of Government Business inform the Honourable Senate of the number of Honorary Ambassadors the Government has appointed since taking Office in February of this year — their names, nationalities and where they are currently based? In addition, the Leader of Government Business is requested to provide a copy of their job descriptions.
Question No. 2: The Leader of Government Business and Minister for Implementation is kindly asked to provide the Honourable Senate with answers to the following questions:
(a) The number of investors who have invested in Grenada following the election of the new government in February, 2013.
(b) And, if anyone invested, how many persons did the company or companies employ during the period?
(c) The types of investment and location or locations of each company.
Question No. 3: The Leader of Government Business and Minister for Implementation is kindly asked to provide the Honourable Senate with answers to the following questions:
(a) The number of persons employed in each Parliamentary Constituency Office who are paid by the State.
(b) The salary and allowances paid.
(c) Cost of rental for each Office.
Senator the Honourable Raymond Roberts, will ask the Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs, Senator the Honourable Jester Emmons, the following questions:
Question No. 4: The Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs is kindly asked to provide the Honourable Senate with answers to the following questions:
(a) A list of small contractors employed by government to undertake projects on the sister iof Carriacou and Petite Martinique between July and December, 2013.
(b) The specific area in which each was employed to provide a service.
(c) The cost of each project.
(d) The number of people each contractor employed.
Senator the Honourable Keith Clouden, will ask the Leader of Government Business, Senator the Honourable Kenny Lalsingh, the following question:
UNANSWERED AT SITTINGS OF 29 NOVEMBER AND 20 DECEMBER, 2013 (Question No. 1 ONLY)
Question No. 1
(a) With respect to the US 3.5 million dollars loan from the Caricom Development fund, will any of the beneficiary sectors receive grants? If the answer is in the affirmative, which sector(s) are to receive grants and what is the criteria for receiving such grants?
(b) What amount of funds from the US $3.5 million dollars will go as support to the Grenada Development Bank?
(c) To the Agricultural Sector?
(d) Small and medium size enterprises other than agriculture?
(e) Energy development in the Tourism Sector?
(f) Information and Communication Technology?
(g) Standards, Metrology and Certification?
Question No. 2
(a) Can you please provide the Senate with copies of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government and the Grenada Development Bank with respect to the Small Business Development Loan Programme (SBDLP)?
(b) Who are the Members of the Management Committee of the SBDLP and what are their functions?
(c) What are the job titles of Mr Alistair Bain and Mr Richard Mc Phail and what salaries are they paid monthly?
(d) Is the salary paid to Mr Bain and Mr Mc Phail drawn down from the Small Business Development Loan Fund?
(e) How many project applications have been received and approved to date, the type of economic activity and the location of each project approved, and the amount of funds allocated to each project?
(f) Please provide the details on the payment schedules for each project and their status.
(g) What methodology is being used to monitor and evaluate the implementation of projects and the overall performance of the programme?
Senator the Honourable Keith Clouden, will ask the Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Senator the Honourable Simon Stiell, the following questions:
UNANSWERED AT SITTINGS OF 29 NOVEMBER AND 20 DECEMBER, 2013 (Questions 3–5 ONLY)
Question No. 3
(a) What are the specific Terms of Reference of the Committee responsible for overseeing the process for the commercialization of Government Estates?
(b) What specific criteria will the Committee use in determining the eligibility of an investor(s)?
(c) Is the government considering entering into a Public/Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement for the commercialization of the estates? If yes, give details of the public/private partnership.
Question No. 4
(a) How many persons have been convicted for acts of praedial larceny over the last twelve (12) months?
(b) How many persons were fined by the Courts and what was the total amount of money in fines?
(c) Were those funds put into the Praedial Larceny Fund as required by the Praedial Larceny Act? And, if the answer is not in the affirmative explain why.
(d) What is the amount of funds in the Praedial Larceny Fund presently?
Question No. 5
(a) What new initiatives are being instituted by the NNP Administration to address the praedial larceny menace affecting farmers, the sector and the national economy as a whole?
(b) Has any funds from the $950,000 allocated in the 2013 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure to combat against praedial larceny expended? If yes, provide details on the expenditure thus far.
Question No. 6
(a) Which fruits and vegetables are prohibited/restricted from importation into Grenada?
(b) Did the Ministry of Agriculture issue import permits to Sandals La Source Grenada to import fruits and vegetables designated as prohibited/restricted?
(c) Does the Ministry of Agriculture always work in compliance with the provisions laid down in the Plant Protection Act?
(d) Is the Plant Protection Board appointed and functioning? If no, explain why. If yes, who are the Members and were they appointed as stipulated in the Act?
(e) Who does the Act stipulate must be Members of the Plant Protection Board? And what is the primary function of the Board?
(f) Who has been advising the Minister of Agriculture on matters for the control of pests/disease injurious to plants and to prevent the importation of plants and materials harmful to agriculture?
Question No. 7
(a) With respect to the commercialization of selected Government Estates, has any application been approved by the Selection Committee? If yes, who are the successful applicants and for which estates?
(b) If the answer to part (a) is in the affirmative, could you indicate which crops would be produced, in what amounts, and for which market(s)?
(c) What was the proposed rate of the lease by the Selection Committee and what was the final rate agreed on?
(d) What value was assigned to each of the estates by the Selection Committee?
(e) What mechanism(s) are in place to ensure that the successful applicant comply with the terms and conditions of the lease?
(f) Have the estates been officially surveyed? If yes, what is the acreage of the individual estates? If no, how do you plant to execute the lease?
By Linda Straker