 House of Assembly where debate continues on this year's estimates of expenditure to the tune of $1,856,719,000. The debate opened this morning with presentations from the member for Southeast Castries, the Honourable Joachim Henry, followed by the member for Denry South, who is also the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Alfred Prospe, and the member for Meekood North, who is also the Deputy Speaker, the Honourable Jerry Mayer Norbert. With me as usual is Michael Gasper. During the period 2022-2023, a number of initiatives were taken by this President Administration. Prime Minister Pierce secured parliamentary approval to amend the Constitution of St. Lucia to ensure the post of Deputy Speaker is compulsorily occupied and has been the convention for more than three decades, from 1979 to 2016, before it was discontinued. Parliament approved of the Constitutional Amendment and that now guarantees the election of a Deputy Speaker, and also ensures the post is filled immediately or not later than the following setting of the House. Prime Minister Pierce, with the backing of legislators on the government side of the lower House of Parliament, wrote a new and historic chapter in St. Lucia's post-independence history. What has been a 22-year pursuit to attain regional jurisprudence that began back in 2001 came full circle on February 28th, 2023, when the second reading of the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill was debated and passed in the lower House. Prime Minister Pierce also successfully completed St. Lucia's full transition to the Caribbean Court of Justice. On January 17th, 2023, Prime Minister Pierce tabled a motion in Parliament to debate and examine the recommendations of the St. Jude Hospital Reconstruction Project Review Committee. The Review Committee was appointed in 2021 and comprised a seven-member cohort of professionals to analyze the events surrounding the St. Jude Hospital Reconstruction Project that was initiated after the fateful fire of 2009. Determined to ensure law and order prevails, the Prime Minister also extracted violent lawmakers or to also extract violent lawmakers from St. Lucia's communities, the Prime Minister led administration to strengthen the Firearms Act. On July 26th, the Firearms Amendment Act was debated and went through its final stages and subsequently passed in the lower House of Parliament. Debate on the Special Prosecutors Act went through all its stages in the lower House of Assembly on August 9th, 2022. Soon this afternoon's debate will start, but just a bit of information. We have yet to see the leader of the opposition, and so I don't know whether we will be greeted with his presence this afternoon. Michael Gasper. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, for preparing us for the next session of Reconstruction that will start this morning. The debate will start after the presentation of the Prime Minister, which was held on Tuesday next to the Prime Minister, to present a BGF. We have yet to see the Prime Minister present a BGF. We have yet to see the Prime Minister present a BGF. We have yet to see the Prime Minister present a BGF. It was on April, and I was presented the BGF on March. But how can we do that? The member for good afternoon members, when we rose the question before the Honourable House, was that the appropriation 2023-2024 bill be read a second time. The member for Rosalie. Mr Speaker, I rise to throw my support behind this appropriation bill. But before I explain why Mr Deputy Speaker, please grant me leave once again to thank the people of Rosalie for bestowing their confidence in me as a parliamentary representative. You've seen the stark difference in the modus operandi of those who were born on Maritair Street, but on different sides of the political aisle. And they've realized that they should watch and look in one particular direction, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, the people have been patient with me and they are fully aware that I continue to work hard for them daily. Mr Speaker, please grant me leave to congratulate publicly Julian Alfred for yet again breaking our sprint records, Mr Speaker. Alfred is putting the rest of the world on notice that St. Lucia is here and that sports development is on the right track in the simply beautiful island of St. Lucia, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, allow me to congratulate our Carifter track and field team who achieved the historic landmark of eight medals at the 50th edition of the championship. Allow me to also congratulate the Carifter swim team on their medal tally at the swimming version of this annual event. The swimmers continue to toil against the region's best as they wait patiently for their 50-meter pool. In addition to this, our women continue to make us proud in the sport of cricket. St. Lucia emotes champions of the Woodward Islands 50 over tournament and they finish second in the T20 version, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, our under-19 male team featured in one, Sony Ledward, dominated this year's competition, Mr Speaker. And we know he's supposed to be an Adrenaline team and we'll do what we have to do because we know the talent resides in the people of St. Lucia, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, I got re-vote to so many of our achievements in the past two months, Mr Speaker. The Andre Colgen, second place finish, Caribbean Table Tennis Tournament, Mr Speaker. Top two in the region, Mr Speaker. Six solutions, Mr Deputy Speaker, qualified for a global event in the sport of chess. Six, Mr Speaker. And yet some would stand and posture and say, nothing is going on in the ministry of youth development and sports, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, after five plus years of being in a horrible relationship, Fair Helen decided to break up with her abusive partner. In 2021, Helen as a woman was beaten, battered and when she thought she would have been free after five years, they battered her for months on end, Mr Speaker. That you are insignificant. Noose after noose was placed around her neck. Tuesday after Tuesday, they borrowed and borrowed to drown and suffocate Helen, Mr Speaker. When they didn't borrow, they gave away. More and more. And they gave away. The last, Mr Speaker, Fair Helen got to a comatose state where she was placed in a hospital, Mr Speaker. But, Mr Speaker, on July 26, 2021, in came a team of doctors from the St. Lucia Labour Party and outwinter bankers coupled with a medical genius from Castries North and a trauma surgeon from Castries Central. Mr Speaker, the most critical component of that medical team is the chief of surgery from Castries East, Mr Speaker. This is a man with over 25 years of experience. He is seasoned, well educated and most of all, Mr Speaker, he studied at an institution close enough to Fair Helen which placed him in a position of empathy, far superior to a former abuser whose Canada education proved insufficient, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, could you imagine the ones who caused so much damage to Fair Helen, they were busy taking the vehicle away from a brilliant deputy chief of surgery from Castries South in an attempt to prevent him from coming to do the additional work that Helen needs, Mr Speaker. But, Mr Speaker, as we heard from the chief of surgery, the surgeon from Castries South pushed on and his hair bringing in the blood of life, the medicine called tourism, into the veins of Helen, Mr Speaker. And so, Mr Speaker, we continue to see the progress being made finally by Helen. Also a critical part of this team is the fluent, stylistic but aggressive heart surgeon from the constituency of Labry, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, this heart surgeon traveled near and far to negotiate a health aid from Taiwan to Venezuela, from Cuba to Serbia to bring in as much aid to Helen, Mr Speaker. Now, Mr Speaker, when someone has been abused as Helen was and has debt to the tune of four billion dollars, the open wounds are very painful to cure, Mr Speaker. The saws yield great pains and stings when the necessary bombs and medication are applied. Sometimes, Mr Speaker, the great doctor has no choice but to apply even more pressure to produce great relief in the future. And so, Mr Speaker, when the chief of surgery from Castries East along with the other doctors selected for great recovery began their work, Mr Speaker, more and more issues read the ugly heads, which undoubtedly, Mr Speaker, provided setbacks on our way to recovery. The disease of direct awards, DFCs came in for immediate financial payments. You'll remember. It lessened the chief's ability to provide better roads on our way to recovery. And so the team had to settle with the patching and patching of deep holes embedded over for Helen on the way to this great recovery. Could you imagine, Mr Speaker, that not even the hospital, which is critical to Helen's health, was given the tools for her survival, Mr Speaker? In fact, they played foolish games with it and failed to give her brother up north called Owen King any attention until crisis hit, Mr Speaker. But, Mr Speaker, while this medical team is at work their night, hour after hour on Helen, her previous abusers, they are busy criticizing the progress and blaming the new team for not being able to do more to give for Helen all that she needs while we are working on making her better, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, I listened to the chief of surgery diagnose and explain the medical procedures he intend to undertake to make Helen better. And in his diagnosis, he spoke about revenue because we know, Mr Speaker, and we see the posturing, Helen or any individual, any country, cannot survive without revenue. You cannot prosper without revenue. You cannot criticize on the one hand and say you need to do A, B, and C to curb crime. But say, don't have any levies. You cannot say, let's do this about our medical situation, but don't bring revenue to our country. And so, Mr Speaker, we see with class how this chief of surgery is going to ensure that revenue is brought into this nation without suffocating for Helen, Mr Speaker. So the chief of surgery understands that Helen needs food. And so no levy is placed on food, on groceries in St. Lucia, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, the chief of surgery indicated that we need healthcare and that Helen needs to be healthier. And so there's a levy on cigarettes, which we know, which we know is not good for Helen, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, we know at the end of the day that proper shelter is needed for Helen. And so, Mr Speaker, we've removed that, Mr Speaker, on cement, Mr Speaker, on plywood, Mr Speaker. Those things that we know Helen needs to provide shelter for her and her children, Mr Speaker. And so, Mr Speaker, I have no issue with supporting the Minister of Finance and the member for Castries East in his quest to provide a better way for Helen, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, the member for Mikusov said during the budget debate that all we do is speak, all we do is travel. And he said again, Mr Speaker, that nothing is going on. And it's enhanced. He even said that nothing is going on in the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports. Can you believe this, Mr Speaker? He even had the audacity, the humility, the unmitigated girl to bring up Julian Alfred, Mr Speaker, in this honorable house. Mr Speaker, do you know that some of it traveled during this financial, last financial year was to ensure that athletes such as Julian Alfred can continue to flourish, can do what she needs to do untamed, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, when we came in, a government body called WADA, World Anti-Doping Agency, it requires every nation with Olympic athletes, with athletes that are desirous of representing the country to make contributions, to ensure that the anti-doping laws and regulations meet the international standards. And when we came in government, Mr Speaker, there was a huge concern that enough was not done in this regard. And so, when WADA called a very important appointment was made in Jamaica to ensure that St. Lucia was in compliance with those rules, Mr Speaker. And so we see, Mr Speaker, that finally, that we have a committee set up in St. Lucia that will allow that everything we need to do as it applies to anti-doping is followed to the T. When this is not done, Mr Speaker, at any point in time you can be sanctioned. We know some of what has happened in developed countries in terms of doping, and we will never, as a ministry, allow for St. Lucia to not be in compliance. And so we've done everything we've had to do to ensure that we are doing the justice that our athletes need. Mr Speaker, we have decided as a ministry that part of our mandate is to reach young people where they are. And so, Mr Speaker, we have decided that we are going to have an alternative sports desk at our ministry. Mr Speaker, not every young person in St. Lucia can kick a ball and run fast and shoot a basket. And so, Mr Speaker, in order for us to touch those that are involved in other activities that are considered physical, we ensured that we employed Craig Gustav, Mr Speaker, whose mandate was to reach these young individuals, find out what their interests are, and provide programming for them, Mr Speaker. And so, Mr Speaker, we're seeing with this alternative sports desk the development of chess, Mr Speaker. We're seeing motocross, Mr Speaker, and all of those activities being given attention finally in this country, Mr Speaker. And so, Mr Speaker, as I said earlier, scores, scores of young people participated in a national test tournament in the community of Bruce Lee. We had individuals from all walks of life, Mr Speaker. More than 100 young people participating in this competition. And so, we saw six of them, six of them reaching a threshold and they are currently in Venezuela participating in this competition, Mr Speaker. And so, Mr Speaker, motocross, video games, that's the likes throughout the year, Mr Speaker. We will be developing it, but we've decided that we are going to have an alternative sports season. And so, between December 13 from February 22nd, this is the ideal time where we see a structure for those competitions, Mr Speaker. And for the first time this year, Mr Speaker, having this season, we saw more than 300 individuals from across the region descending on Celusia to take part in this tournament, Mr Speaker. And so, the bikers enjoyed some good times in Souffre. A very nice competition organized and you can see some of the photos beaming with pride as they received their medals, Mr Speaker. Finally getting some recognition, Mr Speaker. And we saw the talent, Mr Speaker. And we're going to continue to note you that. Mr Speaker, one of the alternative opportunities we identified was the development of beach football in St. Lucia. And so, Mr Speaker, we saw in early April the first steps towards this development. We had a northern beach football tournament, Mr Speaker. So, Mr Speaker, the young people, they came out and they enjoyed football in the sand. We are surrounded by beaches and water, Mr Speaker. A few years ago, we came out on top at the Commonwealth Junior level in beach football. And since then, not enough has been done. So, Mr Speaker, the games were highly competitive. New generation from the community of Babu Nukibat on top. And so, I know, Rosili, Castries and all the others of North, we'll be looking to do something considering Babu Nukibat doesn't even have a beach. And so, we're looking to spread on the west coast, the east coast, and in the south, Mr Speaker. Mark. Whip sand. Speaking of football, the Ministry of Sports continues to collaborate with the Saint Lucia Football Association and the Youth Economy Agency for the establishment of the semi-professional league in Saint Lucia. The association has been putting together the technical and legal framework for our footballers to be placed in a dynamics that allows for them to be bought locally, regionally and internationally. This league is expected to set the path for greater financial gains by our clubs in Saint Lucia. And so, Mr Speaker, when they say nothing is going on with the youth, you have to wonder. This opens the door for young people interested in photography. Set up your online agency. Come to the playing fields. Get persons to advertise on your website. This provides the opportunities for physiotherapists, Mr Speaker. Videographers, Mr Speaker. Get involved in digital marketing, Mr Speaker. And of course, the coaches and those involved in health and fitness can also benefit from this activity, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, I remember for a number of years played football in Grosley and of course all over Saint Lucia and in the region. I never got 25 cents for all my efforts. Finally, a young person in the communities can say I am going to be a professional footballer, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, we've developed all of those activities in collaboration with the Saint Lucia Football Association, Mr Speaker. We are doing all of this to develop the most popular sport in Saint Lucia. Yet, Mr Speaker, remember for Mikusa and its surrogates, you take to social media to falsely tell the people of Saint Lucia that I used taxpayers' monies or that I requested taxpayers' monies to attend the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Mr Speaker. Indian assistant by Bradley. Mr Speaker, again, they traveled and traveled but for them, a young minister, a little boy from what would they consider from Maritare Street running around in his council on Bay Street playing hide and seek under the cocoa pair that young man cannot possibly be invited by FIFA to watch a World Cup, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, a young man who is working assiduously to bring which football up, Mr Speaker. He cannot be invited, Mr Speaker. So, Mr Speaker, I'm left with no choice but to set the record straight, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, United Park. Let's start with the United Workers Party page. And I'm going to read some of the posts that was placed in plain sight, tarnishing my name. Information reaching us from some disgruntled officials within the Ministry of Sports is that an allocation of over $50,000 had been requested by Minister Kenson Kazemi to cover a five-day trip to Qatar to witness the finals of a FIFA World Cup. United Workers Party. United Parks and Lucia. There seem to be more questions and answers in this Kazemi FIFA saga. We must note that the most common FIFA email format is exsofiazul.org. Does FIFA ever communicate with the government organization regarding FIFA events or do they go through the Football Association? We are now in communication with FIFA officials to ascertain the authenticity of documents. Lies and more lies. United Parks and Lucia. At a time when solutions are reeling from incidents of crime and high food and fuel prices, we have been informed that the Ministry of Sports intends to travel to Qatar with taxpayers' money. The Kenson Kazemi FIFA saga is Kenson Kazemi the most fortunate Minister of Sports in the Caribbean to be awarded a ticket to Qatar by FIFA. For the records, FIFA always pay for lodging, etc. When issued a ticket, Kenson was handed a ticket by the St. Lucia Football Association and he received a top-up probably NLE. All this was done in the name of politics. St. Lucia Football Association is very political. It goes on to say that the FA is killing our local football. Is Kenson Kazemi the most fortunate Minister of Sports in the Caribbean and I think he sees the name and he wants me to say it. There are lots of court proceedings so I just want to be very strategic, Mr. Speaker. This is what they peddled because a young man who is working assiduously with FIFA cannot be invited to watch the FIFA World Cup, Mr. Speaker. And so Mr. Speaker I'm left to ensure that I get the official document from FIFA and today Mr. Speaker I'm going to make this a document of the house. FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Invitation Honourable Kenson Jay Kazemi Minister of Youth Development and Sports of St. Lucia Zurich 12 December, he knows Jay, that's the middle name. 12 December 2022 Invitation to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 FIFA Dear Mr. Kazemi from November 20 to 18 December 2022 the eyes of the entire world will be on Qatar. The hosts of the 22nd FIFA World Cup and it is my great pleasure to invite you as a guest of honour to the first ever FIFA World Cup Games FIFA World Cup organised in the Middle East. I would be honoured to share this exciting adventure with you all while enjoying the warm Qatar hospitality and savouring the colour, passion and emotion that will be on display throughout the whole tournament. I would be grateful if you could confirm your attendance for any match of your choice by email to president at FIFA.org my office remains at your entire disposal for any need. Looking forward to welcoming you to Qatar I take this opportunity to thank you once again their minister for your contribution to the development of football and the promotion of the values of the sport in your country. Yours sincerely Gianni Infantino Gianni Infantino Mr Deputy Speaker I would like for this to be made a document of the house Mr Speaker making this a document of the house because Mr Speaker sometimes you just have to put yourself out there there is the opportunity contact FIFA some of them like to travel, travel to Zurich do any investigation that you need to and find out if this was not sent by FIFA is Kenson the most fortunate minister of sports in the Caribbean to be awarded a ticket to FIFA I say to them Kenson may be one of the hardest sports working sports ministers in the Caribbean and so when you know you invest your time you invest who you are you cannot let them sell your name and so Mr Speaker I'm going to read another email sent to my secretary because they said I requested $50,000 we look forward to welcoming the Honourable Kenson Kazemi to the final of the FIFA World Cup FIFA would be happy to organize flights and accommodation for Mr Kazemi I kindly ask you to share his preferred travel dates and route so we may propose options in addition we would be happy to assist him with his higher applications we kindly need his passport copy of his ID we will organize transfers from the airport to the matches Mr Speaker all covered by FIFA so Mr Speaker the member for Microsoft also said that nothing was going on in the Ministry of Sports Mr Speaker nothing was happening with the youth and so I have to sometimes wonder if he pays attention to what's going on or if he has selective amnesia by the way Hansard would have it today but I have officially officially filed legal documents against those who have tried to tarnish my reputation so Mr Speaker when I assume the position of youth and sports minister I was ready to take youth and sports development in this nation to another level and I still feel that way Mr Speaker as you may know the financing of youth and sports development comes primarily from activities of the St. Louis National Lottery Authorities and Mr Speaker we've had challenges most of the challenges created by my predecessor and so Mr Speaker very soon once I get the go ahead and the call cleft from the Attorney General due to the fact that we have some legal proceedings I'll be making some other pronouncements Mr Speaker but when I came in zero financial reports were done by the entity of the St. Louis National Lottery in fact the last time it was done I will have your guess the last time it was done or we saw any evidence it was when the member for Henry North was in charge Mr Speaker Mr Speaker at the last debate the member for Bikusaw said that the finances or the revenue from the National Lottery Authority is herring somewhere that it is low when I rose on a point of order a point of clarity would not allow me to speak but today I will speak Mr Speaker today I will definitely speak Mr Speaker the ministry went through some challenge in times Mr Speaker one of the major challenges was the poor state of the islands sporting facilities it is quite obvious that if we are going to develop a semi pro league or sports we need facilities and so Mr Speaker we had to ensure that the use of renewable energy became part of our overall youth and sports development first therefore we have embarked on a systematic approach to the rehabilitation of sporting infrastructure in St. Lucia during the financial year 2022-2023 we have undertaken works at the Souffre Ministry lighting and structural upgrades to the VG Sports Complex structural upgrades Cicero playing field lights at the Otaba Court Deramo Court Mr Speaker Saab playing field Goodlands Court Larissus Denry playing field we started some work there just before Black Hat last year the Corinth playing field and the Grossley playing field change room Mr Speaker in the new financial year we will undertake works at several other sporting facilities but unlike our predecessors who irresponsibly invested in plastic fields Mr Speaker Mr Speaker we have decided to be environmentally friendly Mr Speaker for sports development so we have initiated our renewable energy and sports program so in terms of lighting we have seen the huge cost of electricity bills and so Mr Speaker we have piloted the first ever 100% off the grid field lighting facility in the region in the community of Corinth I can say will be the first 100% solar lit playing field Mr Speaker off the grid as such Mr Speaker the lights could be on from 7pm and until 12 or 1 without a single cost to the community of course during the pilot we have seen the implementation cost of course originally would be up but a lifespan of over 20 years before you need to change a battery is well worth it Mr Speaker savings over time in addition to this Mr Speaker the Corinth secondary school they will enjoy the fact that their classrooms could be solar powered Mr Speaker and so we have a number of playing fields the roof of the school could be used to place the panels and the playing field could be lit and so we are killing two birds with one stone one stone and so Mr Speaker quite apart from what was done we are showing that we are more environmentally friendly Mr Speaker as such we will continue with this program at other venues through a phased approach first installing the LED lights at the facilities and then adding the solar panels to ensure we benefit from the sea some of the facilities include Bellevue Marigold Phillip Master Grounds Mendo Phillip Park Gardens Labry playing field The Wendt playing field when is there my office smiles The Wendt playing field Mr Speaker the Grand Ravine playing field I have understood that the minister the member has already started the process to ensure that the poles are on island and so NLA will ensure that it is LED and then transition 100% solar Mr Speaker this is the direction this is the vision of this government Mr Speaker I know it's all on you so Mr Speaker we continue to show a stark contrast in what we do and so one of the biggest projects we will be at taking is the National Aquatic Center in Grozely Mr Speaker we've had administrative after administrative setbacks Mr Speaker and when you have an activity or project of this magnitude you want to ensure that you get it right and you do it responsibly so we've taken every precaution and shortly after budget we will finally be seeing the commencement of the works Mr Speaker Mr Speaker is one thing to invest in our sporting infrastructure but another thing to manage and maintain it in this regard we have adopted a comprehensive policy on the management of sports facilities which will guide the administration of our sporting infrastructure the policy has been adopted and passed it's expected that all associations and affiliates and even parliamentary reps can understand what is needed for the upgrade of the playing field of national and international standards Mr Speaker so Mr Speaker we are continuing to look at the activities of the George Audlum Stadium and we expect that when we finally move into the new St. Jude's Mr Speaker that George Audlum will get the attention that it deserves Mr Speaker so in addition to providing and maintaining facilities the growth of the nations athletes depends on the strength and ability of programs and so we continue to encourage associations to focus on grassroots programs from the primary and the infant schools Mr Speaker so we've identified the Stuart Charles and old Baloch Jean under the emerging athletes program to identify some of our emerging athletes to place them in a program Mr Speaker so we will see the and we will reap the benefits going forward Mr Speaker Mr Speaker of critical focus and success for the ministry of youth development and sports was the reintroduction of school sports Mr Speaker so under 15 cricket tournaments Mr Speaker so netball so volleyball Mr Speaker so basketball and so Mr Speaker we continue to work with the ministry of education to ensure that we continue to develop school sports Mr Speaker it was very exciting to see the passion and the excitement displayed by all participants and some parents and Mr Speaker we continue to encourage them to come out and so we as a government decided that this year we will be hosting the rebranded island champs Mr Speaker Mr Speaker there is a reason why most other nations have gravitated towards having school sports on the weekend it allows some of the scouts from overseas to come and spend a weekend enjoy the sun and sea while taking in some of our athletes there are countless benefits parents could attend coaches from all over could attend the support from communities are heightened and so this year while it happened on a Friday we continue to have discourse and engagement with the ministry of education the teachers the principals the PE folks and coaches to ensure that we can house the island champs next year on the weekend Mr Speaker view for comprehensive they came out on top of this year's competition and somebody said as usual they had not done it for a little while they dominated this year and we identified the prize money for the school who won and this is also under review for next year's competition and so we require more and more stakeholders to come on board as we move in this direction Mr Speaker Mr Speaker I now turn my attention to the ministry's coaching program it's a very vibrant coaching unit 21 coaches in the fields of table tennis boxing, cricket, football volleyball, netball and track and field Mr Speaker I must note that last year we were able to secure the services of two Cuban coaches one for track and field one for boxing the focus in the new year will be on strengthening the capacity of coaches to produce even better quality athletes Mr Speaker the sport of boxing will be given particular attention this year the sport launched its hands in glove not on guns program down south and it has ripped huge benefits for all of us Mr Speaker hands in gloves not on guns Mr Speaker over 50 boxes from the communities in view for itself a part of this program and they continue to span through different schools to get them on board so that we can teach conflict resolution self-control anger management through sport Mr Speaker so we continue to see and rip those benefits Mr Speaker as recently we had the Caribbean boxing championships at the VG Multipurpose Court the champions of champions and St. Lucia came out on top Mr Speaker so we have been Mr Speaker great strides in the sport of boxing Mr Speaker the ministry's elite and emerging athlete program continues to provide much needed support to talented student athletes Mr Speaker one of the first things I did when I became minister of sport was to identify some of the best athletes on the island and as minister I made it my duty to visit these athletes visit their homes meet with their parents visit their schools speak with their coaches find out from their family what the situation is Mr Speaker and some of these athletes Mr Speaker we recommended counseling we recommended nutritional allowances transportation allowances we provided psychosocial support Mr Speaker to them and their families Mr Speaker I will not announce here who some of these athletes are but I can tell you Mr Speaker that despite some of the challenges in getting those resources to them we've seen them perform at high levels and we've seen them bring back medals to this great nation and so Mr Speaker and somebody postures and says nothing is going on in youth development and sports you have to wonder what's going on during the last year this program supported a total of 44 athletes to the tune of 252,265 dollars and 55 cents an average of $5,700 per athlete Mr Speaker this year Mr Speaker we have placed in a budget and amount to ensure the successful transition of Julian Alfred to a professional athlete and of course we all know how important that support is Mr Speaker Mr Speaker we will have other individuals make their pronouncements the Minister of Finance announced that Julian Alfred has finally been given a diplomatic passport by the Government of Central it was necessary Mr Speaker Mr Speaker and I will allow the other individuals to make the announcements as it relates to Julian Alfred Mr Speaker but we have to be careful and this Government took every precaution we consulted with the NCAA to ensure that we were not in the infringement of any of the rules we spoke with a coach we spoke with a parent Mr Speaker to ensure that we were doing the right thing Mr Speaker and of course we had to ensure that any pronouncement that we make did not affect her Mr Speaker and so in a month and a half she will be transitioning from a collegiate athlete to a professional athlete so vision of the Minister of Finance was there to ensure that we place a budget for this effective transition Mr Speaker and so she will not necessarily have to go and find a job we will provide the support when she finally gets there Mr Speaker Mr Speaker I must provide clarity sometimes on the policy of this Government as it pertains to sport and youth development because of some of what the sorrow gets seen Mr Speaker well they may not want to believe what they may want people to believe that the SFP Government is different from them I would like to make it clear that these two Governments are like chalk and cheese Mr Speaker the solution Labour Party is a Government that is compassionate and a Government that pays their bills Mr Speaker whether the person providing the invoice is Labour or Flubbo whether the project was ill-conceived like choosing artificial turf over grass when we come in Government we clear our bills and we get brutalized for it because instead of taking the finances and forgetting about the bills that were absorbed in times past instead of doing what we need to do we stop and we clear our bills Mr Speaker that is our modus operandi but Mr Speaker it is really sad when someone from overseas is given a contract they come to our country they use our people's services and did not pay them Mr Speaker they use small, medium size businesses resources and do not pay them Mr Speaker I was saddened by a letter and a bill that came to me Mr Speaker this bill was for taxi services rendered to Mr Don Lockaby for travel on the island of St. Lucia bills that are later found out you were supposed to have paid but did not Mr Speaker Mr Speaker when we came in the individual who has a small business who has to keep his business going Mr Speaker cannot get into contact with this gentleman and Mr Speaker had no choice but to pen a letter to the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports October 25th 2022 Mr Speaker during the member for Nicosauce presentation on the budget he had the audacity to say that the finances are low at the national lotteries Mr Speaker when we have to use the national lotteries some of their bills Mr Speaker and so and the member for Castry Selfies says I need pexo I need pexo and the member for view for itself has a beautiful program he wants to implement at the baneful secondary and he comes to me and I say the revenue is not there quite yet it is because we have to take care of bills that we inherit Mr Speaker some of the times October 25th 2022 Honourable Kensin Kazemi Minister for Sports Honourable Kazemi I write to officially request that money is owed to my company by Mr Don Lockaby be made available to me by the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports as you may know my company was contracted during the period of 2017 to 2019 to provide taxi services to Mr Lockaby during his time spent in St Lucia's National Sports Infrastructure Program since the completion of this program I have found it difficult to obtain payment from Mr Lockaby who is no longer in St Lucia I appeal to your good conscience as the Member of Parliament for our constituency of Grozily and the Minister for Sports to intervene on my behalf please see attached agreement for services and the outstanding voices Mr Grozily you have 10 minutes left Member for Cassie Central Mr Deputy I wish to invoke standing order number 328 to allow 10 sorry to allow the Member for Grozily an extra 30 minutes to complete his presentation Members standing order 4210 be invoked and not the Member for Grozily be granted an additional 50 minutes to conclude his presentation and I will put the question as many of this opinion say aye Aye as many of the country opinion say no Aye's have it I think the Aye's have it continue Member for Grozily Thank you Mr Speaker Thank you colleagues and so Mr Speaker we did our due diligence we had to make sure that what was being said was true and so the invoices along with the contract was brought to the ministry invoice 007 July 2019 UNR International Airport to Haber Club $150 Haber Club took ass trees and returned full day $350 Haber Club to UNR International $150 grand total $1952 for services of transporting Mr Lockeby around St. Lucia to put artificial tooth August 2019 this invoice VG to Souffre View for to Grozily View for to Souffre Haber Club to View for another $7800 October 2019 October 15 UNR International Airport to George F. L. Charles to George F. L. Charles Airport Haber Club to Grozily Haber Club to Souffre Souffre to UNR International $3600 October 31, 2019 where will we in 2019 before MBC you are now International to Grozily Haber Club another $3000 December 30, 2019 Haber Club to UNR International Airport UNR International Airport to Haber Club Haber Club to Grozily return the list goes on $7800 Tell them that's U.S. UNR International Airport to Haber Club UNR International Airport to Haber Club Haber Club to Grozily go through the list $11,564 that's easy to transfer Mr. Don Lockaby in the execution in the execution of the National Sports Infrastructure Mr. Speaker we had to come up with the financing to ensure that this gentleman who has a small business who needs his finances to pay for his family to do basic things Mr. Speaker to ensure that he is compensated and so as a government once we saw the contract had been signed once we got the invoices once we saw what was not paid what we saw was that we needed to compensate this individual and so we did Mr. Speaker we never asked what this person's political affiliation was matter of fact some persons believe that this person is of a political persuasion that may not be mine but Mr. Speaker once the work is done and there is confirmation we will try our best to ensure Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker this is the same government Mr. Speaker who is questioning and saying that finances are low who gave a 300,000 dollars Mr. Speaker they paid 300,000 dollars for medals during COVID-19 Mr. Speaker for school sports competitions during COVID-19 Mr. Speaker COVID medals you call it and the minister has a temerity the member has a temerity to say that he is hearing that finances are low Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker there is another one there is another one Scott's Sports Shop and Awards 22nd October 2019 Mr. Speaker $56,000 old Mr. Speaker since 2019 Mr. Speaker so Mr. Speaker we came in we decided after three years another medium size I'm not even sure we can call it a medium size business it's a small business with people being employed we had to ensure that we took care Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker there is more more invoices that we inherited the pool Mr. Speaker the pool was docked in Italy when we came in and already we were getting requests for payment of close to $30,000 a month because of an agreement that was signed so we said we're going to pray to bring our pools down in St. Lucia and then we're going to store it here for cheaper Mr. Speaker purchase orders Mr. Speaker and many more Mr. Speaker the long war I haven't seen that one I'll look for it Mr. Speaker we must continue to come together when it comes to sports development because sports development is something that we all can benefit from when Julian finally wins this Olympic medal we will say St. Lucia won the medal and so we mustn't play politics with things like Julian Alfred Mr. Speaker so Mr. Speaker young Naomi London Mr. Speaker is another prospect that we have in view of what now let's not play politics let's give her everything that we're supposed to Mr. Speaker as the minister Mr. Speaker I know I have tried from my part to ensure that everything that she needs sometimes there are delays Mr. Speaker and I get very disappointed but if corporate St. Lucia decides to do their part as it pertains to this young girl and the others we will go very far Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker youth development is something that I'm passionate about I really don't know how else to describe someone who knows the truth deliberately knows the truth comes into the house statements as if you know he is shy from the truth but knows the facts the fact is Mr. Speaker we did launch the Scale 758 app Mr. Speaker we did launch this in March Mr. Speaker we do have images that prove that the ministry of youth was in full attendance we had some issues with the app as with everything in technology that we had to take care of but the Scale 758 app is set to ensure that more people who are unemployed can find a one stop shop to provide their CVs so that they can be geolocated for job opportunities I was very happy to hear the Honourable Prime Minister announce that youth unemployment fell from 48.5% 25.9% Mr. Speaker and so this app is supposed to help out with providing even more opportunities to young people and so the fact is during this government during this administration's time any young person who is ambitious who is willing to work who has any plan or design can get some assistance this is the opportunity that we are providing for our people and so we continue to provide avenues for young people to speak and so the ministry as the crossroads program that could be viewed on NTN where we interview the young people that are doing things in the communities find out their experiences and provide advice to other young people Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker the member looked at the document and saw zero and he said nothing is going on Mr. Speaker and I felt insulted on behalf of the young people of this ministry Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker the ministry of youth development and sports through the western cluster of youth workers they embarked on an adopted angel school feeding program this program assisted in paid lunch fees for a few under privileged students in Sofra, Lancelor and in Canaries Mr. Speaker he comes to this honorable house and says nothing is going on the ministry of youth Mr. Speaker he's always lying sorry Mr. Speaker let me apologize why has he been disingenuous Mr. Speaker why is he enjoying a daily diet of dishonesty Mr. Speaker why Mr. Speaker why Mr. Speaker must he indulge in verbal masturbation that provides pleasure to only himself Mr. Speaker why Mr. Speaker especially as it pertains to our young people to everything especially Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker there's plenty going on in the ministry of youth Mr. Speaker Rosa Valley business information workshop Mr. Speaker job fair in Sofra Mr. Speaker the youth business forum young people youth workers from the ministry of youth development junior jazz festival is coming Mr. Speaker for the first time Mr. Speaker young persons in the art form in collaboration the member for central castries as a constituency council we are having Mr. Speaker junior jazz Mr. Speaker so Mr. Speaker the list goes on and on and on Mr. Speaker and so this year Commonwealth has indicated that 2023 will be designated as a year of youth Mr. Speaker at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Kigali in 2022 they sealed their commitments the government sealed their commitment to this Mr. Speaker and Mr. Speaker I am pleased to announce that the ministry in partnership with the youth council they have committed to ensuring that another legacy emerges from this recognition of the year of youth and so as opposed to just celebrating April Mr. Speaker we launched in April and we are going to enjoy a year of young activities throughout St. Lucia dance competitions singing competitions Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker youth parliament Mr. Speaker and so we are going to continue to engage those young people for their ideas as to how it is that we can deal with this thing Mr. Speaker and so we have identified the issue of safety, security and peace to empower young people and communities as agents of safe national coexistence and so Mr. Speaker with USAID Mr. Speaker the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports collaborated on a YRE program Mr. Speaker YRE is a five-year project that still strengthens communities and with family systems, initiatives to improve responses to gender-based violence to pursue the violence Mr. Speaker and anything to do with violence and so during this still Mr. Speaker we are able to go to certain centers in St. Lucia including Viewfort to ensure that we start teaching self-control Mr. Speaker, conflict management this is done by the Ministry of Youth Mr. Speaker and so I won't tolerate anybody anybody stating that the youth of this nation employed by the Ministry is not working or nothing is going on Mr. Speaker so Mr. Speaker we are determined to uproot this culture of violence by building a safer and more resilient society as we struggle with this interpersonal crime and violence in St. Lucia Mr. Speaker and so we will do our part to work with the Ministry of National Security any other Ministry to ensure that we curb this issue of crime. During this year Mr. Speaker we will be ensuring that we pass the Youth Policy and Action Plan Mr. Speaker and this is a huge a huge document that will set the way for how we develop young people in our societies so I'm very excited about that Mr. Speaker I'm very excited about how we move this how this movement continues to grow and so very proud Mr. Speaker while I do not want to steal the from the Minister of the Youth Economy the Honourable Prime Minister but Mr. Speaker the youth economy is another agency that the Ministry continues to work with we have a lot of persons walking into the Ministry wanting information and so of course the Scale758 app is one area they can put the information but we encourage persons get to show us a road tap into the website make your applications as we continue to deal with youth unemployment Mr. Speaker and so the app Mr. Speaker will create a database of skills open employment opportunities open avenues for gig economy Mr. Speaker so they don't have to depend on government use your talent boost the local economy Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker based on our discussions and dialogue with other businesses Mr. Speaker we are seeing more and more persons interested in helping out with youth development Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker the Ministry has embarked on the old reunion school to convert it as a safe space Mr. Speaker the community of Choselle to help at the end of the day provide a building where young people can come and have a safe avenue to discuss programs and to develop each other Mr. Speaker all this Mr. Speaker is happening in the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker the positive youth development program is what underpins my ministry this ministry values young people we acknowledge that they are vital and will continue to work with their Mr. Speaker and so Mr. Speaker I want to tell young people today that I will continue to do all that I can to make their lives better I've said this before as the MP I'm not going to hide for three years and then come back on the third and ask them for their support I have made it my duty to be on the ground as much as I can possibly be Mr. Speaker by the bus stops by the supermarkets at their homes at the barbecues at the funerals Mr. Speaker everywhere that I need to be can everybody see me in 18 months no have I been at every home in 18 months no is that feasible no but we've held meetings in almost all of the communities Mr. Speaker we continue to engage people on matters as it pertains to infrastructure development safety and security youth development sports Mr. Speaker in as many communities as possible very excited about the prospects of the Grand Riviera community centre for this new financial year Mr. Speaker very excited about the developments around the playing field Mr. Speaker developments in in Asu Canal Mr. Speaker in Piat in Monsepo in Monye Mr. Speaker I'm very very bored by some of the pronouncements made by the Prime Minister including Novart and cement and some of these construction supplies because we needed Mr. Speaker we needed for fair helen to rise Mr. Speaker Grozely town continues to have full consideration in development of the park the playing field stands Mr. Speaker and so not going to say much because the member for is stated by I know why he's stated by direction but we'll continue to ensure that we do what we need to do Mr. Speaker I'm very excited about the Moshi Jazz the return of Moshi Jazz Mr. Speaker this is a fringe event Mr. Speaker that brings scores of individuals and it's absolutely free Mr. Speaker and so we invite everybody on May 9 to come to the community Mr. Speaker and enjoy the ambience Mr. Speaker of our people the lights are coming Mr. Speaker on the Moshi playing field and so I take this opportunity to thank all individuals and agencies that contributed to youth and sports development within the last year including but not limited to youth workers youth officers youth leaders youth and sports councils physical education teachers coaches, principals national sports associations schools, the ministry of education club members administrators, fans everyone involved in youth and sports development I want to call upon all St. Lucians not just to support sports and youth development only those in the sporting fraternity but I want to invite everybody to do their part sports development remains a viable option for our young people to attain the true potential in improving their lives and that of their families Mr. Speaker, in fact Mr. Deputy Speaker so my apologies we are not a perfect ministry we are not a perfect government can we do more yes we can and we will let me thank the staff of the ministry for all their hard work particularly the Permanent Secretary Caroline Eugene Deputy Permanent Secretary Mrs. Mary Wilfred, Director of Sports Jim Xavier and of course our new director of youth Juan Luber the ministry of youth and sports continues to work towards securing a better future for our young people as a result we have no issues with supporting this appropriation bill for the financial year 2023 2024 it is my belief that Helen has risen and will continue to run in the right direction I thank you Mr. Speaker Member for Souffre Member for Souffre for Seja once again I wish to and indeed the Honourable Prime Minister and Member for Caster East for the opportunity to present to the people of St. Lucia and this Honourable House in particularly our business community the policy direction and area of focus of my ministry which is the ministry of commerce manufacturing business development cooperatives and consumer affairs for the current financial year and budget of 2023 2024 but Mr. Deputy Speaker with your permission let me take a pause and to honour and thank my constituent of Souffre for Seja on whose behalf I stand today I want to thank my constituent for the support that they continue to provide and today I want to tell them that I commit once again to serve them Mr. Deputy Speaker earlier while making your own presentation here in this Honourable House you made reference to the behaviour of the United Workers Party in Souffre about two weeks ago Mr. Deputy Speaker Mr. Deputy Speaker quite a few people question whether quite a few people question why we allowed the why we gave permission to have that meeting at all travelled Mr. Deputy Speaker it's a democratic country and we felt that it was very game to allow the members opposite to use the platform to speak to the people of Souffre but what we saw was a party empty and bereft of ideas that's what we saw so instead of them using the opportunity to present policies they showed how they were not prepared and they are not prepared to take these people to the promised land so what I'm going to do I'm going to invite the people of Souffre on May 1st to be at the same spot on May 1st at four o'clock where we will launch the vendors association of Souffre 90 members we will not insult but we will sow the seed we will approximately 90 vendors in one association we will partner with the Cooperative Credit Union we will partner with the Souffre Foundation to plant a seed to plant a seed Mr. Speaker so Mr. Speaker back to the issue before us and that is the 2023-2024 budget Mr. Speaker when the Honourable Prime Minister presented in his address he focused on three strategic priorities for our government namely health security and economic sustainability the issue of health and health service is critical for all of us Mr. Deputy Speaker and as part rep for Souffre I was elated when I saw a provision in the budget for the commencement of the new Souffre and the minister Mr. Speaker Mr. Deputy Speaker the relevant responsibility of my ministry is to collaborate with the ministries, government agencies the private sector to ensure that there is an enabling environment that is economic sustainability unworldly which is vital for the development of our economy Mr. Deputy Speaker one of the key ingredients for sustainable economic growth is the private sector that is allied globally contested and resilient so as we journey back on this journey to develop our private sector one ends up on air one small business at a time that is me but working in that not this time in addition to the service to the right survivors this way the representative of my ministry will take us on a set number of priority areas to seek to close the policy gap and provide the greatest support to the Christmas community which is safe Mr. Deputy Speaker we shall focus on the economic areas during this scenario and we are one ends up on area development the commissioning does not say providing capital financial and technical resources in this we provide technical support to our passengers C, promoting a shift in e-commerce in domestic and transport trade D, continuing power with our women and E, focus on business innovation two from the quality and standardization through the work standards by increasing awareness and use of packaging leveling and testing standards three increasing solutions exports by leveraging the standards of export solutions we will continue to explore export opportunities to our local private sector in the platform region and also strengthening our consumer-friendly departments in terms of through and function five repositioning the property movement with an enhanced legislative through single review and B, the development of the business process of the social sector C, the return the use of generalization and other alternative to the number of reviews to reduce operating costs and enhance our context of use D, the better the future of the fashion sector E, the better the office in Newport to serve the people in the society D, seven establishing a legislative and regulatory framework to support orderly use and development of cannabis at the ministry and S revitalizing solution-free zone area in the development of the strategic action plan Mr. Speaker, I believe that if we are successful in preventing this condition in what agenda in part, all in all we will have come a long way in improving the business environment in addressing many of the concerns which include development of our private sector while surviving the interest of consumers and the gains that we have made Mr. Speaker, let me begin with the first action in centred in the hands of the legal development. The initial converse I went back on a number of initial gains in our MSNM loan grant facilities and this facility Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker, this MSNM loan grant facility is a PC 10 million dollar facility that is recommended to some 500 micro or small legal enterprises Mr. Speaker, this is a PC 10 million dollar loan facility which was created by the Municipal Finance with the 30 grand development plan this initiative was launched on the 24th of April not long time this facility was launched in March but on the 24th of April we were able to have another MSNM grant check award where we have distributed checks to 6 beneficiaries on the program Mr. Speaker, as we speak we have succeeded over 100 attributions on this program we have done this Mr. Speaker I'm going to mention the recommendation I'm going to mention the recommendation Mr. Speaker, I moved the house and the tenant members of this house suspended for 10 minutes I assume at 4pm I think this opinion is right I think your opinion is wrong I love this house it's suspended