Friday, December 11, 2009

Bahamas: Parliament to be prorogued

By KRYSTEL ROLLE ~ Guardian Staff Reporter ~ krystel@nasguard.com:


Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham announced yesterday that Parliament will be prorogued early next year, a move that Opposition Leader Perry Christie said could have "constitutional importance".

However, Ingraham said the government merely wishes to start a "new session with new and additional business" in the House of Assembly.

"We will therefore seek to dispose of the matters that are now on the agenda in January," Ingraham said. "There are several committees of the House that have been appointed for quite some time and I'd like to urge them to complete their reports before the end of January or very shortly thereafter."

This is the first time the Parliament is being prorogued since the Ingraham administration took office in 2007.

"We are mindful that prorogations are major events in the calendar of the House of Assembly in which a government determines to put forth its agenda — given the timing — that will take it into the next general election," Christie said.

"So clearly, it could be an eventful session that we're looking forward to when other constitutional important measures may be taken."

While Christie agreed with Ingraham that the select committees should try to give their reports by the beginning of the new year, he asked the Speaker of the House Alvin Smith to assist the committee heads to get necessary resources so that they can complete their work.

"We all agreed when appointing the committee, it was important work. We cannot frustrate a committee by withholding resources and therefore it is unable to get its work done and it's also for the crime committee as well. They are also important committees in terms of the times in which we live," Christie said.

Both the select committee on crime and the select committee looking into alleged sexual misconduct in public schools have had difficulties finishing their work, according to their respective chairpersons.

Bain and Grants Town MP Bernard Nottage, who chairs the crime committee, said the committee is seeking financial assistance from the government to make trips to Grand Bahama and the Family Islands.

The select committee on crime is mandated to examine the unacceptably high level of crime in The Bahamas, investigate to what extent social conditions have impacted the level of crime; review to what extent public institutions have added to the problem of crime and make recommendations for solutions to the crime problem.

Englerston MP Glenys Hanna-Martin chairs the committee looking into alleged sexual misconduct at public schools.

Concerns about alleged sexual abuse in public schools were heightened earlier this year after an allegation emerged that former Eight Mile Rock High School teacher Andre Birbal, of Trinidad and Tobago, molested a student who has since graduated.

House Speaker Smith agreed to meet with the chairpersons to ascertain exactly what their concerns are.

December 11, 2009

thenassauguardian