 Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, as the minister responsible for commerce, business development, manufacturing, properties and consumer affairs, I rise in support of the investment Russia amendment bill, now on the floor of this August body. Mr. Speaker, it is instructive that we are passing this amendment during business month. And as the member for orchestries south just indicated, Mr. Speaker, the overall objective of this amendment is to improve the efficiency of doing business in St. Lucia. Mr. Speaker, the ministry of commerce works closely with investment Russia and share similar mandates in pursuant of private sector development and growth. Invest St. Lucia has a function to stimulate, facilitate and promote investment opportunities for foreign or local investors in St. Lucia. While the ministry of commerce has the responsibility for creating and sustaining an enabling environment for trade and investment. Mr. Speaker, neither trade nor investment occurs in a vacuum. And it is a prerequisite for us to have a vibrant commercial and industrial ecosystem in which productivity, innovation and diversity can coexist along with policy, regulations, transparency and accountability. This fine balance, Mr. Speaker, is what enables businesses and entrepreneurs to carve out a substantial niche market and opportunity. Each entity and each institution, whether it is a micro, medium, large or whatever trade, whether it's in trade or services, Mr. Speaker, it's important in making St. Lucia a competitive and attractive destination for foreign direct investment and for doing business. Mr. Speaker, I would like to highlight a few activities and initiatives by the Ministry of Commerce and business development in particular in support of private sector growth and development and overall enhancement of the business climate in St. Lucia. And this month the ministry is observing businessmen through under the theme sustaining trade in digital age, Mr. Speaker. And today I want to highlight a few things. The ministry with the support of the OS has provided 50 MSMEs across St. Lucia with point of sale machines and a one-year paid service subscription through our partners, Bank of St. Lucia, including the vendors. And we had the first launch of this initiative in Souffre about two weeks ago, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have discussed in this house the whole issue of our MSME and we have about 120 disbursement so far with over $2 million being disbursed. Mr. Speaker, these initiatives form part of a wider project entitled St. Lucia's Digital Enhancement Program and there we get support from our friends from the Republic of China, Taiwan. At a recently here at St. Lucia Taiwan partnership trade show, Mr. Speaker, visitors were left in awe of the wide range of technology-based businesses that already exist here in St. Lucia. From free D holograms to robotics, virtual reality and other emerging technologies. I think it's fair to say, Mr. Speaker, that St. Lucia received a glimpse of what the world has to offer and what our very own St. Lucia's can bring to the fore. Mr. Speaker, the path forward for us therefore is obvious. In order to remain relevant in this new investment and business age, digital transformation is absolutely necessary. Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Commerce looks forward to continue working with St. Lucia and our private partners in advancing towards this path. Mr. Speaker, I felt it was important for us to come in to outline some of the things that we've done. Because, Mr. Speaker, about three weeks ago, the honorable member for Swazel Solid Bus in one of the what you call Open Tong Hors, I would consider made a very dishonorable act, Mr. Speaker. Oh, you did? Yeah. And at that time, the honorable member was discussing the whole issue of the shortage of rise in St. Lucia. And the honorable member made a statement to the effect that there is a shortage of rise either because the ministry has an incompetent minister or that the government of St. Lucia does not have the money. Mr. Speaker, the member for Swazel Solid Bus, the member for Sufray is standing at the point of order. Mr. Speaker, at the point of order, the member is missing in the house. The member indicated that at a town hall meeting, she made a reference that I alluded to the minister of commerce being incompetent. I never uttered these words, Mr. Speaker. And I think, madam from Sufray François-Jacques, I never uttered these words. I never uttered the words. I never uttered the words that the minister of commerce was incompetent. In fact, Mr. Speaker, if you would allow me, I could indicate exactly what yes. I indicated that during my time as the minister of commerce, I received a report monthly indicating and I gave various areas in which the PS would report to me in terms of what was at the warehouse, in terms of the quantity, how much sales we had for a particular period, how long we expected the quantity that was left in the warehouse to continue, what shipment was on route to St. Lucia, where the shipment was coming from. This was my words, but I have never referred to the minister and I think the minister, if he has received information, Saturnhan should know better because of how I have always spoken about her in this house in particular. Thank you. The member for Sufray François-Jacques, the member for Sufray François-Jacques has indicated he never uttered these words. Mr. Speaker, what's your response? The member implied that either the minister is incompetent or that the government has no money. What did the government have? No money, no funds. So you stand by your statement? I stand by my statement and I'm saying, I raised it here and the honorable member is correct in terms of saying that he ought not to, maybe what he should have said is he ought not to imply what he implied. He ought and he is aware because the honorable member was also a member, a minister in the Ministry of Commerce. The member for Sufray François-Jacques has another point of order to reason. Mr. Speaker, I would like if you were allowed at the next sitting of this house, I could provide a recording to indicate that I have never referred to the minister as being incompetent. Very much. Very much. Proceed member for Sufray François-Jacques. Thank you Mr. Speaker. So Mr. Speaker, the issue, and I'm raising this because I've sat here last week Tuesday and today. And what I'm seeing very clearly is an issue of misinformation and disinformation. Now when we took an office to serve in this honorable house, we took an office to serve the people of St. Bush. Now the people at the Ministry of Commerce, the staff at the Ministry of Commerce are working on the intense pressure knowing that we have to ensure that there is basic commodities of rice flour and sugar on this island. And the honorable member, as he just informed, being a former minister is a way of the processes. So the statement that we made, and I really wanted to bring the entire statement and play it in this honorable house. Because what you have done is to demoralize the staff at the Ministry of Commerce, especially at the White House Department. The issue of misinformation and disinformation is something that we have to stop doing. This place is too small for it. It is too small for it. So Mr. Speaker, what are some of the things that we are doing? I have raised some of the things that we are doing. But this particular adjustment before us is important, it is necessary. In collaboration with Interest and Lucia, the Ministry of Commerce continues to pursue the development of robust policies in support of business process outsourcing. And that's an important area for us, Mr. Speaker. We would call it call centers in our own local palace. This sector has grown very important to the local economy. It requires as well, it provides significant employment for our sector. And I am pleased to report, especially for our youth, that the video sector is one that we are working on policies to ensure that we create employment. Mr. Speaker, in collaboration with Interest and Lucia, the Ministry of Commerce as well as other stakeholders are working on creating a business incubator sector. And that's important for us, Mr. Speaker, especially for our small businesses in support of our MSME agro-processors and manufacturers. In the move towards industrialization, formalization and market penetration. Mr. Speaker, given my Ministry's mandate to nurture that entrepreneurial spirit to facilitate private sector growth and development and ensure there is an enabling environment for trade and investment and given the full collaboration with Interest and Lucia, today I stand here fully supporting this adjustment. Mr. Speaker, only yesterday we had the opportunity to have HR service and to honor some 11 businesses. Businesses that have served for more than 50 years in this country. At the Lady of Fatima Church in La Clare. And for me, Mr. Speaker, it was a moment when the Ministry of Commerce, the Government of Saint Lucia and the business community came together in thanking God and thanking each other for serving Saint Lucia. Mr. Speaker, I stand here in full support of this adjustment. And I give a commitment to the business community that we at the Ministry of Commerce and Invest Saint Lucia and the Government of Saint Lucia will do all in our power to improve the business climate in Saint Lucia and by extension grow the economy of Saint Lucia. I thank you.