 Yes, I hope this one is that one. No, I had this one yesterday. So this is updated one Okay That was pretty Okay, so I will go with yours Good morning to you, St. Lucia, for those of you at home following us on the national television network as well as on our YouTube channel and Facebook page government of St. Lucia We're coming to you live from downtown castries on this very historic day. It is Tuesday, March 8 2022 it is international women's day Say historic because as the Parliament of Saint Lucia convenes for this week at the House of Assembly before it will be a bill the domestic violence bill and that bill is seem to be one of the most progressive in the Caribbean to address domestic violence issues in Saint Lucia one that covers and caters to not just women But men and children as well We will be hearing for the Minister of Responsibility for gender affairs Honourable Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyote And she will be tabling this bill later this morning Also, number of papers will be laying of course by the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister for Finance, Economic Development and the Youth Economy Honourable Philip J. Pierre will also have bills being papers being laid by the Honourable Minister for Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs Honourable Moses Jabatiz Honourable Minister for Commerce Manufacturing, Business Development, Corporatives and Consumer Affairs Honourable Emma Hippolett the Standing Committee for the Standing Finance Committee met a moment ago right here and a report from the committee presented by the Honourable Prime Minister The report of the Standing Finance Committee on the supplementary estimates of expenditure in the sum of 9,870,000 of $400 for the financial year 2021-2022 Also before the house today is a motion which will be presented by the Honourable Prime Minister and The motion is that we resolved that the Honourable House of Assembly do adopt the report of the Standing Finance Committee on the supplementary estimates of the expenditure of the financial year 2021-2022 as A charge against a consolidated fund and other funds of the state in St. Lucia There are a number of bills to be laid as well. The Honourable Prime Minister First reading the supplementary appropriation bill There's also the domestic violence bill as I indicated To be tabled by the Minister of Public Service, Home Affairs, Labor and Gender Affairs The Honourable Prime Minister will be as well tabled in the Eastern Cabin Center Bank Agreement amendment and the customs control and management amendment By the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information There will be the Community Tourism Development Bill, the Honourable Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, the Agriculture and Fisheries Incentives Amendment Bill will be presented by him Now it is the intention of the Honourable Minister to seek leave of the House To enable all these bills to go through all their stages at this sit-in And so as I indicated today is March 8th International Women's Day and International Women's Day has been celebrated This year under the theme Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow And we are expecting that in the presentation of Honourable Dr. Virginia Arbor Pryor to the House That she will be thought of fleshing out what this theme exactly means to the St. Lucia Society, to the modern-day St. Lucia As well as how it fits into the government plans for overall Development to the national development plan of the country a lot of work has gone into ensuring gender equality in St. Lucia over the years and decades of Really lobbying from a number of civic organizations and the government of St. Lucia over the years as well has Ensured that some of its policies and reflect The sort of inclusiveness of genders and making sure that there is equity in everything that is done on the policy level in the last two three years this five years there's been a complete Sort of zeroing in on what exactly that means given it a Framework if you will and so gender mainstreaming and social protection It's identified as one of the three cross-cutting thematic development areas in St. Lucia is a medium-term development strategy along with disaster risk management resilience and sustainable development and productivity and economic competitiveness so Over the last two years has been a ground-breaking stride in mainstreaming gender into climate change adaptation for example And that has been worldwide most importantly herring St. Lucia as well. So mitigation and disaster risk reduction recovery and response mainly through Senucius participation in the regional project enabling gender responsive disaster recovery climate and environmental resilience in the Caribbean this project in short is called and gender and So out of this project there's been information and you know series of recommendations for ensuring gender responsive processes for a sustainable future and a number of those things have resulted in Policies as I indicated that really capture the needs of women Ensuring that there is that balance in in gender We will also be herring that the minister speak into this in terms of how the government intends to really Ensure that this comes to fruition certainly the one of the sort of Active of points that the minister will be speaking to is the sort of establishment of focal points Across ministries to ensure that all of the policies really do embrace the idea of gender equality gender mean streaming and so the overall objectives Really is to raise the awareness for gender equality in the context of sustainable development really to recognize the contributions of women in St. Lucia to national development and then to sort of galvanize the support for mainstreaming gender in the national Development processes and create opportunities for partnerships for women's empowerment in national sustainable development Processes so we'll be hearing a whole lot more for the minister Dr. Virginia Albert point when she presents the domestic violence bill to the house On the other side we are expecting So here perhaps a statement from the minister for health As we have seen and we have been updated by the chief medical officer overnight the resolution of the fifth wave of COVID-19 and The chief medical officer indicating that in the past week the island has continued to register low numbers of cases of COVID-19 and Presently the island is at the base of nine points in the Epidemiological curve and you know we like to refer to it simply as the flattening of the curve so we can see that over In a few months all of these sorts of restrictions that have been put in place The constant calls for persons to adhere to all protocols to Ensure that we get COVID-19 under control We are now at this point the shed sacrifice of everyone has resulted in a St. Lucia now sort of getting From a grip on on on itself and and certainly having to regain Um control from COVID-19 and so we see the resolution of the fifth wave as reported by the chief medical officer While that has happened the authorities are very clear that while we are seeing very low numbers with COVID-19 by way of new infections and by way of current cases The pandemic is far from being over and so we must maintain vigilance We must continue to adhere to the protocols that have been put in place While there has been the discontinuation of the confinement hours It doesn't mean that all is well And so the health authorities are continuing to remind the public that it must follow those important measures put in place to contain COVID-19 Some of those measures include avoiding large crowds and crowded areas And if you develop respiratory symptoms you are to seek medical care and avoid contact with others Avoid large meetings and crowded activities as well as social gatherings You want to ensure that the protocols are maintained at all workplaces and sectors on minibuses And commercial and tourism sector the gyms the hardware stores the supermarkets and recreational activities Also ensure safe physical distancing for face-to-face meetings and activities You are to use the face mask when in public places and there's particularly as we begin to Have more of our sort of liberties reinstated as a result of the flattening of the curve from COVID-19 We all now must make sort of personal decisions We are still seeing some people often not to wear masks and they believe that since they vaccinated There is no need to do that for them to wear the face mask And so it would be important for you to wear the risk That you are exposed to and if you are in a crowded place, you know vaccine amongst vaccinated in Individuals just like yourself You can keep that social distance And if you choose not to wear your mask you can do say for those who choose to wear their mask That's important as well. So at the end of the day Individuals need to weigh their own personal situations and their risk You may be vaccinated, but then you have some underlying conditions And if you choose to continue to wear the mask, that's very important as well Okay So ensure regular cleaning of surfaces and sanitation of all business establishments and environments Ensure you remain in quarantine very very important remaining quarantine or isolation if you are a direct contact of a case Or a member of your household is positive Please it's very important for us to do so if we do not adhere to this important measure Then it means that we are at risk of allowing ourselves to see another spiraling incident of COVID-19 and we do not want that You want to limit social activities at work? And of course encourage vaccination of employees so The vaccines are available to us the government of st. Usha is ensuring that we have this very Important option And certainly there are the Pfizer AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines They are available available at the various wellness centers As for the COVID-19 vaccination schedule and you could find that schedule on the facebook page of the government of st Usha You can find it on the website of the government of st Usha You could also find it on the ministry of health the bureau of health education facebook page as well And the vaccines they've been proven to be safe and effective in protecting persons from developing COVID-19 Certainly it's a Lowers your risk significantly in having a severe form of the disease complications from the disease hospitalization and death The booster vaccine is also available for persons who have been fully vaccinated for over a six month period Everyone who has been vaccinated is urged to get everyone who has not been vaccinated You are urged to do so urgently because this is how we are going to maintain our control over COVID-19 So the health officials are appealing to all organizations public and private sector to ensure the strengthening of all public health protocols with COVID-19 We can Chamber chamber and the house of us is filled Prime minister The prime minister Beached in a little Conversation teta tent We're seeing the senior minister honorable stephenson king Walking through taking a moment there to have brief conversation with persons in the gallery We also have a number of women in the gallery And they are adorned in purple Which is the universal color for international women's day And the speaker of the house is making his entry Good morning, everyone from first Corinthians chapter 10 Brethren that you remember me in all And keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you But I want you to know That the head of every man is jesus christ This is the word of god Let us pray Almighty god by huma lone kings reign And princes decree justice And from huma lone cometh all council Wisdom and understanding We dine on worthy servants here gathered together in thy name do mostly humbly beseech thee to send down thy heavenly wisdom from above To direct and to guide us in all our consultations And grant that we have in thy fear always before our eyes And lean aside all private interests Prejudices and partial affections The result of all our councils may be to the glory of thy blessed being The maintenance of true religion And justice the safety honor and happiness of the queen the public will peace and tranquility of st lusia and the uniting and knitting together of the hearts of all persons And estates within the same in true christian love and charity one towards another Through jesus christ our lord amen The grace of our lord and saviour jesus christ the love of god and the fellowship of the holy spirit Be with us now and forevermore amen and amen Good morning honorable members I have been advised of the absence of the member of parliament for denry south denry north sorry my apologies denry north who is out of the island on state business Let me at this time Wish all the women of st lusia happy international women's day And it would not have escaped members i'm sure that the sergeant that arms today is female My sincere condolences to the team at family the member from meekwood north who is a close colleague of the deceased The commissioner police and the entire police force on the untimely passing of police officer Nathan team it Members are to report that we have received the congratulatory message From canada's high commissioning barbaris his excellency mr. george fury As well as the speaker of the senate of canada And the speaker of the house of commons in observance of our 43rd independence celebrations The buddhist high commission in collaboration with the parliament of st lusia Will be hosting a seminar on friday march 11th to highlight commonwealth day On to the theme increasing women's political participation in st lusia a parliamentary perspective The discussion will commence at 9 a.m And will be streamed live on ntn miss abrak satay A researcher from the swedish research council Is in the process of conducting interviews for a research project on the subject quote large lessons from small cases On the standard democracy in its everyday practice in small island states on quote All members would have been contacted by the office of the parliament Setting up the date and time for the interview The interviews will take place during the period march 7th to march 18th This research project aims to increase the understanding Of the political system of small island nations work in the everyday practice Let me just get a document from the parliamentary um And parliament of st lusia is pleased to announce its partnership With parlor americas and the caribbean women in leadership To host the next young women in leadership initiative St lusia will be the third caribbean parliament to host such an initiative Joining the parliaments of trinidad and tobago And antiga and barbuda Young women in leadership is a trillion program designed to support young women age 18 to 25 In building the knowledge Skills and networks needed to positively impact the community and country With a focus on parliamentary engagement and promoting gender equality inclusion and respect for human rights Activities will take place virtually And in person throughout the months of may and june 2022 including training sessions on transformational leadership Gender equality and parliamentary procedure The initiative will culminate in special all women simulated parliamentary sit-ins Of the house and senate at the end of june with program participants serving as parliamentarians And parliamentary staff in sessions focused on a gender equality theme Applications are being sought from passionate and dedicated young women Between the ages of 18 and 25 Residing in st lusia who are interested in public leadership gender equality and human rights And are excited about opportunities for personal growth and development No previous experience is required and there is no cost To participate for the selected part applicants The application process is open from march 8th to april 8th 2022 We appreciate your support in promoting this exciting and important initiative Among the various constituents and any young women leaders You the members may think may be interested in applying to take part members A few weeks ago The leader of the opposition and a member from microsoft In a nationally broadcast interview Parts of which were broadcast as a news item Made some stunning allegations Protailing to the presiding officer Accusing him of among other things bias And a breach of the constitution of st lusia According to the member the speaker was during debates biased And that on occasion It was quote like 17 to in the house on quote In foreign the attorney general and the speaker Join in with the government's 15 The accusation of bias Is one which is personal to the maker of the statement And I take no umbrage with the leader of opposition and member from microsoft Offer any other member for that matter If they believe me to be biased during the conduct of proceedings It is the quality of my ruins And not any single member's view Which will paint me as a good or bad speaker So therefore I take no issue With the members pronouncement or any members pronouncement on the question of bias Not so with the matter of the attorney general Where the member from microsoft has accused me of improperly Seating the attorney general Unprecedented is how we termed it This is now the members third term as a parliamentarian And it is assumed that he would be by now familiar with the rules which govern this institution More than this and as his comments relate to the attorney general One would have thought he would have at least done his due diligence Before making public comments Further considering in a previous life He had appointed an attorney general Under exactly the same terms as the current attorney general Who he now accuses of being improperly seated That he would have consulted with those who know about those things Before making such rash pronouncements The fact is It is not unprecedented For an attorney general who is a public officer To sit in the house of assembly From as far back as 1997 It has been the norm But none or not What does the constitution Our supreme law say about the composition of the house of assembly For an answer to that question we must go to section 30 of the constitution Every member in this honorable house was furnished with a constitution Not to put on the bookshelf but to read it to acquaint themselves Section 30 composition Subsection one The house shall consist of such number of members as corresponds with the number of constituencies for the time being Established in accordance with the provisions of section 58 Section 58 of course, there is the boundaries Who shall be elected in accordance with the provisions of section 33 which deals with elections Subsection two If a person who is not a member of the house Is elected to be speaker He shall by virtue of voting or acting in that office Be a member of the house Three At any time When the office of a attorney general is a public office The attorney general shall by virtue of holding or acting in that office Be a member of the house Regarding the speaker Section 45 circumscribes his voting ability and it states on the section 45 3 The reference to all the members of the house in section 17 7 18 2 and 41 2 3 4 and 5 of this constitution Shall not include the speaker if he was elected from among persons who are not members of the house These sections of the constitution relate to voting on bills and voting on constitutional matters Subsection 5 A speaker who was elected from among persons who were not members of the house Shall have neither an original nor a cast in vote That applies to me Members would note that the circumscription of section 45 subsection 5 Places no bar on the ability of the attorney general But only on a speaker who is not himself a constituency representative Where then did the leader of the opposition the MP from microsoft Get the idea that the speaker improperly seated the attorney general The fact is under our constitution The attorney general as appointed Is a full member of the house with all the rights and privileges of the other 17 members who were elected on election day Notwithstanding the serious allegation And the egregious breach of the rules I seek no apology or retraction from the member And do not intend to take any action in this matter Still I want to caution all members To at least acquaint themselves with the facts attendant to the things they wish to speak about Especially when these statements can unnecessary Be injurious to the reputation of others At this point Members I would like to Acknowledge The victorious Saint Lucia netball team Who recently participated In the oeceus netball tournament And on your behalf I invited the members Here to receive From the minister for sports A congratulatory messages members are asking to join me In welcoming the members of the Saint Lucia national netball team My understanding is that the membership Cuts across the entire island Statements from ministers and now invite The minister For youth development in sports Mr. Speaker I rise to make an official statement To this honorable house On this international women's day The celebration of women in our society In doing so I want to thank the many women who have worked tirelessly In the pursuit of excellence in sports on our island Especially in this trying time Mr. Speaker Saint Lucia has registered some high popping results in the region and indeed the world Over the last few months And i'm happy to report that it is our women Our Saint Lucia women who are the ones flying our nation's flag so high Mr. Speaker Saint Lucia's Julian Alfred continues to make us proud A few weeks ago Julian got into the elite party on Of world female sprinters at this time Her time of 7.10 seconds Ranked the former Leon Hess student from the community of Cicero The seventh fastest woman over 60 meters in the history of the world But mr. Speaker I will never allow Saint Lucia to forget That when the member of denry north offered support to this young lady He was excoriated and investigated But up to this day No financial audit has ever been released But we'll speak about this in another show Mr. Speaker This government will show you and the rest of the world How much we care right now mr. Speaker for our female athletes I want the people of Saint Lucia to know that I can now confirm that this government Under the instruction of the honorable prime minister and this sports minister With this minister of housing And in collaboration with the member for castry south is currently in the process of repairing Julian Alfred's home in Cicero Mr. Speaker We are not just talk We are action But mr. Speaker The sport of track and field may just be the sport to bring home The elusive olympic medal This is because we are seeing a cadre of young women Continuing to show progress as they go through our developmental programs A possible member of a four by one meter one four by one hundred meter women's team May be view for its very own nearly London Mr. Speaker at the recently completed games at the george oddland stadium The young sensation became yet another female athlete from Saint Lucia running sub 12 seconds London finished the race In 11.82 seconds to officially qualify for this year's carifter games her time Put her right up there with Julian Alfred at this age and put her with the likes of mckaylor hyacinth Kimani alphos Which will be a foster record with in the region and indeed the world at the next olympic games We care about our female athletes And we will continue to prioritize their well-being And today mr. Speaker As you said in our midst Our senior national netball team is here In a time where this group of women had to face the huge restrictions placed on them by covet 19 Team Saint Lucia placed second in the recently completed OCS Mr. Speaker I as minister must tell the story of these women Who braved day and night? Sitting on buses on route to training Fearful of contracting the deadly disease on the way to and from our facilities Yet they toiled Mr. Speaker these women who hopped skipped and jumped all over the opponents in the sub region They suffered injuries Some correct ending But they stood up in support of the teammates as they fought for sweet victory Team Saint Lucia had a mixture of young netballers But as a result of complications due to the coronavirus Other senior players put up their hands came out of retirement and joined the battle for regional netball And so today mr. Speaker I believe all of Saint Lucia Including every one of my parliamentary Colleagues should again put their hands together for this netball team Including the delegation of senior hands man Team manager mrs. Mary and marshal monttute head coach donald lean paterson joseph primary care alexandria eugen The players share max well as captain Vice captain the silver flotin rockson snider kiana nelson vone alexander mckyber alzid aliyah estivore malika destang lana paul jemma linel mega nestor sapphire paul and of course lakisha philips put your hands together for them one more time Meanwhile, mr. Speaker our female cricketers continue to show progress in the regional game Despite having just a few training sessions with the win-win islands and the 19 female cricket team before a team of the usa in st Vincent Young sensation zeta james continues to comport herself with class And displayed immense talent with both ball and bat Despite losing the series james was considered by some of the legends in regional cricket as the best batter for both teams Zeta along with the likes of sky smith lisha alexander shinaya cooper destiny edward Sonia dorius And nemaia marslyn continue to show the high level of talent and commitment to training to ensure They eventually break into this west in this female team They along with the likes of malika edward who doubles up as an assistant coach from the community of baboonu continue to make great Strides in the field of cricket Mr. Speaker, I can go on and on about the olympian and swimming prospect in the kelly shall mine the current native who also competed at the recently completed Pan-american juniors She continues to work hard to ensure she lifts the sport of swimming higher Faith jeffrey is another female swimmer catching the eyes of the region on the world Mr. Speaker all this is happening while we see a serious uptake in female sports administrators We are proud of our women in sports administration The velika augustins of the world fortuna belrose of the world malin immanuels of the world rufina paul Yasmin tyson rosy prevails of the world Mr. Speaker the sport of bodybuilding is being held together by a woman The president of the celusia bodybuilding and physique association jacklyn trim continues to work tirelessly to ensure the sport Continues to grow and she's from grusely Mr. Speaker the president of the caribbean netball association is a st. Lucian woman Rufina paul She stands tall in original netball administration. She is from grusely Makiba al-sid dora henry Showzell's est up the open when you go to showzell to watch t20 cricket a woman is driving that Dora henry in track and field she continues to assiduously work To ensure that they continue to progress the pioneer swimming competitions on island Diane warwell soldiers on While many other women continue to work hard in the interests of national progress Mr. Speaker our government is so proud of their achievements And we want to make this position absolutely clear to them today That this government will work with them to ensure that we can provide as much support as possible To help with their development in sport As we know sports involvement leads to discipline it builds healthier lifestyle It reduces stress and so considering the times that we are living in it is even more important for us to do this now We will continue to show our support. We want to thank them for their contribution to our country Happy international women's day to all Thank you very much. We want to thank our National netball team management and team. Thank you very much again for your service to country and thank you for being here this morning Thank you very much. Any other ministerial statements? the minister for ports Mr. Speaker Permit me this opportunity this morning To recognize the women of st. Lucia Those who have made contributions to the development of our country Those in whom we are so proud of for their contribution I must recognize this morning the presence of Miss Lauren Williams who served in this parliament and the senate As attorney general of this country I want to recognize I want to recognize also mr. Speaker The women who have come to champion the cause for women here today Who are sitting in the gallery? I just noticed I just noticed mr. Speaker yet another woman who have served this country with great pride and dignity senator alvina reynolds Permit me also mr. Speaker to recognize and to commend our minister for gender relations For the task that she has been faced with and for today championing the cause for domestic violence and st. Lucia supported By her colleague the honorable emma. But mr. Speaker my address today my statement today Is on the matter pertaining to the revocation of queen's chain lease To cabot st. Lucia incorporated mr. Speaker On june 14 2019 cabot a canadian gulf resort and residential real estate developer Announced in Nova Scotia, Canada its intention to develop Manage and operate a new master plan resort community here in st. Lucia The announcement signaled the brand's first international property outside of Canada to be located on point hardy cap estate on a 375 Acre peninsula at the northern tip of st. Lucia Where cabot st. Lucia acquired To expand upon its legacy of excellence with a golf club residential community and resort mr. Speaker On march 10 2020 Less than a year later The st. Lucia national trust The archaeological and historical society And the la vote links concern citizens group Published a joint press release indicating That they the parties to the press release stood together In support of genuine sustainable development For the benefit of the people of st. Lucia The parties to the press release opined That for over seven months They had sought individually and collectively To engage in productive negotiations with both the developers of the cabot st. Lucia Canadian based project And the various public agencies responsible for observing due process To ensure the safeguarding of citizens rights And the natural and cultural heritage of st. Lucia They went on further to lament That all of the efforts to that date Had been frustrated And they were left with no option But to speak out publicly As they witness the ongoing massive clearance Of large tracts of land Without the necessary safeguards or preparations First jeopardizing important archaeological And natural heritage Within the cabot st. Lucia site and the adjoining queen's chain Mr. Speaker In parallel While in opposition The st. Lucia Labour Party asserted And repeatedly stated That it stood in solidarity with the people of st. Lucia And all other organizations Which had expressed the concerns Regarding the development of cabot st. Lucia Today Mr. Speaker I'm obliged to endorse and reaffirm that commitment Established by this government To minding our business By putting the people and the people's business first Not just in word But indeed and in the name of the people of st. Lucia Mr. Speaker Some may recall that notwithstanding the public outcry Protests statements and advocacy emanating from the general public Stakeholder organizations such as the st. Lucia national trust The archaeological and historical society And the levote wins concern citizens group The st. Lucia Labour Party among others The former government ignored And disregarded the pleas of the people And proceeded to grant leases of the queen's chain to cabot unrestricted Mr. Speaker That's after two years of public animation And one month ahead of the announcement of the 2021 general elections The then cabinet approved the grant Of a 75 year lease to cabot st. Lucia Inc Of the queen's chain properties comprising Block and parcel 1651658B3 Block and parcel 1457B369 Block and parcel 1457B40 And block and parcel number 1657B2 Simultaneously Mr. Speaker The then cabinet also approved the rental rate for the lease of block and parcel 1658B3 Block and parcel 1457B369 Block and parcel 1457B40 Block and parcel 1657B2 Block and parcel 1657B1 11311 411 And 511 And block and parcel 1658B1211 Mr. Speaker In keeping with the philosophy of this nationally United people's government Of red red and blue We have revisited the previous decisions Of 8th June 2021 Undertaken by the former administration And in keeping with the people's mantra To realize genuine sustainable development for the benefit of the people of st. Lucia And the preservation protection and respect of our property money Heritage and the assets of our country These decisions by this government Ensures that the ancient Amerindian site will be protected And the continued state ownership of the adjoining queen's chain Mr. Speaker As I intimated on February 2, 2022 in a television interview This government of st. Lucia The government of the st. Lucia Labour Party Will continue to encourage And welcome investors to st. Lucia With open arms But we expect them in return To preserve, protect and respect our nation's party money And our people as well as the wishes Dreams and aspirations of our people While we subscribe to the philosophy Of investment by invitation We are resolute and idealistic defenders Of our heritage, party money And this dear land that gave us both Consequently In pursuit of the ideals of our people The dreams and aspirations This government of the people By the people and for the people Considered the request by the department of physical development and urban renewal And approve the revocation Cancellation of the 75-year lease to Carbot St. Lucia Inc For the following parcels of queen's chain Block and parcel number 1658B3 Block and parcels number 1457B369 And block and parcel number 1457B40 And block and parcel number 1657B2 The cabinet further approved The revocation of the approved rental rate For the block and parcel number 1657B111 1657B311 1657B411 1657B511 And block and parcel number 1658B1211 In addition, Mr. Speaker Cabinet considered an approved publication in the St. Lucia Gazette Of the notice of intention to acquire Part of block and parcels 1457B 145711 1457112 1457123 And 1457124 For public vehicular access Re-alignment and road infrastructure improvement At Casaba in the quarter of Grossly In accordance with Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act Cap 5.04 To facilitate unimpeded and unhindered pedestrian And vehicular access to the Casaba beach This will also include Unimpeded, unhindered pedestrian and vehicular access To donkey beach and secret beach And to establish adequate parking and recreational facilities For youths by our children Our youth and the general adult population who frequently access the beach Mr. Speaker The aforementioned decisions of the government Will in nowhere dilute the appeal The atmosphere or the concept and intended experience of the developer But rather highlight the authenticity of the inspiration of our beauty The charm and our people and the value of our heritage Therefore Mr. Speaker The Department of Physical Development and Urban Renewal Will continue its eternal vigilance To monitor and observe the ongoing development at Cabot and other sites To ensure compliance with all the established planning and sustainable development protocols And guidelines To ensure a unique product that is environmentally clean, green and serene and pristine In compliance with our philosophy of sustainability Balance between development and conservation And to uphold our conviction towards the attainment of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals Once again Mr. Speaker Our initiative, our intervention, is a demonstration of our commitment to the people It's a demonstration of putting people first But it's also a careful initiative A careful intervention recognizing the importance of investment And balancing investment with livelihoods and the people of this country Mr. Speaker I thank you for your interview Paper, sorry Minister for Gender Relations Mr. Speaker Paper of March 2022 And it marks International Women's Day Mr. Speaker There is one gentleman that I know of who is also sharing that day And this gentleman happens to be my husband Love Day today So he enjoys it because it is his birthday And I wish him all the best And unconditional support for women Recognize in our midst Former Atoni General And Minister In this house Senator Lauren Williams Who served in the upper house from 1992 to 1997 And Mr. Speaker Let me remind this house That in 1995 I accompanied The senator to Beijing, China And it was at this time What we call today The Beijing Platform for Action Was formulated and created a pathway for gender equality throughout the world Let me recognize all the women who have blazed the trail In the persons of the late Haroldin Rock The first woman elected to parliament The youngest parliamentarian A woman in the person of Minister Rambali Let me recognize the senator From a minister Honorable Alvin Rinalds Senator Pisha Jawahi Senator Pauline Antoine Prosfe Who have blazed the trail And fought for gender equality in our society I recognize the presence of the director of gender relations And the strong women in the gallery who are here today And not just the women But we, the men, that is very gender sensitive I need to thank the Honorable Prime Minister And the members of the government and cabinet colleagues For their support for women And we look forward and we work We will work with the government And the women in St. Lucia have pledged their full support To ensure that this government is successful Mr. Speaker It has been a long journey for me With my background in education I started in 1989 The struggle for gender equality in the St. Lucia Teachers Union And today I apologize that I cannot be with them Because I told them that we have to fight the battle for gender equality at all fronts And they have the women's conference today I have sent them greetings and I wish them well Thalo parliamentarians We do not make a distinction here Because all parliamentarians here Whether man or woman Would not be on this planet without a mother That's a woman You may have a sister That's a woman A daughter That's a woman Grandmother That's a woman So it is our day Mr. Speaker Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow Is the theme for International Women's Day this year And I'm pleased Mr. Speaker To state that This government Under the leadership of the current prime minister And parliamentary rep for castries east Has decided to bring a gift In this house And I'm carrying the gift on behalf of the government And this gift will be presented later Mr. Speaker The domestic violence bill And this government is focused on putting people first Putting youth first And today is putting women first Mr. Speaker Gender equality is still only an aspirational goal In many regions of the world Mr. Speaker At times of making gender equality a reality In our world Has been met with resistance Thustering for centuries To the point where it became the norm The unexpected unshattering COVID-19 pandemic Exposed in efficiency and cost of inequality In a way that it has never been before Mr. Speaker Economic commission of Latin America and the Caribbean Eclat The UN Women Multicountry Office of the Caribbean Are employing countries to consider building that better With equality in this national recovery effort In fact The UN Secretary General reports And the numerous policy beliefs Prepared for centuries Since the pandemic Have all acknowledged that gender equality Is indispensable to sustainable development Mr. Speaker Gender equality is not an automatic outcome of national development plans It must be a deliberate and intentional goal Gender mainstreaming and social protection Is identified as one of three cross cutting thematic development areas In St. Lucia's medium term development strategy Along with disaster risk management Resilience and sustainable development And productivity and economic competitiveness In the last two years There has been groundbreaking strides in mainstreaming gender Into climate change adaptation Mitigation and disaster risk reduction Recovery and response mainly through our participation In the regional project enabling gender responsive disaster recovery Climate and environmental resilience in the Caribbean And gender acronym and gender The many outputs of this project Provide a wealth of information and recommendations For ensuring gender responsive processes for a sustainable future Mr. Speaker The improved understanding of gender in national development Made possible through public sector capacity enhancement Coincided with other national regional and international initiatives That highlighted the indispensable role of gender equality In sustainable development Mr. Speaker Admittedly Gender in national development is still in an embryo stage in St. Lucia The recent processes however are creating an enabling environment For communicating influencing and inspiring national development actors To incorporate gender in the planning and implementation process The government of St. Lucia through the gender affairs department Is embarking on the establishment of a gender equality focal point system In the public sector To ensure that gender is mainstreamed in all national development planning And I can tell you Mr. Speaker Under the leadership of the prime minister and minister And parliamentary rep for castries east Gender is on the agenda Gender equality is not the domain of one sector or group But like all goals of national development It comprises all of society Inclusive of women, girls, men and boys The theme this year for International Women's Day Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow Is in sync with the theme for St. Lucia's 43rd anniversary of independence Duva Assam Celebrating our people And the priority theme for the 66th session On the commission on the status of women Achieving gender equality And the empowerment of all women and girls In the context of climate change Environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programs Mr. Speaker So I'm going to say the way That's what I'm trying to say And I'm going to say That About feminists Because women are castries east I'm going to say that I'm trying To maintain equality for women and girls In this country And I'm going to say We can salute all women We can salute all women With the support of the government For the women and girls In this country For all women For men For women For women International Women's Day therefore Presents a platform to deepen the understanding Of the commitment of the government of St. Lucia To leave no one behind And link sector and national gender equality and environmental And climate sustainability actors To local regional and international partners Opportunities who has to catalyze And accelerate progress In the implementation of concrete recommendations and actions For gender equality outcomes In national sustainable development processes And Mr. Speaker For the few months that I have spent in the cabinet of ministers Every single day we attend meetings We hear the issue of women And the plight of women in St. Lucia And for this The government has embarked on a number of social programs That will address the needs of women Especially women who are single headed households in St. Lucia To alleviate poverty So that they can help the children Who have to be facilitated and get quality education For quality healthcare And economic growth and employment This year's International Women's Day observance Will therefore create opportunities to inform the public Of the many ongoing gender equality initiatives In national development And recognize those who work behind the scenes To make it happen Bring people and institutions together To discuss implications of the various sector specific Gender and climate nexus reports Mr. Speaker And spark national interest In the reaffirming commitment to finding innovative solutions To addressing existing gaps In the national sustainable development processes Mr. Speaker The objectives of gender equality And raising the consciousness of our people Is one Raise awareness of gender equality In the context of sustainable development Recognize, encourage, and validate the contributions Of women in St. Lucia To national sustainable development And you heard my fellow colleague From parliamentarian from Bruce Lee And how he saluted the women In his works of life Especially in the field of sports And how they have made St. Lucia proud Mr. Speaker The other objective we speak to Is to create opportunities For partnership for women's empowerment In national sustainable development processes And Mr. Speaker I'm proud to say That today we sit in this lower house With the honorable parliamentarian from Soufra for St. Jack Our senators in the upper house And we are there to remind That women have a role to play In decision making Mr. Speaker For this international women's day And this month We are securing the month of March For women We have a number of activities we have planned We have church and ecumenical services In observance of international women's day The lunch of the women's parliamentary caucus This is the first time in the history of St. Lucia That we have established a women's parliamentary caucus Across the political divide Announcement on the adoption of a public sector national Gender equality focal point system Every single agency in St. Lucia Will have a gender focal point Online forum As was mentioned earlier Mr. Speaker When we look at political participation of women in St. Lucia Challenges and opportunities And that will be February 25th High level panel discussion Fostering gender equality through constitutional and legislative enhancement Tabling the domestic violence bill of 2022 Validation and productivity of nationally developed gender assessments in education Health resilience ecosystems tourism infrastructure and energy sector Lunch of reviving gender equality recognizing Encouraging and validating national actors for gender equality Mr. Speaker We have a number of activities including Talk shows interviews And a message which I delivered to all St. Lucia's and those beyond We were popular and pink and blue today Mr. Blu-way UN Women for the Caribbean Organization of American States Organization of Eastern Caribbean States And Mr. Speaker Later I will tell you That the secretary general of carry come Wanted to be here in this parliament for this historic moment But unfortunately An emergency came up and she was able she had to cancel her trip But she will be back. She will come The British High Commission Institute for gender and development studies University of the West Indies Women parliamentarians Parliamentary office at Tony general chambers Department of economic development Development department of sustainable development Women in St. Lucia Stay strong Let us work together to build a better future Not just for ourselves But for our children and the future generation I wish every single woman in St. Lucia Those in the diaspora And around the world Happy International Women's Day to all women I thank you Mr. Speaker Minister for commerce, manufacturing, business development, Co-operatives and consumer affairs Have you built an economy with my words? Thank you Thank you Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker today March 8th International Women's Day Is a very important day in the lives of women Where throughout the world Women are celebrated for the strength The courage The bravery The resilience And the long suffering Mr. Speaker today through you I take this opportunity To salute the women of St. Lucia In their role In building A better Stronger and united St. Lucia Happy International Women's Day Sisters Mr. Speaker today I join the rest of the world In grieving and feeling a sense of shame Sorrow and utter disgust As I watch with utter horror The disaster Chaos and pain Inflicted upon the people of Ukraine Especially on the men On the women and children I therefore think it fitting that at this moment That I applaud the strength Resilience and bravery of the Ukrainian people And their love for the homeland Mr. Speaker I pray that peace reigns Mr. Speaker with your permission I want to add my voice To express condolences To the Timet family And to the members of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force On the passing of Officer Nathan Timet I also want to take this moment to express condolences To the various families of victims of violence in our country Mr. Speaker Every member of this honorable house and every member of society Must shun violence and take every step possible To see how we can reduce and eliminate violence Mr. Speaker today International Women's Day I think it fitting that I report to this honorable house That during a meeting of the Women's Parliamentary Caucus in December 2021 The women of both the upper and lower houses The women of both the St Lucia Labour Party and the United Workers Party Decided unanimously to form the St Lucia Women's Parliamentary Caucus And I must report Mr. Speaker that a first meeting of this caucus has been held Mr. Speaker women parliamentary caucuses or parliamentary groups are mechanisms That have been created within the parliament of many countries To strengthen cooperation among women engage in political life Such caucuses can bring women parliamentarians together across party lines In effective alliance Around common goals and issues that they all support It also help raise above the tensions between parties To fight the causes of women Women caucuses defend women's legislative priorities And increase the influence in parliament This could have a demonstrable effect On the livelihood of women issues being discussed in parliament And ultimately articulated in legislation These caucuses have enabled women parliamentarians To express their views and impact the work of parliament Women caucuses can also work in other policy areas Not necessarily focus on women Analyzing the broad range of issues from a gender perspective And addressing the needs of other marginalized groups Especially children Women caucuses have to build the capacity of women parliamentarians Organizing and promoting support and training to make them better members Research have found that the main challenge facing newly elected women Is coming to grips with parliamentary written and unwritten rules and procedures Women caucuses can help by educating the members in such areas And teaching women the ropes of parliament To make them better more confident leaders Women caucuses promote gender mainstream in the workplace And benefiting women parliamentarians themselves And improving the institution's sensitivity to gender Mr. Speaker today Our uniform caucus will be tested If an issue that is of concern to all of us And that is domestic violence Secondly, Mr. Speaker The reference material that we have received since the decision to form the caucus Will allow us to analyze the estimates Using gender lenses And that is We need to analyze how the estimates would affect men Women and children To ensure that the issue of gender equality take root in our society And system We've heard from the member from Babono as to some of the actions that will be taken Especially the issue of gender focal points Within the public service and allied agencies My responsibility as the minister for congress is to ensure that we have a similar system In the private sector Mr. Speaker Women parliamentarians Working together to improve the lives of our people Women children and men May god continue to guide and bless us People's to be laid by minister and minister of finance economic development and the youth economy Mr. Speaker On Sunday morning A tragic incident occurred That led to the murder of a police officer Timet Who was a young promising policeman His colleague officer King was seriously injured On behalf of the government and people Of St. Lucia I express my deepest condolences To the family of the deceased Wish a speedy recovery to the injured And empathize with the victims of the crime My government has always recognized that crime is an issue which requires a collaborative approach And was and was not an issue for the police alone Indeed in our 2021 manifesto we stated and I quote In addressing the issue of crime the social structures which give rise to it must be examined To make the necessary remedial policy decisions We stated that attention must of necessity be given to the basic unit of society which is a family Whereas in a position I consistently called upon the government to ensure it dealt with a situation Holistically and to be inclusive I remain committed to that position in government The violence which manifests itself today Is the result of long festering issues left unattended In St. Lucia I ascribe blame to no single entity or individual It will take all of us to solve the problem I will spare no effort in ensuring that government does its part Through among other things human services support and resources to assist the most vulnerable Over the past few months we have seen an unacceptable level of criminal behavior which cannot be allowed to continue The lack of empathy being witnessed must be curtailed And it must do so at the earliest Whatever we do however must be done within the ambit of the law For lawlessness begets lawlessness Even as we fight the criminal element with all our might We must not ourselves descend into lawlessness And why is it is true that the job of the police is to protect the citizenry Equally we must too we too must protect our police Specifically and our communities and country generally by being intolerant to criminal behavior Ensuring our country is not engulfed by crime is the business of all of us as I have said earlier I will show the police commissioner Of my government's total support in the provision of human services Training and equipment in the last eight months we have provided 16 vehicles And I now call on all citizens to also play their part by being responsible and intolerant of criminal behavior Our communities must not become sanctuaries for the criminally bent Our homes must not be places which harbor criminals Our sons and daughters must be taught that criminality is not a way of life to be pursued All of us must do all we can to return our communities and by extension our country Let us work together to make our country the best place to live and work. I thank you Mr. Speaker, I beg to lay the foreign papers standing in my name. Starting instrument number 15 of 2022 Excise tax amendment of schedule one number two order Starting instrument number 16 of 2022 Value added tax resolution of parliament to approve draft value added Tax amendments of schedule 300 2021 So the main estimates of revenue expenditure 2021 to 2022 Deputy prime minister minister for tourism investment creative industries cultural information Mr Speaker, I'd like to lay the following papers on behalf of the Honorable Minister for Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs. Statuary instrument number 10 of 2022, COVID-19 prevention and control. Prohibition of assembly number 2 order. Statuary instrument number 11 of 2022, COVID-19 prevention and control. Physical distancing number 2 order. Statuary instrument number 12 of 2022. COVID-19 prevention and control. Approval of tests for COVID-19 and designation of laboratory order. Statuary instrument number 14 of 2022. COVID-19 prevention and control. Testing and quarantine order. Statuary instrument number 17 of 2022. COVID-19 prevention and control. Physical distancing number 3 order. Statuary instrument number 18 of 2022. COVID-19 prevention and control. Prohibition of assembly number 3 order. Minister for Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Corporate and Consumer Affairs. Mr Speaker, I'd like to lay the following papers appearing in my name. Statuary instrument number 14 of 2022. Price control amendment number 2 order. Statuary instrument number 20 of 2022. Appointment of the National Export Council order. Report from Committee, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development and the Youth Economy. Put on the microphone for the Prime Minister. Mr Speaker, I'd like to report that the Stein Finance Committee of the House met on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 and considered the supplementary estimates of expenditure for the financial year 2021 to 2022. Mr Speaker, I beg to move the following motions standing in my name. Be it resolved that the Orbe House of Assembly do adopt the report of the Stein Finance Committee on the supplementary estimates of expenditure for the financial year 2021-2022 in the sum of $9,870,400. And do agree that they said some do form a charge against the consolidated and other funds of the state of sedition. Mr Speaker, this motion is the result of the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act. This states, Mr Speaker, that any change in the appropriation bill, any increase must be brought to Parliament through a supplementary estimate. The provision for a supplementary estimate, Mr Speaker, is to cater for expenditure that was not accommodated in the appropriation law. Whether it is due to natural order unforeseen events or expenditure due to price and tariff increases. For the Mr Speaker, the Public Finance Management Act requires that the supplementary appropriation bill be introduced before the House of Assembly with explanatory notes which includes the proposed amendments to the appropriation law and other charges to the appropriation law through the reallocation. Mr Speaker, the proposal before this Orbe House seeks to increase the government's budgetary spending by approximately $9.87 million for the current fiscal year. For additional amounts paid out of the general revenue and funds of the states. You recall, Mr Speaker, that this supplementary budget therefore increases the overall spending authority to $1,648,471,000 for the current fiscal year. It is to be noted that the increased allocation is only on the current expenditure as capital expenditure remains at the level of the original budget amounts with some reallocation between projects. Mr Speaker, subsequent to the approval of the appropriation act on 2nd May on May 10th, 2021, a number of expenses have been included which were not anticipated and as a result not included in the original appropriation bill. Mr Speaker, solution was impacted by Hurricane Elsa, a category 1 hurricane in July 2021. After the assessment of the damage caused by Hurricane Elsa, the government of solution at the time announced a response package on July 12th, 2021, valued at $10 million. These funds were not provided for in the appropriation bill. Mr Speaker, these funds were allocated by the previous government under the following headings. Ministry of Agriculture for Emergency and Agricultural Assistance in the amount of $5 million. Ministry of Infrastructure for Keynote and Restoration of the Road Network in the sum of $1 million. Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment in the amount of $3 million. And the Department of Housing in the sum of $1 million to repair damages to the CDC apartment buildings on Jeremy Street. Mr Speaker, you will recall also that the sum of $10 million was approved but that came from the National Economic Fund because at the time the government did not have any extra resources to be able to pay for these expenses of $10 million. Mr Speaker, what that means is we are cleaning up and putting right the expenses which were necessary after Hurricane Elsa. Expenses which totaled $9,870,400. Mr Speaker, I will tell you how that amount was spent. A sum of $4,941,127 represented the largest share of the amount requested and that was utilized by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, Natural Resources and Cooperatives at the time. That was an emergency at the time and it was expense for labor support programs, $1.3 million, compensation to banana farmers, $1.6 million. And the balance of the funds were expended to purchase agricultural inputs for farmers and to undertake repairs to greenhouses, etc. Mr Speaker, a sum of $1 million was approved for the Department of Housing and paid as a contribution to the National Housing Corporation to assist in defraining the cost of undertaking roof repairs within the country's housing estates. A sum of $939,270 was utilized under the Department of Infrastructure and it was used to finance clearing and cutting of roadside villages and removal of debris, clearing of culverts, judging of rivers and soil removal and hiring of equipment for excavation. And a sum of $3 million was utilized by the Department of Equity to provide cash and in-kind support to reconstruct houses that were damaged by Hurricane Elsa. Mr Speaker, and when the people said, Lucia, to the right decision, that was the only amount that was left for us to spend, the $3 million for housing repairs. All the expenses that are outlined were spent before July 26, 2021. Mr Speaker, so we have to come to the House this morning to allow the Honourable House to agree to these expenses through the supplementary budget so they can become part of the appropriation bill for the last year. I thank you, Mr Speaker. And remember the question is that the Honourable House of Assembly do adopt the report of the Standing Finance Committee on the supplementary estimates of expenditure for the financial year 2021 to 2022 in the sum of $9,870,400. And do agree that they said some do form a charge against the Consolidated Fund and other funds of the State of St. Lucia. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Let first me join the rest of St. Lucia in expressing our deepest sympathies for Constable Nathan Tomet. I also certainly want to extend our condolences to his family. I'm only hoping, Mr Speaker, that the Insurance Fund that was set up for police officers, that we will see a quick resolution. Money is never a substitute for one's loved ones, Mr Speaker. But certainly in the absence of no support. And I'm very proud that under our administration that's something that we implemented. But Mr Speaker, I also want to send out my sympathies and my concerns and I'm hoping for a quick recovery of Constable Isaac Calvin as well. I know that he is still currently at OKEU. Mr Speaker, on a more joyous note, I want to express my support and recognition of International Women's Day. I think that we in St. Lucia are very blessed. I believe that there have been several reports that have highlighted the fact that women have actually obtained higher offices in St. Lucia at a higher rate than most other countries in the world. And I think that we know that in our midst. We see the success of our women and the contribution that they have made to our country. And so I'm very, very pleased to continue to celebrate that day. Mr Speaker, on the motion on hand. The expenditure which the government has rightfully come and included in the supplementary budget which was an amendment that was made in the Financial Management Act to cause those things to take place. I'm very happy that they've done that. I also want to say that Prime Minister is very correct. This was an expenditure that was not anticipated. This came out of a storm. And sadly, Mr Speaker, the metrics of the storm were such that it did not instigate or trigger CRIF to come in place. So therefore, there was not the normal amounts of money that would have come in to help with the cleanup. And the reality, Mr Speaker, because we soon forget these things, is that after the storm, there was word on the street that there was another storm that was coming. And the reality is that it was there for everyone to see the damage that was done to the CDC. And therefore, we had to move expeditiously to get those roofs covered. I also want to say for our farmers, Mr Speaker, the reality is over 90% of our crops were damaged. And as you know, Mr Speaker, and most of us hopefully know in St. Lucia, our farmers have been suffering, our banana farmers have been suffering for a while. With the problems that we were having with Winfresh, reality that they were not receiving their payments, and they did not have the resources to quickly rebuild their farms. And again, like previous administrations, we want to continue to show our support for our farmers. So therefore, it was important that we move very quickly to reassure the farmers that we would provide them with the resources to replant. So cutting their bananas and then replanting immediately and helping them with the labor to be able to do that. Also, Mr Speaker, we had a situation in which, as I said, there was another storm pending. And therefore, cleaning out the drains that had been clogged, taking out the branches that had blocked the current drains was a necessary action. And we had to move expeditiously to do so. And I want to say, Mr Speaker, we were very mindful that we were in an electoral cycle, a very close one. And therefore, we attempted to do it in a very transparent and non-political manner in which we conducted ourselves. So again, the opposition supports this supplementary budget that's being presented. And again, we're very grateful that the economic fund had been set up, Mr Speaker. And the economic fund was set up exactly for reasons like this for capital expenditure. And therefore, we had the resources in a very difficult financial situation to be able to move very quickly. And it just reminds us, Mr Speaker, that there's a small island developing state and given what's taking place in the world and certainly the world economic order, meaning the rules that we have to abide by, by the IMF and the World Bank and the OECD, building a reserve of monies is critical. We're seeing every single year the most creative, exogenous forces, things that we could have never in managed, a global pandemic, what is taking place right now in Ukraine. And certainly now the pending, we don't even know what to call it. Some persons are referring to the stagflation that is pending. We don't know. But we do know that we're seeing unprecedented inflationary pressures. We're seeing central banks around the world, Mr Speaker, employing traditional economic models of wanting to slow down the economy and using the interest rates to do so. We're seeing the U.S. dollar that is a very, very strong dollar, Mr Speaker. And we'll have significant implications for our tourism industry and our competitiveness in that tourism industry. So we're being challenged on all ends. And so therefore I implore this government, and certainly the United Workers Party has embraced that as a part of our policies moving forward, that we must develop a reserve of cash at minimum of 50% of our operating costs for the year. Because if we in fact have to deal with exogenous impacts, Mr Speaker, by borrowing money, that is going to create a cycle that we will never be able to get out of. So again, we support this supplementary budget. And I thank you, Mr Speaker. Member for Cassie Central. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, quite honestly, it wasn't my intention to have contributed to what one can call basically just putting the house in order. I heard the member for Miku South talking about supporting the supplementary budget and also using the word transparency. Before I go into it in any kind of detail, Mr Speaker, let me again join those who have gone before me in expressing condolences to the members of the Royals and Lucia Police Force, the family of Constable Timmett and Constable King, who was injured in the SIEM incident. I also want to wish each and every woman in this country a very happy International Women's Day. You see, Mr Speaker, persons might not understand what is happening, but those monies had already been spent by the former administration, by the UWP government, then headed by no other than the member for Miku South. So to say he supported, I don't know what else he could have done. He's the one who spent it and now comes to say he supports it. But what intrigues me, Mr Speaker, and I was waiting attentively to have heard the details of the expenditure, one million dollars for the roofs of the CDC. Mr Speaker, I was on ground. I was there. And the few roofs, Mr Speaker, that had been damaged, could have never ever come close to a million dollars. Never up to today, Mr Speaker, some of the roofs are leaking. Yes, I have problems with them. But I'm telling you what, Mr Speaker, this expenditure provided yet another avenue for the last administration to continue with the perpetuation of COVID. Oh, it's on now. Thank you, Mr Speaker. So I was saying, Mr Speaker, I was hoping that the leader of the opposition remained mute as it related to this. Because this month's money is spent by the last administration, which he laid. So to come in this house and to say you support the supplementary budget is as though you were lending support to this government's policy. You're not. You're supporting what you have done before. Now, the CDC is, Mr Speaker, one million dollars for the CDC. And I see a member of the CDC board here and she's chuckling because, Mr Speaker, like I said, I was on the ground. There is no way under the sun that the few sheets of plywood and the few sheets of galvanized that was used after Hurricane Elsa could come near to a million dollars, not even $150,000. But I'll tell you what happened, Mr Speaker. The managing director of NFC then was given strict instructions not to permit the staff of NFC to get involved in the repairs. Let me repeat that. The managing director of the National Housing Corporation was given strict instructions not to let anybody in the maintenance department of the National Housing Corporation to get involved in the repairs. Corruption galore. I will read the letter. I will read it and I was hoping that he permitted me by opening the door. Mr Speaker, I'm going to make a document of the House. It is dated July 5th, 2021, exactly 21 days before the elections. And it reads, it's from the managing director to the maintenance department. Re-CDC roof repairs. Please be instructed to correspondence by the chairman of the NFC. She quotes the email. The NFC staff has no direct involvement in this project as the funds for the project is from central government. In fact, if Monday, July 5th, 2021, the maintenance section of NFC will have no direct involvement in the project. The supervision of the project will be done by the board. The board of NFC will supervise. Mr Speaker, I'll explain. The then chairman was a former employee of Timothy Mandel. What was his name? That was his name. It was corruption galore. And he asked everybody to stay away. As he did the supervision, the same way he retrofitted an office as chairman of NFC for NFC itself at a cost of $50,000. So Mr Speaker, when this prime minister comes here and he said we expended this and we expended that and we expended the other, it reminds me of the foundation at St. Jude that was estimated at $3 million and ended costing taxpayers $9 million. What I intend to do, Mr Speaker, as minister with responsibility for housing is to do an audit of the repairs and to make public what the findings were. Because we did not spend a million dollars and there was no reason why a board of directors had to be involved in the supervision of works, which ordinarily would have been undertaken by the maintenance department of the National Housing Corporation. It all boils down, Mr Speaker, so when the member for Miko South speaks about having money in place, it provided an opportunity three weeks before elections for another bit of corruption to get funds for the general elections. But clearly it did not work. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister of Finance. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Just to clarify one thing that the member for Miko North said. He said there was... South, south, south. What's he saying? South, south, south. Apologies. He said that there was transparent distribution of the funds. Mr Speaker, I was leader of the opposition and there were six of us in the parliament. The government never, after Hurricane Elsa, called any one of us to ask whether there was damage in our constituency, whether we needed any support. So I want to put on the record that we were never consulted in the distribution of these funds. Just to make it clear, Mr Speaker. Hurricane Elsa, in terms of the house repairs, July 26th came too quickly. So when it came to government, the money was in the Ministry of Equity. And the list that came out of the equity of the houses that they had approved, Mr Speaker. First of all, the list was prepared by people who fortunately were defeated in the elections. Every one of them, in every five of these six constituencies that we've won. And incidentally, Mr Speaker, we've won five of these constituencies from 1997. So in that list, you know who sent that list to the then Ministry of Equity? The people that were defeated in the elections. And out of these, I can assure you not five percent of these houses were damaged by any hurricane. And that was political favors being granted to people who they believe would have supported them. So I want to put on the record, Mr Speaker, that the Memo from Microsoft is not... Yes, I understand you too. So when, Mr Speaker, the minister, the member gets up before his piousness and he's blamed Mea Kupa. He must say Mea Kupa, Mea Kupa. But the people of St. Lucia is his fault. It's his fault, Mr Speaker, that the people of St. Lucia put in my ears. Because you do not come in the same thing this morning with Ms. Alfred, Mr Speaker. They investigated the member from Mea Kupa, Demi Noff. They called him all kinds of names. They sat there. Minister's account. Minister's account. For 150 US dollars that the minister was transferring to Ms. Alfred to help her in the studies. Mr Speaker, I won't go down that track any longer. I will just correct him and say there was no equitable or transparent distribution of these ones. There was none, Mr Speaker. But I thank him for his understanding for a change of why we should pass a circumstances bill. I thank you, Mr Speaker. On the members, the question is that the Honorable House of Assembly do adopt the reports of the Standing Finance Committee on the Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2021 to 2022 in the sum of 9,870,400 dollars. And do agree that it said some do form a charge against the Consolidated Fund and other funds of the state of St. Lucia. And now put a question as many as of that opinion say aye. As many as of a contrary opinion say no. I think the ayes have it. The ayes have it. Bills, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development and the Youth Economy, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. On the members, the question is that Standing Order No. 482 be suspended in order to allow the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance to proceed with the remaining stages of bill at this sit-in. And now put the question as many as of that opinion say aye. As many as of a contrary opinion say no. I think the ayes have it. The ayes have it. Leave is granted. Please proceed, Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, this bill is just to bring into the appropriation bill and to bring into the financial country what we pass in the supplementary estimate that we pass a few minutes ago and there is no need for any further explanation. On the members, the question is that the supplementary appropriation bill be read a second time. And now put the question as many as of that opinion say aye. As many as of a contrary opinion say no. I think the ayes have it. The ayes have it. Minister of Finance. I bet to move that the supplementary appropriation bill be read a third time and passed. On the members, the question is that the supplementary appropriation bill be read a third time and passed. And now put the question as many as of that opinion say aye. As many as of a contrary opinion say no. I think the ayes have it. The ayes have it. Minister for the Public Service, Home Affairs, Labor and Gender Affairs. Mr. Speaker, I beg to move the first reading of a bill shortly entitled Domestic Violence. Minister for the Public Service, Home Affairs, Labor and Gender Affairs. Mr. Speaker, I beg to move for the suspension of Standing Orders No. 42-2 to allow the bill to go through its remaining stages at this city. 48-2 to allow the bill to go through its remaining stages at this city. Honourable members, the question is that Standing Order 48-2 be suspended in order to allow the Honourable Minister to proceed to the remaining stages of the bill at this city. And now put the question as many as of that opinion say aye. As many as of a contrary opinion say no. I think the ayes have it. The ayes have it. Leave is granted. Proceed Honourable Minister. Mr. Speaker, there to discuss the much awaited Domestic Violence Bill. And before I proceed Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the head and one of the most powerful voices around this bill. Raise your voices. I want to recognize the Lady Catherine Steeley for many years agitating and advocating for this bill to enter this house. Mr. Speaker, the last time a bill walked into this house was in 1995. Thank you Mr. Deputy Speaker. Right. We are obeying the constitution and the law that we cannot do without a deputy speaker. The youngest member of parliament. The future belongs to the youth. Mr. Speaker, the summary, the domestic violence, the summary proceedings of 1995. That is about 27 years ago Mr. Speaker. Since there was a bill in this house. And the latest to this is one where we were fortunate to have a woman. Member for Kastri Zero. Member for Mikut South Order. That bill in 1995. And we are talking about 27 years ago. In the persons of the then Attorney General and Minister of Women's Affairs, Lauren Williams. Mr. Speaker, this bill is also of the late Ayola Lingaford. This lady championed the course of domestic violence in St. Lucia for decades. Established the crisis center. And short for women. We have persons like Marcia Lesmore who had the women's deaths. And many others. This bill in 2016. When the last labor government was in office. Was at the doorstep of this house. It stayed outside. It got wet. It did not allow it to rest. They fought. They got it amended. And it took this government under the leadership of our prime minister. And the courage of our cabinet colleagues to say. We want this bill in the house. It must not be outside. It must not be on the step. It must be in the house. And I was asked to carry this bill in. And today is a historic moment for the bill on domestic violence. Who have been victims of domestic violence. They have had the largest percentage. They found the largest percentage of victims of domestic violence. And therefore, they stand to benefit tremendously from this bill, Mr. Speaker. This is a bill for men. For women. For boys. For girls. For persons who reside in a domestic situation. And Mr. Speaker. The bill will speak to. Combating crime. And we have seen the scourge of crime in our society. And this is one step in combating crime in St. Lucia. By ensuring that we do not have domestic violence in our society. Mr. Speaker. The bill speaks to the powers of the minister. Where the minister will be charged with the responsibility. For providing training. For criminal justice. And health authorities. Provide resources. To provide the support services that victims need. It also speaks to what is domestic violence. It speaks to the prohibition of domestic violence. Report on acts of domestic violence. Give the police powers of entry and arrest and detention. Bail for an officer in relation to an act of domestic violence. Protection order. Interim and final. Conduct of court proceedings. And miscellaneous. Mr. Speaker. As a woman. A woman parliamentarian. Minister with responsibility for gender affairs. A woman's rights activists for decades. And a St. Lucia citizen. I stand here. To present to this honorable house. This much anticipated domestic violence bill. Of 2022. Mr. Speaker. It is an honor. To be doing so today. On International Women's Day. I take this opportunity. As I said earlier. To extend to every woman. Happy International Women's Day. Presenting this bill today. Is an expression. Of my commitment to you. The women of St Lucia. The government's commitment to you. The people of the women of St Lucia. To ensure that your specific needs and circumstances. And not forgotten. In national development. But it is also a commitment to all the men. Boys and girls. Because creating a gender equality society. As the theme for International Women's Day suggests. Is creating a society. In which no one is left behind. A sustainable society. Gender equality Mr. Speaker. Will particularly gender based violence. Prevention and response. Require partnerships. We cannot do it alone. We have to work as a team. Mr. Speaker. This is the house. The house. This is the house. This is the house. This is the house. This is the house. And I will not be home. Number one. Mr. Speaker. not a place for violence. That is not what a home is about. Mr. Speaker, before going into the contents of the bill, Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the pioneers of the women's movement in St. Lucia and the parliamentarians who saw the need to champion the cause of women and supported the enactment of the Domestic Violence Summary Bill Act of 1995, as I mentioned earlier, Attorney General Lauren William Pyeladapt, and today she is sitting right here in this house after 27 years. Mr. Speaker, we had women who championed the cause of other women in parliament, the highest decision-making in this country, and they did well. There are some who forgot their way, they lost their way. But I'm telling you, we will remain focused. These of us in the Low House, Sister Honourable, work from Souffle, Portage Art, our senators with the struggle continues. Mr. Speaker, other women who gave the trade have done well, but we have a long way to go. This bill, Mr. Speaker, will help change the culture in our society because we have accepted, some of us have accepted domestic violence. As a norm, this bill will have no tolerance or no tolerance for violence in the room. Mr. Speaker, I salute the civil society and non-governmental organizations who are tirelessly advocated for violence against women and family violence. I thank and congratulate the other branches of governments, including the judiciary, the public officers, particularly staff of legislative drafting unit, of the Attorney General who spent night and day trying to get this bill ready to be levered on International Women's Day. The gender affairs under the directorship of Jenny Joseph, the Human Services, the Family Court, the Royal St. Lucia Police Force, as well as all other departments engaged in the review of this and previous versions of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I feel honored to be the one to run the last leg of this journey. I'm particularly proud to reach the finish line on International Women's Day. It takes a government with a vision to do that. This is the first bill I've ever said since I have been a parliamentarian. That's my meeting over. For you, the women. But like I have said, it's not health is on the way. Health is health now under this government. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to be surrounded by fellow parliamentarians to share a vision of a St. Lucia free from domestic violence in all its manifestations. Mr. Speaker, St. Lucia has invested considerable efforts in the struggle to end violence against women. In 1982, St. Lucia signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW. And in 1995, we ratified the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, Irradication of Violence Against Women, Belem du Power. We signed international conventions. We identified with them, but we have to do what we have to do at all. And for this bill to stay out there in the way since 2016, it is an atrocity. The government was too busy building racetracks, horse riding, having fun, giving our minds and forget our women, our men, our children who become victims of domestic violence. On the other side. Mr. Speaker, we have to understand the impact of domestic violence on children. These children witness that on a daily basis. That affects them, women. And the teachers can see it in the classroom. These children were exposed to domestic violence. They grow. And the field is the norm. And that contributes to criminal activities in our country. Because they think it's okay to beat, to kill, to lie, to spy, to harass, to molest. Both of these instruments, Mr. Speaker, condemn discrimination against women in all these forms. And further condemn acts of violence committed in the home and domestic relationships. St. Lucia has committed to enabling ending discrimination in all these forms. They call on state parties, these conventions call on state parties to engage in constitutional and legal reform to guarantee all citizens, inclusive of all women and girls. Their rights to, among other things, leave lives free of violence. Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to say that this bill tabled in the House today is one of the most progressive bills on domestic violence in the Caribbean. Mr. Speaker, the first domestic violence legislation passed in St. Lucia was the domestic violence summaries proceedings at number 7 of 1995, Chapter 4.04. It was drafted from the Caribbean model legislation on domestic violence. It created legal recourse for women subject to abuse by their male intimate partners. It ensured the protection from further abuse by creating the opportunity to make application to the formally court for protection, occupation, and tenancy orders. Domestic violence legislation in St. Lucia was limited in scope. The 1995 bill was limited. Domestic violence was not by itself a crime, but some acts were identified as crimes in the criminal code. So when there was domestic violence in the home, it was not recorded as domestic violence. It was recorded as a crime under the criminal code. So when we look at statistics to identify how many persons were victims of domestic violence, our bill did not cover that. So you get beating, you'll be abused in the home, and you just say, well, we'll cover that under the criminal code. But now, once this bill is enacted, it will be recorded as domestic violence. Mr. Speaker, only criminal offence, the only criminal offence it actually created was breach of protection order used by the court. Since many of the acts which constitute domestic violence such as assault, battery rape, harassment, and others were already included in the criminal code. The Domestic Violence Summary Proceedings Act of 1995 acted as a compliment to the criminal code. By way of example, Mr. Speaker, let us imagine a woman lodges a complaint against her boyfriend or her husband who she claims bit her with a blunt object to the extent that she sustained a broken arm. The police would possibly treat the matter as an assault. There would be no record of that act as an incident of domestic violence unless in addition to reporting to the police, she also applies for a protection order from the family court. That is the only time it will be recorded as a domestic violence act. Mr. Speaker, because there is no specific set of information that the police is mandated to give to that woman, she may not even know that she can access services from the family court for her experience of domestic violence. The police, they were not clear on how to handle domestic violence issues. They said that's an internal affair. That's a man-woman affair. That's a family affair. They're not getting involved. With this bill, Mr. Speaker, their responsibilities are fairly clear. Mr. Speaker, there are many cases where violence was committed against women from ex-partners, maybe the fathers of the children. Mr. Speaker, if they did not live with them, they were not able to obtain protection orders because of their specific circumstances. That is why, Mr. Speaker, we do not even have a good sense of the facto situations of domestic violence in St. Lucia because only a few of the actual cases came through the established processes and got included in statistics. Mr. Speaker, what is interesting in this bill is that this bill has expanded the scope of domestic violence. It has added new areas and new responsibilities for persons who are to address the impact and give attention to victims of domestic violence. Mr. Speaker, an act had to be committed. But now in this bill, this bill speaks to the intention of committing an act as domestic violence. Mr. Speaker, we talk of physical abuse or threats of physical abuse. We talk of sexual abuse or threats of sexual abuse, emotional, verbal or psychological abuse. It's not only when you beat somebody, you abuse the person. When you insult the person, when you stop the person, you harass the person. That is abuse. More stations, which is in the criminal code, arbitrary deprivation of liberty or forced confinement, economic abuse. In the situation you have money to give to the children, money to give the mother to support the children, you deny it, that is abuse. Harassment, stalking. 27 years ago, we did not know about cyberstalking. We did not have cell phones. But now, people use cell phones to stalk. If we talk of domestic violence, I go back to the point, Mr. Speaker, that it is domestic violence. That means the violence whether it's committed against the woman, it's against the man or the child that is recorded as violence. Mr. Speaker, we recognize that because the act was limited in scope, many people who were victims of domestic violence could not access justice. And some people who were perpetrators got away because they couldn't be prosecuted under the existing law. Mr. Speaker, the domestic violence benefits solutions in many ways. Mr. Speaker, there are far too many women who have died at the hands of the intimate partners in St. Lucia. On average of three per year, some of these women have been living in violent relationships for several years before the fatal incident. There are sometimes claims that the reports were made before it came to that. But nothing was done to protect the victim. We cannot wait and say RIP. We cannot wait and say condolences. We cannot wait and say sorry. We have to prevent it. Mr. Speaker, this is unacceptable. Whereas we cannot prevent every incident of domestic violence from occurring, we shouldn't show that our laws do not contain humans that allow perpetrators of domestic violence to become emboldened. And if we stop combatting domestic violence in our society, we will in the long run benefit from a society that is free of crime because domestic violence is a criminal act. That is why, Mr. Speaker, passing this domestic violence bill is so urgent. Once enacted, this piece of legislation will facilitate a more robust and coordinated approach to the overall prevention and response of gender-based violence in St. Lucia. Mr. Speaker, we have so much to gain from making the decision to enact this piece of legislation. Passing new domestic violence legislation is urgent for protection of all persons from family violence. This bill, Mr. Speaker, does not discriminate against any person subject to domestic violence based on the sex, marital status, and types of domestic relationships. It therefore increases the types and groups of people who can receive protection from domestic violence. Mr. Speaker, the bill provides for the minister to ensure that there is adequate resources in the government's budget to support services for victims of domestic violence. We have started, but we have a long way to go. I notice the prime minister of finance is looking at me straight in the eye because he's checking the cover, the empty cover, and he's wondering where are we going to get it. But Mr. Speaker, let me assure the prime minister and minister of finance that health is coming. Health is coming because there are many agencies out there who are concerned about domestic violence and they will be proud of this bill, Mr. Speaker. They will applaud this government for taking that bold step. Don't be afraid to knock on the doors and say we are doing the right things for the people. We are not building a suicide strike. We put in the people first. We put in the people first. Our land, the land belongs to the people. We are paying for vaccines unless we get the vaccine. The vaccine must be delivered and then we pay over the counter. We don't pay in advance. We need that money for us to combat domestic violence in our country. We need to reduce poverty. We need to make life better. Forced inclusions, especially women. We have so many families crying. They are calling me and they said they want justice. They want to know what happened to their daughter. They had to bury their daughter. Mr. Speaker, it's not easy. We all know that having the required resources can allow for the comprehensive coordinated services that victims of domestic violence require. Mr. Speaker, in addition to the resources for the implementation of legislation, the minister is responsible for ensuring criminal justice and health care providers receive the required training to provide high quality services to survivors. We have a shelter. When battered women and the children are threatening their lives at risk, we got support from outside to take care of this shelter. But it will not continue all the time. We have to reduce the incidents. Mr. Speaker, tabulated a little earlier on the challenges involved in capturing better domestic violence. Given the existing legislation. With the enactment of this bill, the government of St. Lucia will be much better able to produce timely and comprehensive reports on the status of domestic violence in St. Lucia. And based on these reports, we are in a position to negotiate with our friends and well wishes and international agencies. Mr. Speaker, because we will be aware of the situation with domestic violence, outside of an emergency setting, when an emergency does occur, it will be easier for us to determine whether there is an increase in incidents of domestic violence. We will even be able, Mr. Speaker, to see what types of acts specifically are on the increase or for which groups of victims there is an increase. Mr. Speaker, we could even tell whether there are more incidents within the home or in the domestic relationship settings. Having that kind of data will save us time in decision making and save us valuable and scarce resources. Mr. Speaker, up to date information and statistics assist generally in accessing resources and putting available resources to strategic use. The real independence can report abuse against them or abuse that they witness. Many times if we say that's a man-woman affair, I'm not getting involved. But now we empower the citizens to report what they have seen. We have children who come to school and they report domestic violence in the home that teachers have the right to report the matter. And if you know of an incident and you do not report, you will be charged. Once it can be verified that you knew because you could have saved a life. You could have saved an incident. So all of us are charged with the responsibility to protect each other, Mr. Speaker. Now who can apply for protection order? The bill is responsive to our lived reality. Mr. Speaker, three classes of people can make an application for protection on the bill. A person who is or has been in a domestic relationship with another person who commits or committed violence against him or her. A person applying on behalf of someone else in such a situation and a child or dependent of a person who commits violence against them. As you can see, Mr. Speaker, all types of family violence can be reported under this bill. The applicant need not be intimately involved with the respondent to apply. In addition, you don't have to experience the violence yourself to be empowered to report it. Anyone can report domestic violence that they witness. And in the case of violence against children, even suspected violence can be reported by a third party. These are the improvements we see in this bill. Moreover, the police will be duty bound to respond to every report in the same way they do for other times. The police is empowered to do that. Mr. Speaker, even children and dependents can report abuse against them or abuse that they witness. Mr. Speaker, in recent times we heard of a child beating the parent that is domestic violence. We heard of a child killing the parent that is domestic violence. So it's not just about partners or intimacy. It has to do with the domestic setting. Mr. Speaker, this bill makes it clear that we are taking a zero tolerance for domestic violence in the family, regardless of whether the violence occurs inside the home or outside the home. Presently, we cannot tell from our available criminal statistics how victims and perpetrators of physical and sexual violence are related. The rates, however, of physical and sexual assaults are too high. Over 2,000 reports of physical assaults are lodged every year. We see an average of 249 cases of sexual assaults each year. And, reportedly, we are aware that several of these occur among family members. Mr. Speaker, this bill responds to this reality. As rights-duty bearers, we have a responsibility to look at what is happening in our society identify gaps in our laws and fill those gaps in a timely manner. And this is what this government is about. In its first year, it has brought that bill into the house. And the women out there celebrating, Mr. Speaker, they are happy that this government had the vision to introduce this bill here today. Whereas we do not have control over what people choose to do, we certainly can let them know what will not be tolerated under the law. So now families will not be left without hope. When they experience domestic violence, we promise to put our people first. That is what we promise, Mr. Speaker. And this is a clear demonstration that the safety and well-being of citizens, both in private and in public, is a priority for this government. Mr. Speaker, we need to speak on how does the bill define a child? Mr. Speaker, unlike the existing law, children are given consideration in this bill. It describes a child as a person below the age of 18 who resides with the applicant or the respondent, or both. Whether or not that person is a child or both or either of them, the child could be biological, adopted, stepfather, foster father, or child treated as a child of either of the applicant or respondent. Mr. Speaker, interesting, a talk show host asked me what will happen to a mother who tells a supposedly father that a child is yours and when that child has grown and this child, the supposedly father decided to do a DNA and found that he is not the father. Should the mother refund him all the money that he spent on the child? My response, Mr. Speaker, is that you have made a contribution to humanity. Because if that child was a lawyer, a banker, prime minister, or whoever, and that child continues to call you daddy, will you say, don't call me daddy? You have made a contribution, but you will separate the score with the mother, not with the child. Not violent when I say go to court, won't do your business and so on. Not violent, no, no, no. So the talk show host wanted to know whether he is entitled to a refund. Mr. Speaker, a descendant such as grandchildren, grandmothers or nephews, or related by blood or affinity to the applicant or respondent. These are the children in the care and protection of the applicant or respondent and member of the shared household, whether currently or before. Mr. Speaker, all children in St. Lucifer fall in one of these categories in a family context. So in other words, all children who experience violence in the domestic relationship can make a report to the police, not just children who live with parents, who can be reported for domestic abuse. In the same way that there are broadens who can be reported for domestic violence, it defines a respondent as a person who can also be a child, who is or has been in a domestic relationship with the applicant and against who the applicant has applied for or obtained protection order. Mr. Speaker, under the existing law, children cannot be respondents. In other words, if a child commits an act of domestic violence, the victim of that act cannot seek protection order from the court against that child. Mr. Speaker, we know that there are children under the age of 18 who engage in acts of domestic violence. And Mr. Speaker, there is a growing trend of our young people involved in criminal activities. And this bill will begin to rescue the situation. The bill is making a statement, Mr. Speaker, that children are not excused because of their age. As you are aware, Mr. Speaker, the Child Justice Act of 2018 does speak to diversion and restoration justice. Increasing accountability for children in this bill therefore will help those children who engage in such acts to gain timely access to rehabilitation programs so they can have an opportunity to lead productive lives beyond this experience. And this is why, Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Prime Minister in his wisdom has seen the need to form a youth at risk unit. And this will help coordinate the support that children need so they do not get themselves on the other side of the law. Mr. Speaker, we know that it is harder to teach all dogs nutrients. Early detection is always better. We believe, Mr. Speaker, that increasing the level of accountability of juvenile committing acts of domestic violence will assist greatly in curbing the prevalence of youth violence on the island. We are hearing, Mr. Speaker, of a disturbing trend of younger and younger offenders of violent crimes. And the bodily correctional facility under my watch, the statistics are growing. Maybe this bill alone cannot stop this altogether, but it can help in two ways. Now that the children can report domestic violence, they can feel empowered. From an early age to do something about the violence occurring around them, they will no longer be left with no other option but to endure. We have all seen the effects on children who have had to endure domestic violence growing up feeling helpless and angry. Mr. Speaker, helpless and angry children are not likely to become angry, are likely to become angry abusive adults who themselves perpetuate domestic violence. The second way, Mr. Speaker, is in which the bill can help is early detection because because of the child justice bill, such children will have an opportunity depending on the offence they committed to experience a court diversion program. These programs teach pre-social skills. Acquiring these skills can help children deal with stress and learn how to make better choices. Mr. Speaker, our nation's children must be protected and must be guaranteed an equal opportunity to fly regardless of the circumstances under which they are born. That is why Mr. Speaker, this domestic violence bill is not a standalone piece of legislation. It complements and is supported by the Child Care Protection and Adduction Act of 2018. The Child Justice Act of 2018 and will further be supported by the enactment of the Status of Children Bill and the Child Maintenance Bill and all of which were from the OECS family court model bill. Mr. Speaker, very often when we hear of domestic violence, we believe it pertains only to violence committed in the home. Our current legislation may have introduced that interpretation. But Mr. Speaker, we know all too well that many of the acts of domestic violence occur among persons who do not live together but are intimately involved. The bill therefore defines the domestic relationship by expanding the scope of the law. Domestic relationship is therefore defined as relationship between an applicant and a respondent. Where the applicant and the respondent are or who are married to each other under any law, custom or religion, are or in cohabitation. Are the parents of a child or have parental responsibility of the same child? Whether or not at the same time? Are family members related by affinity or adoption? Or were in engagement, dating, or in a visiting relationship? Share or share the same household or residence? Are in or have been in relationship determined by the court to be a domestic relationship? Mr. Speaker, what is domestic violence? Domestic violence in relation to a person means an action which harms, injures, or endangers health, safety, life, limb, or well-being, whether mental or physical. Any one or combination of these acts constitutes domestic violence. And when we talk of domestic violence, we're talking about whether it is committed against the man or whether it is committed against the woman or the child. We talk of threats of physical abuse, physical abuse, threats of sexual abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, psychological abuse, cohesion, molestation, arbitrary deprivation of liberty, forced confinement, economic abuse, intimidation, harassment, stalking of cyber stalking, damage to destruction of deprivation of property, or entry into the applicant's residence without concern, while the parties do not share the same residence. Mr. Speaker, as you can see, this bill is very conscious of what violence in the family looks like. Don't believe that just because there are no scars, an act of abuse cannot be reported to the police. Mr. Speaker, this bill will enact, will ensure that police officers understand that scars are not only indicators of violence. There are acts included in this definition that many of our Caribbean neighbors did not include in their legislation because they have not been taken into consideration in the model bill. Cohesion is an example, Mr. Speaker. And when we talk of violence, we are also reminding women that the violence can be against men. We have to change the culture. We have to educate our men that if they are violated, they are abused, they must report the matter, Mr. Speaker. They must demand to have the call to report. But, however, we are seeing the incidents that we see, the records that we see, the women come forward. There are some women who are afraid because their male partner takes control of the resources. They are afraid of losing what they have, and they do not want to report the cases of domestic violence. There are times children are involved, property involved, and domestic violence, no class, no color, no creed. There are people in high places who are victims of domestic violence, but because of the status, because of the pride they do not report. If there is a black, they wear shades. If they have bruises on their arms, they wear long sleeves. If they have bruises on their legs, they wear palms, but they will not report the matter. We want every single person who has become a victim of domestic violence to report the matter. And we are going to arm our police. We are going to arm our agencies. We are going to train our people so that they begin to change that culture. They begin to understand that when you go home, after a long day like today, Mr. Speaker, I don't want any of you to wish home and you are abused. Any of us, meaning that your home is a place of tranquility and happiness. You are supposed to relax and reflect on what happened in the house and who you saw. And not about you are this and you are that. You have to go and sleep in peace. No quarrel, no checking telephone, who quarrel, who. We are going to check in the bags. It happens for both sides, Mr. Speaker. Yes, because we know everything. Because when we train women, they tell us the truth. So we know what's happening. Yes, we know how to unlock food too. But we are telling them once the man reports that it is an abuse. It's an abuse, you must not do it. Whether it's the woman, whether it's the man, you must not do it. No nagging, quarreling, cursing each other, abusing each other. It's supposed to be love. I love you darling. Thank you very much. My little cherry pie. Bring the flowers. So Mr. Speaker, it is important that we have this bill to change the culture. To let our men know that they have to respect their partners. They have to respect the children. To tell our women they have to respect their partners. They have to respect the children. And if you are abused, you take the matter forward. Whether you're a man, whether you're a woman, whether you're a child. Mr. Speaker, we do not want families to suffer because of economic pressures. We know the mothers are the ones who are usually with the children. But we do not want the male partners to deprive them of economic support. That is abuse. We don't want them to control them. That is abuse. And if two people have decided to live together, to have a relationship. And if one day you notice that it is not working, you are not happy. You are free to walk away. And you cannot be forced to stay in the relationship. You cannot be abused in the relationship. And Mr. Speaker, as parliamentary rep, I have to deal with that. A gentleman came and he told me to tell his wife, come back to him. How can I do that? Mr. Speaker. I have to use the Prime Minister as my support. And I said the Prime Minister said that is beyond our responsibilities as parliamentarians. So I had to stay quiet. And I said, excuse me, I know you have been with this lady for many years. You are married, you have children. But if she decides she is not happy, let her do what she wants. You are a good looking man. Can you move on? You are okay. There is nothing wrong. Because you are agreed to disagree. But he told me, I said what is it you want me to do for you as parliamentary rep? He said tell my wife to come back with me. I said and you want her to be there and she is not happy? Mr. Speaker, I think this bill speaks for itself. We need to educate our people. We need to educate our policemen. We need to educate those in the social services. We need to educate those in the schools, the teachers. We need to educate families. And when people are getting ready to marry, we need to educate them. And let them understand that violence is unacceptable in the home. And Mr. Speaker, there are penalties for those who violate this act. And the policemen will be armed with the tool to collect information to prepare reports and to submit. Mr. Speaker, I must tell you, in memory of the fall, you are not forgotten. You will never be forgotten. And we are doing this to give your family the comfort they need. We are doing this to prevent further acts of domestic violence. And nobody, nobody knows who will be saved by this bill. Nobody knows. And I'm telling you, Mr. Speaker, we are on a rescue mission. I'm telling you, Mr. Speaker, this government will do all within its powers to provide the resources to support families, to reduce poverty, and to create an atmosphere of tranquility, tranquility in our homes, in our society. And let us see if we can combat violence and crime in our country. That is one step forward. Mr. Speaker, the memory of those who haven't worked in justice dissolved the passage of this more progressive law against domestic violence to help prevent, polish, eradicate this type of violence. Mr. Speaker, let me thank you for your attention as I rest my case. Honourable members, the question is that the Domestic Violence Bill be read the second day. Let me thank you, Mr. Speaker, as I rise to support this piece of the bill that is before us, Domestic Violence Bill, but allow me, Mr. Speaker, first to express my sympathies to the Timet family, to the grandmother and grandfather of this young police officer and, of course, the other members of the family that I know very well. I understand personally what it is to have a young, healthy, promising young man who would just suddenly take his rest in such a manner, unprepared sometimes as a family to deal with such a situation, but I do pray God's strength and comfort in these difficult times. On the occasion of International Day for Women, Mr. Speaker, I wish to acknowledge all the women who are in the chambers here in various capacities and salute them, but also wish to remember my mother. I'm sure that she's in the UK somewhere following. She always listens. My sisters, I only have sisters, my wife and my two daughters. The women of Kastri's South West in particular, of course, they were the body and soul of the last campaign. I wish to acknowledge them. But more importantly, Mr. Speaker, permit me to acknowledge in Kastri's South West, before I took on this position in representing persons in that constituency, there were women that went before me and I stand on their shoulders in the person of Harold and Rock, in the person of Minister Rambali, also persons who contested but were not successful day two when before me and I do acknowledge them. I find myself in a unique situation when it comes for matters of women and domestic violence and I want to just briefly speak to the cost, to the state as it relates to domestic violence. Mr. Speaker, I happen to be the only son of my mom and dad being sandwiched with four sisters, but more importantly, maybe fortunately, unfortunately, my mom didn't know her father and my father didn't know his father so I didn't grow up with grandfathers. But my mom and my father had brothers so I do not have any uncles, but I was laced with great-grandmother and aunts, sisters, and that's how I grew up. The only male I had close to me too was my father and my son and now they're both at rest. In the context of domestic violence, I understood my grandmother, my mom's mother was rape, to have just my mom and her sister. And of course, she was one of the most beautiful person that I encountered in life, not because she was different, somebody took advantage of her, but she lived up to 93 years being so peaceful and embracing. And of course, even days before she took her rest, I recalled the doctor said to my sister that we should take her home because she would leave us any time and we took her to Pigeon Point. When the music was playing, she came out, she was able to step onto the sand and dance with a visitor who was passing and I was saying to my sister, this lady is something else, I cannot imagine who else could be like her and went home and she took her sleeper, eternal rest. I have seen sitting at the Ministry of Equity, the scourge of domestic violence reflected in the programs of the ministry. And I want us as a nation to reflect, Mr. Speaker, on some of these issues. We speak of gender-based violence because it's rooted in inequality where a cultural definition that men in particular felt that they were superior to women. This is the root of domestic violence or gender-based violence, but even in the whole issue of violence itself, there's always some form of goliath-David relationship and those of you who may be reflecting and asking what authority can Joachim speak of violence, let me raise them to say, all forms including going into a church to confront somebody is a form of abuse. It is, and when you do these things you need to acknowledge that it's wrong. But more importantly, we have a lot of underlying forms of abuse that hardly ever been discussed or mentioned that leads to violence of all kinds. Abuse begets abuse. Violence begets violence. But you ask, what is the cost to the state? Mr. Speaker, annually it will cost us approximately $30 million to maintain public assistance to a number of persons who are deprived of some basic support. The numbers have moved from about $8.2 million and it's expected to be approximately $22 million this year. Just to care for approximately 500 senior persons who have been abandoned in some instances by their family, we need to come up with $8 million annually to do so. And of course there is a trend, Mr. Speaker, where family members are asking for the state to pay them to care for the family, for the grandparents. This is a form of abuse. Mr. Speaker, I think of this whole change in our cultures and our values, but this root, this rooted problem of abuse that people feel they are superior. They can do whatever they want. This piece of legislation, and I'm not the expert of the legal mind to speak to every aspect of it, but no one can boast that it takes care of somebody else's problem. I think it's really a mirror that everyone should take a look and reflect to what extent that we as a nation must come up to speed in terms of to what extent we are contributing or have contributed to the scourge of domestic violence in this country. Some years ago, when the member for Central Castries was also the member for Central Castries, I was at the SSDF and he called me on a Friday night, and he said to me, a mother with four children from Monde that was thrown out of her home, she had a newborn baby. And he asked me, what can we do? And of course, with his energies behind you, you know that and the speed that he operates with. You know, fast and faster. On that very weekend, I had to build a house to house a mother with four children, including a newborn, because some man felt that he was only transacting sexually, and if he is not willing to be a participant, then she must go out. I am happy that there is a piece of legislation that brings that kind of discussion into focus. But of course, it cannot be made, people cannot be made to feel comfortable doing this thing a bright daylight as if it was normal. So I asked myself, Mr. Speaker, yes, why do we inscribe on paper the do's and don'ts and the issues that brings hurt on families and individuals and persons who we consider may be not inferior, but we feel powerful over them. To what extent do we usher in a culture that does not rely on a piece of legislation but that promotes values that brings about security of individuals? It is not about love, it's about respect for if you ought to respect someone and recognize them that you have no right to hurt them. It's not the absence, not the fact about you must love them. And I just say some modern laws, you know, some modern laws in families, encourage a certain kind of abuse that brings destruction on families and you get the ripple effect, it goes on and on and on. I'm happy to remember for Human Services is there and the family court and the stories you hear when you have to deal with abuse, sexual abuse and a newborn baby from an 11-year-old and what happens thereafter as if you never get to the end of the pain and suffering, I can say I'm extremely happy that my mom lived her life from 16 years on her own because her mom was not able to care for her and as a result that I'm here today to speak on the issue of domestic violence. But as I went through this piece of legislation and there are 17 areas of focus which has already been mentioned by the member who presented it, I asked myself which one represents me and I said to everybody who is going to speak, this thing is really a mirror of what our society is and in some ways sometimes when we speak of men and how their own participation and responsibility usually comes with laughter and I understand the sense of humor because that in itself is cultural. We laugh because we can't face it sometimes, the issue of domestic violence and is it real? Yes it is, but we must come to terms with exactly what it is and face it. It is not adequate that just because it's written it's going to do what it's supposed to do for us if we ourselves do not break our bones on the pieces of legislation that challenges us individually and every member of our society. So Mr. Speaker, I embrace this piece of legislation, Domestic Violence Act and of course the work of the Human Services Department, you know the foster care programs, the children at boys, the young men at boys training centre, you know and our families and our families system that has actually been erect, you know, we can start to nurture our children, get into the schools and make this alive in the minds and the nurturing of children that we can bring about in new tomorrow. I dare say that whereas I am hopeful that the police will be armed to respond but the protection of a victim of domestic violence is almost lit which is the focus of this bill because the person has become a victim. Ideally what we would like to achieve in our St. Louis is a place where domestic violence becomes so unpopular that when it's spoken about it is rare and we can achieve this through education and nurturing in our early childhood centres, in our primary schools, in our secondary schools to actually do like what they did for the banana black sicker toka where you sometimes cut off some of those other plants and transplant the younger ones really must to get the black sicker toka and that disease away. We need to do this with our population and I do have faith and hope even if I'm not around if we do well in nurturing our children especially our young children into understanding there is a new way to live that was not given to us when we grew up because we lived in homes where our parents were abused and it seemed like it was natural. We heard our neighbours crying back in the 60s but that was normal. We grew up in a time where it was almost acceptable to endure and even be praised for enduring domestic violence. We must make that something of the past and we could only do this like I said through education of a new generation of St. Louisians so that we, if we are on our working chairs if we live to see it, we can hear the day that St. Louisia has been poached from such an ugliness that we can say that we passed this piece of legislation and it has made a difference in our society. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Minister for Commerce. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, March 8th, I stand with great humility in support of this domestic violence bill. Now placed on the floor of this honourable house by the member for Babuno. First, let me thank all the persons, all the women who have come to support and to witness this historic moment. Mr. Speaker, it is historic for each and every one of us. It is historic for the women on both sides of this honourable house. It is historic for members of the upper and lower house. It is also a historic moment for our government as it delivers on the promise in our manifesto. Mr. Speaker, it is also a watershed moment for victims of domestic violence. These women, children and men who have found themselves very much abused by members of their own families. All of us have heard the various stories from victims, partners holding abuse at each other, parents holding abuse at children, partners physically abusing each other, parents physically abusing children, family members sexually abusing each other, especially children. And Mr. Speaker, in some cases the abuse continues for years and reported, unchecked, resulting in cases of death of loved ones. We've also heard of adult children abusing their aging parents, aging grandparents and relatives. All of this resulting in an intergenerational cycle of violence. As children in particular, these behaviors then come as acceptable and normal. So Mr. Speaker, in our society this problem remains. Some very quietly and in some cases both the victim and the abuser not recognizing the situation that they are in. Some don't report it as we've heard because of different reasons, because of fear, because of shame, because of lack of economic and financial means. But Mr. Speaker, as I reflect and as the two previous members made their contribution I reflect on my own life. I reflect on my parents who are no longer with me and I sat and say a prayer of thanks for the love and the respect that they show to each other and for that family unit, healthy family environment that they shared and caused in our family. So Mr. Speaker, I am grateful. I am eternally grateful to them for what they've done for me and for my other siblings. But Mr. Speaker, in preparing for this discussion on the domestic violence bill I have to do some research and as a question what causes a person to be an abuser? Why do people want to control what causes a person to inflict pain on a loved one? Because if you're in love with somebody you want to protect. Why do victims of domestic violence remain in the relationship? So I went in too quickly I did my Google search in Wikipedia and there was a little paragraph that I felt it was important to share and I quote, In abusive relationships there may be a cycle of abuse during which tension rise and an act of violence is committed followed by a period of reconciliation and harm. The victims may be trapped in domestically violent situations through isolation, power and control and traumatic bonding to the abuser. Cultural acceptance, lack of financial resources fear and shame or to protect their children. As a result of abuse victims may experience physical disabilities dysregulated aggression, chronic health problems mental illness, limited finances and a poor ability to create healthy relationships. Victims may experience severe psychological disorder such as post post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD and children who live in a household with violence often show psychological problems from an early age such as avoidance, hyper vigilance of threats which may contribute to various traumatization end of quote. So Mr. Speaker when I looked at this explanation and everything else that goes with it I felt that in discussing this bill today we in St. Russia needed to try to be conscious of the relationship between domestic violence and the violence in our wider community which is manifesting itself now in very vivid and graphic ways and I believe and there I will lie again on the person the experts in that area but it is an area we need to pay a lot more attention to. In addition I believe we ought to debate this bill in memory of some of the persons who have lost their lives so I did a little bit of research on that and if your permission Mr. Speaker I will call a few names Mary Radcliffe at 31 years Cynthia Paul and that's from Souffre Coffee Paul, a child of four from Souffre Corrine Paul, a child of three from Souffre Donna John, age 19 from Viewfort Valerie Lorde at 21, Riviera Mittang Mary Henry at 34 from Souffre Trisha Dennis at 14 from Boccage Diesel George at 16 from Redre Park Pascaline Boffien, age 30 from Souffre Johan Boutin, age 2 from Souffre Ife Boutine, age 9 from Souffre Belinda Joseph, age 12, Salibus Bender Gabriel, age 37 from Boccage Josephine Emmanuel, age 26 from Denver Feliciana Charles, age 45 from Ansleray Makina Charles, age 17 from Ansleray Kaila Karnil, age 18 months from Alger, Miku Macmillan Joseph, also known as Johnny age 32 from Jack Mell Veronica Goodman, age 50 that person died in Miku Sherry Ann Myers, age 23, active healer Bill Archibald, age 6 from Marigold Jim Kim Jones, 18 months from Marigold Beverly Mangal, age 36 Deramo Moshi Donna Van Joseph, age 25, Cicero Alfred Janouy, age 27, Lapointe Dennis Alicia Hunt, age 22, from Tuia Johanna Cox, age 44, Lecleri Edmund Murray, age 52, Palme Souffre Crystal Alicia Fannes, age 17, Boapatat castries Takesha Fannes, 1 year, 11 months, Boapatat castries Crystal Sentome, age 17 La Wichrede Grosile Cobb Butte, darkest, Maximine, age 30 Basse-Labri, you have a Lucan Lesmont, age 34 you have a Dave Monroe, age 31 from New Village castries Dylan Joseph, age 25, from Tuia Sophia Edward, age 31, Cicero Castries, Virginia Robert, age 52 Oje Viewfort Mr. Speaker, we got that information from the department and persons but I believe that this list is still incomplete Mr. Speaker, other to this list I know we have an Ella Wilson So Mr. Speaker, and again in recent times if I may recall, in November last year 2021 to be exact, we heard of one brother killing another brother I don't have a name but I remember that incident So Mr. Speaker, this issue of domestic violence have caused significant pain to families and it has caused significant loss of lives to our dear country So presenting this bill today in addition to acknowledging and remembering some of the victims what I want to do today is to also acknowledge some of the champions who have caused the work upon which we have that first tuition today I want to recognize in a very big way our sister member of Babono for her work in ensuring that this bill gets to the house today I want to thank our Honourable Prime Minister and our Cabinet colleagues for ensuring that that work came to fruition But Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the current Attorney General and past Attorney Generals Attorney General and their staff for ensuring that we have this bill In expressing words of commendation I want to salute Justice Madam Lorraine Williams who is present with us in this August assembly for tabling this bill some 27 years ago I want to thank you I want to recognize as well Senator Alvina Reynolds for the effort that she has done on this particular area I also want to recognize our past Minister Honourable Gail Ruggerbut and also in the house with us today we have Mrs. Romelia King and we have Ms. Catherine Sales of Raise Your Voice and I want us to acknowledge the fact not only Catherine's institution is called Raise Your Voice she continually on her own raises her voice on behalf of women and she has as well Mr. Speaker from time to establish a national network of supporters so if Catherine has a call today from Cassie she knows where to call somebody in Forsajak if there is a woman in Forsajak with a problem she knows who to call if there is a woman with a problem in Grusili so again today I want to say thank you to Ms. Sales and her organization also in the house some ladies who have done significant work on behalf of women the late Ion Ellinger Ford but in this house today we have Mrs. Romelia King we have others like Clamentia Eugene Elizabeth Lewis Champs Gasper Afusa Simay Lior Pascal Lindy Ariste Marcia Lesmond Jenny Joseph Anadas they took the challenge and they continue working today Mr. Speaker I believe I also want to recognize the staff of the family courts the police officers and staff of the support services who have all worked tirelessly to deal with family disputes Mr. Speaker one may ask another question how this current domestic violence bill make a difference in the lives of the people Mr. Speaker I take comfort in knowing that this bill has received significance take a whole discussion I have been told that support groups such as raise your voice the legal fraternity various government ministries and agencies as well as international bodies such as systems for change or contributed to the peace of legislation that is before us Mr. Speaker based on what we've heard and what I know in community I believe that it is critical as we pass this domestic violence bill that we must ensure that we focus on gender equity we must focus on women empowerment especially as well economic empowerment and that is why I am happy as well today that we are going to have a bill on the community tourism bill because that too will contribute to a reduction in domestic violence because women will be able to start their businesses men will be able to start their businesses and the whole issue of financial strength and stability they will be able to walk away from a bad relationship if they so desire Mr. Speaker I believe that we must focus on only identification of abuse in our school system and the only way we can do this is to train and train and train our teachers we must focus on strengthening our counseling services and that means we must invest in our counselors you cannot have a school of hundreds of children with one counselor yes we must we must we must focus on national training first take over the groups we must refocus our police and train them differently we must invest in training of our social workers themselves we must invest in training the community so that we know when we look at a situation we know what is happening on the ground we need to know the content we need to train our community in the content of this bill so that a neighbor who is hearing every minute that something is happening needs to know how to react I am very much aware that now when any incident happens we are very quick to use our cell phones always for the wrong purposes but if we educate the community properly we would be able to identify the signs of domestic violence and know the steps that they could take so that in the end they might save lives Mr. Speaker the passing of this domestic violence bill is a first bite at this huge elephant for effectiveness and a reduction in domestic violence all the units private sector public sector must work in unison we are stronger only when we work together Mr. Speaker we must start with strengthening and supporting our family units we must invest in social services but more than anything else we must invest in parenting we must invest in parenting because when you have two young people having a child you do not know how to raise a child we, I believe that is another beginning that is an area we need to pay significant attention to I am aware at one point that we had a unit teaching young people how to be paired we need to invest in it but Mr. Speaker in saying all of this we recognize that we are a government, a country with very limited resources and that is why I believe the passing of this bill will enable us to have friends who can support us in addressing some of the social aims so Mr. Speaker as I support this domestic violence bill I pray that God will give us the strength to understand that where there is love and where there is respect where there is love where there is respect there will be peace so I pray today for peace in our families peace in our country and peace in our world Mr. Speaker our government put in the people of Centrusia face our government put in our women face our government put in our children face our government put in our men face let us work together for a better Centrusia and a better world I thank you The member for I remember just allowing me to turn off the mic so you'll have to put yours back on Thank you Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker I thought after the the barrel of the bill you know we would have gone for lunch so that we would have come back a little energized to contribute to this bill because some of us Mr. Speaker need to have lunch at a certain time or that in itself is an abuse Mr. Speaker I ask leave to express sentiments on two matters which everybody seem to have contributed to this morning the first is to express my deepest sympathy to the team at family the gentleman actually has his immediate roots from my constituency and so I sympathize with the family down in Choiselle Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker if you allow me just to you know when this happened a number of people you know as a parliamentarian as a parliamentary representative a lot of people would have called and expressed concern and one of the things Mr. Speaker that many people seem to seem to think Mr. Speaker is that a lot of these people are emboldened because there seem to think that there is no punishment Mr. Speaker and we in this parliament are the lawmakers and I want to give the prime minister my assurance that he have my full support to come to this house to make certain adjustments to ensure make certain changes to ensure swift justice and for any perpetrator to think twice Mr. Speaker because among the opinion Mr. Speaker that we cannot have a system where people commit gun crimes Mr. Speaker and they back on the street Mr. Speaker we cannot have a situation where people feel that you know there is no no punishment where prisoners are bodily regardless of the rights that they have can demand that they want something better to be done right Mr. Speaker we have to Mr. Speaker to make it a point that if you commit a crime Mr. Speaker you have to face a very stiff penalty and swift penalty Mr. Speaker so Mr. Prime Minister you have my full support in bringing you know stronger measures to ensure in committing various crimes Mr. Speaker I also want to congratulate all the women of St. Lucia on the day that we mark as International Women's Day Mr. Speaker but Mr. Speaker I have a concern because year after year when we celebrate International Women's Day you get the feeling that it's a sort of a tokenism sort of celebration Mr. Speaker and you get the feeling also that people want to put women in position because they are women and I don't subscribe to that women work very very hard for where they reach in life Mr. Speaker it's not a charitable position the Honorable Lauren Williams is in the house Madam represented from Souffre who I work with for many years a tough lady we didn't get to the positions by any sort of charitable means they work hard and we need to stop given the impression that because you're a woman you're supposed to be in a particular position women work for what where they have attained and where they reach in society Mr. Speaker and we must stop giving that impression that we recognize women to be in certain positions changing that Mr. Speaker but we also need to recognize Mr. Speaker and you know Mr. Speaker do you think women are under threat in St. Lucia? I don't think women are under threat in St. Lucia as it relates to they graduating into various positions in various establishments women Mr. Speaker forward thinkers, forward movers I look at households where a boy and a girl a brother and a sister and whether because of various situations in the house the guy goes a certain way and the lady elevates herself to a why is that Mr. Speaker and I think now we're making it a little bit more putting a lot more pressure on our boys to Mr. Speaker because we seem to be marginalizing them when we continue to you know and I'm not saying that in any way you undermine women in any way Mr. Speaker I want us to recognize Mr. Speaker that in all of the celebration of women we must recognize also that our men are sleeping because women are very strong when we look at the rate of suicide when we look at the various things usually it's men Mr. Speaker and so I just thought you know in all of the congratulatory messages to the women which they rightly deserve Mr. Speaker we recognize that it's not an issue of tokenism Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker on the substantive bill it's a bill that we support the opposition supports this bill Mr. Speaker and I would have when you did speak to whether the bill should have gone through all stages you would have recognized that I said no Mr. Speaker and the reason I said no Mr. Speaker because and if I'm wrong and I'm subject to correction but I remember at your very first sitting you spoke to bills that are very substantive very urgent and will affect micro section of society that you would like to put it out there into the society for some discussion I am not sure whether that bill has been circulated among various civil groups Mr. Speaker if it has then I take back my comment that we should not go through all in one sitting Mr. Speaker because this bill affects men it affects women it affects children Mr. Speaker and I thought we should have that discourse out there with various civil groups to get feedback get feedback on it Mr. Speaker but Mr. Speaker passing a bill in itself is not the end to it all we I heard from Madame from Souffre and she mentioned a list of names obviously there are quite a few that you missed Mr. Speaker but we have become a society we forget very fast when this one happens after a day or two it gets under the carpet you know the perpetrators are not brought to justice Mr. Speaker we as a society have to demand on our governments to ensure that certain things are in place to catch some of the perpetrators particularly of domestic violence particularly of crimes of abuse and I am very happy that we I am speaking to the past administration we ensured Mr. Speaker that certain equipment was brought to speed at the forensic lab and where we were able to identify a serial rapist in a number of rapes that were occurring around the island so these are the kind of things that need to complement this bill in terms of the government's action to beef up certain institutions that can ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice Mr. Speaker but Mr. Speaker I am going to speak on a matter which some of my colleagues might take offence too but there is another kind of abuse that is happening and that is Mr. Speaker when we put people out of work when people lose their jobs Mr. Speaker particularly women because now these women who were independent and could have fend on their own who have lost their jobs and hundreds of women have recently lost their jobs around the island now have to go back to an abuser to get a monthly allowance or to get something you know we have to be mindful of that and the Honorable Prime Minister you know in his quest for his you know to get into government he made certain promises he made certain promises that he would do things differently you know and that he would ensure Mr. Speaker and I understand that there is a economic factor in it but in terms of showing good faith and going forward you know Mr. Speaker that he could have and showed that he changed things as he promised Mr. Speaker so these things we have to bear in mind when we speak about abuse we have to think of some of the actions that we take as a society that place women in positions where they can be abused Mr. Speaker so we cannot just pay lip service to certain things that we bring forward Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker you know Ms. Catherine Sealy's name was mentioned and I have a lot of respect for Ms. Catherine Sealy in terms of what she has been doing over the years Mr. Speaker but Ms. Catherine Sealy as an individual she has to ensure that her voice is loud and her voice is for everybody Mr. Speaker okay she maintains that sort of neutrality when it comes to speaking on matters of that so I hope that we continue to see that sort of you know forcefulness across the board when it comes to bringing government and bringing the authorities to account for various things that are not being done I'm hoping too Mr. Speaker that we take a very serious approach as it relates to the number of children who are getting pregnant by various members men in our society that these are things Mr. Speaker that we have to come down and come down hard Mr. Speaker we cannot be saying something and then we don't act upon it we have to show force we have to show people that we are serious it's not just another bill coming to the parliament it's not just a thing that we grant stand we have to show the government that we are done by this government we have to show Mr. Speaker and you know Mr. Speaker one of the things that when we speak about women in position and women in power there would have been a lot of women very certain around this parliament but you know why Mr. Speaker because our women are our women's biggest enemies our women are our women's biggest enemies for political you know life our own women abuse them our own women raise all kind of things about them Mr. Speaker you know and it's not just about being a woman that you want to represent because you have the capacity to represent you know to represent your people Mr. Speaker so Mr. Speaker this is a bill that I support I know it was one of the things that as a government we had to bring forward there were certain things Mr. Speaker that the the Egypt chambers were swamped with we had the black listing the financial act had to take place we had COVID that we had never dealt with before a lot of these things you know Mr. Speaker you know and I don't want to it will appear that the domestic bill was put on the back burner but these are things that just came up on us Mr. Speaker and we had to address it but I think the opposition supports this bill as I said Mr. Speaker I think you know we should have been put out there for additional discussion I you know I applaud all those who have been consistent in ensuring that the bill comes to the house and I hope Mr. Speaker that we as a society will speak out most forcefully of matters of domestic violence as a parliament we will you know we will stand united regardless of who we will stand united in calling out to portrays as Mr. Speaker on behalf of the opposition I support the domestic violence bill I thank you the member for Viewfort North Mr. Speaker thank you very much I wish to stand in support of the domestic violence bill as presented by my colleague minister with responsibility for gender affairs gender relations gender affairs but before I do so Mr. Speaker I wish to join my colleagues and to express sympathy to the families of both the deceased officer and the injured officer and to offer prayers to those who are suffering at this time as a result of violence I wish to also join my colleagues Mr. Speaker to wish all women happy international women's day I salute first and foremost my mother Lucila Jebatis with a woman of great strength and courage who told their night to ensure that her children got the best of life my wife and my daughter and all the strong women in the politics of my life Mr. Speaker those who continue to assist me in my growth and survival those who have remained at my side for many years even now Mr. Speaker on this international women's day I also salute all of the women who are in this house my colleague parliamentarians and also those who have joined us in the gallery and there are many the names have been mentioned before I wish to salute every single one of them those who are in politics and those who are in civil society I wish to reach out if you permit me Mr. Speaker also to the many leaders in the constituency of V4North the women of many years who brought a brunt of leadership in the communities the farm shy of many years ago some parents who took the brunt of caring for the children the teachers the school principals early childhood education center leaders all those women if you go to the communities and I'm sure for your community also colleagues if you go to the communities most of our groups the cultural groups the mothers groups the church groups most of these groups are led by strong women who sacrifice every single day and every single year most of them Mr. Speaker after they sacrifice every single day and every single night they wash their hands and their feet and go to bed no one in the next community would know of them but they are the ones who also keep the glue of these communities together they have kept them together for years and years and years they will probably die without a mention I wish to say to every single one of them that today is your day and we salute you for keeping our communities together I wish Mr. Speaker just to spend a few minutes not very long but just to spend one or two minutes to say that this bill is a very powerful statement of action it relates to once again to the people of Saint Lucia about the intents of this government the member for Babu who went through the various aspects of this bill she went meticulously through them and I will not do the same however I wish Mr. Speaker just to reiterate a few very important aspects of this bill some of the definitions domestic violence which relates to the means it means an action sorry which harms, injures or endangers health, safety, life, limb or well-being whether mental or physical I wish to say to Mr. Speaker I wish to say to the people who went through the various aspects of this bill some of the definitions domestic violence which relates to the means of theoof it relates to domestic violence as we know what what violence what did men and women fight? mostoule in boxing in b Concept violences通lägio ivention I want to just remind Mr. Speaker for the benefit of all that threats of sexual abuse, sexual abuse. I want to just remind Mr. Speaker for the benefit of all that threats of sexual abuse, sexual abuse. I want to just remind Mr. Speaker for the benefit of all that threats of sexual abuse, sexual abuse, sexual abuse. Mr. Speaker, the law speaks a lot to children and dependents, and I am very interested in that aspect of it. Mr. Speaker, harassment, it means conduct that induces fear, or fear of harm. It includes watching or loitering outside, near buildings where a person, a child or dependent, of a person resides, works, carries out business studies and so on. Mr. Speaker, I'm the leader of the MFA. If you don't have the power, you'll be punished. If you have the money, you'll be punished. If you have the power, you'll be punished. Everyone knows that. Telephone calls. You'll be put together. You'll be put together. You'll be put together. So, Mr. Speaker, all of these things I just wanted to repeat because it's very, very important. And as my colleague's sister from Sufra indicated, it is a step in the direction which causes us to change the way we see life in St. Lucia. But, Mr. Speaker, I want to end, and this is just coincidence. I discovered something in my little research for this contribution called the voiceless victims, domestic violence and children's rights, a panel led by a wonderful lady called Felicia Brown. And in this panel, it included experts on the Caribbean and so on. The public launch of Decides Caribbean, and there are some very important quotes there. I just wanted to quote some of what Ms. Felicia Brown wrote. And I quote, and I can make it a document of the House, Mr. Speaker. In many Caribbean societies, there is an aim to primary focus on the victims and the nature of the deaths rather than the deep and fundamental causes of this inhumane acts against human life. Many of these victims are women and children, some of whom were known to be victims of continual abuse of violence within their respective homes and communities. In such human tragedies, it is very alarming that in many of these cases, children are involved whether directly or indirectly, unquote. To end, Mr. Speaker, I want to go to continue to indicate that in this very discussion, they spoke about a very important study by UNICEF in 2015. And listen to that, Mr. Speaker. And it relates to this bill because the member for Babuno indicated the impact that these actions can have on children. And I want you to listen to this because I'm very interested in how children are impacted by domestic violence. And I quote, Mr. Speaker, a child's developing brain can mistakenly encode the violence. Listen to that, says children of domestic violence are in that case can grow up believing that violence is the norm and that they are to be blamed for it. The statistics and studies show and it reinforces that belief that stopping domestic violence long term and breaking the cycle of violence relies heavily, it heavily relies on the raising of children in environments free of violence, unquote. In other words, Mr. Speaker, what this discussion led by Ms. Felicia Brown indicated was that children, when they see, when they experience violence, somehow they believe it's normal. And later on in their lives, they continue to copy it and possibly this is what we see happening in our society. So I wish, Mr. Speaker, to support this bill and to say to the people of St. Lucia that we are very committed. Though it may be a long process, we are very committed to ensuring that our social systems are strengthened. And that, Mr. Speaker, we continue to give our women strength and that the men, although we laugh at it, because it's the cultural thing that men don't report and men get their licks too, so the men will not report it. But we want to develop a society where we respect each other and we continue to grow in love, as the sister from Babunu said. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I support this bill. Thank you. Member Vakashree South. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before I proceed for the point raised by the member from Sousal Saltibus, I think he was under the impression that we would have broken for lunch and, like he said, come back, energize to contribute to the debates. I probably need to just explain to honorable members that we had intended to break earlier. And, of course, with your permission, and Prime Minister asked that we invite the ladies who are here with us, the women who are in first today, to lunch with us. But based on the numbers, we felt that we would not have had enough lunch, so we had to order extra food and it would not be here until after two. So it did not make sense for us to break, to have lunch, and the ladies don't sit with no food for them. When we are ready to resume, then the lunch would come. So we thought that we would, even the importance of this bill, we would continue to debate until the food arrives, where we can invite them to share with us downstairs. But, of course, for honorable members, the lunch is downstairs, and if you feel it is necessary to have lunch now, you are free to do so. Basically, this is the reason why, and we want to take this opportunity, and I'm sure you, Mr. Speaker, will invite all the women who are here with us. And, being here since morning, do I please join us with lunch when we do break for lunch? So, Mr. Speaker, I want to join my colleagues in, first of all, offering condolences to the family of the officer who lost his life, Officer Timet, and to express on behalf of my constituency, Mr. Speaker, the hope that they will find the strength to deal with the situation that they face, the Prime Minister has spoken on the situation of crime, and, therefore, I will lend support to his words. Of course, today is International Women's Day, and, like colleagues before me, we want to certainly pay homage to all the outstanding women that we have in St. Lucia over the years, have done so much to nurture many of us. Some of us, our mothers, were also our fathers, and, therefore, our mothers really prove how extraordinary they were in not just being mothers, but also being fathers for us when the strength of a father was needed. There are many outstanding women in St. Lucia, and colleagues before me would have, you mentioned some of them, those who certainly prepared the path that many women of today's generation are following. For my part, my political survival, and I've said so over and over, depends so much on my women's group. They're the most active individuals, and it's certainly the ones who carry me through a lot of the trials and tribulations that I have to face. I think we all know in politics that if you don't have women supporting you, then you're going to lose. There is no winning campaign that is not driven by women. They're the most dependable, the most reliable, and the most astute when it comes to politics. I have learned that over the years. Some of my colleagues may not agree with me, but I always feel more comfortable when I know my women are in charge. As a practicing politician, I can attest to the value of having women in the political process working with you. Today's International Women's Day, so we all pay homage to women for their contribution to the development of St. Lucia. I was really inspired by the presentation by the Minister of Sports, the honorable member for Bruce Lee this morning, as he really demonstrated our commitment to women in sports and the achievement of our women in contemporary times in relation to sports. But of course, that can equally be done for agriculture, for business, and many other sectors in St. Lucia. But today has an added significance. Today is a day when we are finally getting through this honorable house, a new domestic violence bill. They've been one for many years, and in the briefing notes that I saw, it was really significant that for years, our women have been calling for a reflection and a review of the domestic violence act that existed in St. Lucia, that there are so many deficiencies in them, that they had to be an amendment and an updating of that act. And for anyone to suggest that it is not important enough for there to be a debate, today for us to close this chapter is a bit short-sighted. We have to do so. This has been going on for too long. And I was really pleased when I listened to my colleague minister yesterday at cabinet explaining the bill to us. And she was making some very significant points, and in my short contribution, I just want to highlight them, which I thought were really critical. A point was made to us that one of the greatest deficiencies of the previous bill is the fact that women have difficulty in getting action taken, well, not just women, but the predominance is women, have difficulty in getting action taken as victims of domestic violence. And we believe in many ways, and I have asked many of my colleagues as some of the activists to ensure that in this bill that they feel comforted, that there is enough in there to ensure that persons who are engaging in domestic violence face justice. The victims must know that they can get justice what has been done to them. It has to happen. And we know too often, and a colleague of ours was making a point that one of the challenges is that a complaint will be made, a case commences, and then one partner decides they do not want to go any further. And he gave us a startling experience he had. The first time he said he was reported as an officer was in a domestic violence case. The lady who was a victim reported him for abusing her partner because he got involved in trying to settle the matter he happened probably to have had some engagement with the gentleman involved, proceeded in a case, they made up, fell in love again, and then she wanted to press charges against him for assaulting her partner. And he did, I mean he, you know, I won't tell you all the story in there, but the point is he was actually charged for that. And it really reflected a very deep structural issue as it relates to domestic violence. We're not blaming the lady who was the victim and who eventually took action against him because sometimes the circumstances that they find themselves in lends itself to the needing to make up and the needing to go back into the situation that they were in and needed to take the action that they took. Too often, we find situations where women have to find themselves going back into the abusive environment that they were in. And sometimes they don't have the strength to get out of it, to break the cycle. We're hoping that creating a new environment for dealing with domestic violence can protect both men and women when they feel empowered and they feel strengthened that as a victim they can stand up and say, wasn't for all it has to end. And the member from Babylon said to you, she had to see to the gentleman, the gentleman is asking her to tell his wife to come back. And she had to say to him, if she has decided to move on, let her move on. This bill has to create an environment where victims can feel comfortable that they can say enough is enough and they can move on with their lives. I also noted, Mr. Speaker, that there are added definitions of relationships. And the point was made that there were severe limitations on what can be done because of the definitions of what relationships were and what would be the standing of a victim on the basis of the relationship that they had. And I feel very comforted by this. There's another point that really struck me. And it's a very serious one that you appointed a challenging times ahead for us in implementing this bill. When I read the definition of what abuses, and I hope all solutions read it, Mr. Speaker, because, you know, for example, a repeated exhibition of possessiveness or jealousy is abuse. Now think about that. This is deep. A repeated exhibition of possessiveness or jealousy can be interpreted as abuse. So all the jealous partners out there that believe they can tell their partners that you cannot go anywhere, you can't go to dance, you can't go to a beach party, you must stay in the house and go nowhere. That's abuse. Repeat it. And it really makes you question how will some of those incidents really be determined? I'm not a lawyer, judge by district of the imagination, but you know, there are some very interesting days ahead in terms of how some of those incidents can really be proven. And maybe it's new wrong for us, new areas of jurisprudence and whatever. But the definition of abuse has been surely strengthened or in some would say expanded. But it's needed. It's needed because it's very easy for us to escape as a society by believing that what somebody is going through is not detrimental to them, the individual. And if somebody is being repeatedly subjected to acts of jealousy, that whatever they do is a problem, they on their phone it must be a man they speak into or it must be another woman they speak into. That if they, whatever they do, they come home half an hour late, you might have been by the field watching football is another woman you have by the field. You know, and for you to be subjected to this over and over and to diminish you and to diminish your own sense of being is abuse. And this bill speaks to that. So in many ways, Mr. Speaker, I want to say to you that I feel comforted by the fact that this bill will go a long way in creating a very protective environment for both men and women who are sufferers and victims of abuse, Mr. Speaker. It is far reaching. It is transformational. But I also see it's been very challenging in how we can execute some of the provisions in there. So I want to stand and lend my support, Mr. Speaker, for the bill and to say to all the women who fought so hard and men to ensure that we reach where we are today, that it is a journey that is worth taking, still a long way to go to actually see it's been implemented in the way in which it is intended and the spirit of the bill. But we have as a government ensured with taking it to this point, let us continue to work together to take it further and to ensure that both men and women can feel more comfortable in the relationships that they exist in. So thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Member for Grozile. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a couple minutes to send out condolences to the family of Officer Timet. Of course, strong ties with former Senator Terence Sinclair in Grozile. I also want to take this opportunity to lend my voice and support for this bill before us today, considering some of the experiences that have been faced by women in the constituency of Grozile over the last five years. Mr. Speaker, the Member for Grozile made a couple of statements intimating that there is additional abuse ongoing in the constituencies due to the fact that some women are out of work. I wanted to say to the Member for Grozile Sautibus that I observed a five-year period of silence when it came to domestic abuse in that sense when it came to employment. Mr. Speaker, that same Member for Choson Sautibus said nothing when the former MP for Grozile said that 90 percent of the women employed under NICE were SLP. Mr. Speaker, that same Member for Choson Sautibus said nothing when that Member for Grozile corrected himself and said in fact that number was 95 percent. Mr. Speaker, I remember shortly after that 100 percent of anybody considered to have any leaning towards the Saint Lucia Labour Party being out of work under that very same programme. And I remember how disgusted I felt, how hurt that these women had no form of employment. Mr. Speaker, during that same period, no word, not a word, not a word, not a word from the Member for Choson Sautibus. Mr. Speaker, I also listened attentively as the Member for Choson Sautibus mentioned again about unemployment and abuse. I remember Janine Compton, Mr. Speaker, somebody who is qualified, went through the process of applying for a job that she has all the knowledge for. Somebody who was then given that job by those who interviewed them being robbed of that opportunity simply because that individual did not agree with some of the policies of the government. Mr. Speaker, what was the outcry then for a woman subject to abuse of being unemployed? Mr. Speaker, I want to say to the women of Grosley, thank you for all what you've done. Thank you for the contribution you continue to make to the economic stability of this great nation. We've seen you wake up in the morning and go to the communities of cap estate as cleaners. We've seen you wake up in the morning and go to businesses as business women, as accountants, as doctors. And we want to say to you that this Labour Party government will continue to support you in every which way. Mr. Speaker, as the member for Castro himself said, it is the women who drive the campaign. And so I want to say thank you to even some of those that are here with us today from the community of Grosley, who fought, who went door to door and ensured that I was elected parliamentary representative for Grosley. Mr. Speaker, I listened to the member for Schoesel, so to speak, mention of Catherine Siles and raise your voice. And I shook my head when the members intimated that on some level she should go in both sides and speak on women and justice for women. But Mr. Speaker, this is the same member for Schoesel who said nothing when Catherine Siles as a member of the former UWP. Was pushed aside because she refused to toe a particular line. Nothing was said. And the same can be said for Paul Alcindor. Nothing was said. And so today with this bill, this bill does not warrant any political football. None at all. As I said earlier, our women are doing very well in sports and that is where it should be. No political football. And I advise any member of this honorable House to speak the truth, to be objective, and stand up in support of this domestic violence bill. I thank you. The member for Castries East. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this domestic violence bill and join my colleagues in wishing all the women of St. Lucia, the women of the world, the women of the Caribbean, Happy International Women's Day, Mr. Speaker, and wish the women in my life Happy International Women's Day, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these my colleagues sing differently. I do have two women in my life. One of them is my daughter. Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this bill, Mr. Speaker, is to provide for the protection of victims of domestic violence. I mean, Mr. Speaker, I recall some time Catherine Silas came to my office with, I think, two or three other ladies and told me that there was need to review the laws as he related to domestic violence. And she literally threatened me. I'm not a victim of abuse. Telling me that if God forbid on me won elections and I didn't pass the bill, she would be the first one to be on my case. But I'm happy that when we go into government, there were two ladies in the cabinet who were equally on my case. So Catherine's threat did not materialize. But, Mr. Speaker, the bill kind of replaces the domestic violence summary proceedings Act, Mr. Speaker, of 1995. And it seeks to improve on the acts to make, to provide a more expansive definition of domestic violence. And it doesn't limit it, it may need to act of physical and verbal abuse, Mr. Speaker. It also, in the Act, Mr. Speaker, it is not sufficiently captured the change in nature of domestic violence, which can take the form of sexual abuse, molestation, stalking, and coercion. And the member for Kashmir South made the point that there are different types of abuse, which is not necessarily physical abuse. There's verbal abuse. There's abuse of, there's intimidation. There's withholding people's freedom. All that is abuse. So the domestic violence seeks to put all these things in perspective, Mr. Speaker. So having said so, Mr. Speaker, this bill will repeal the acts and bring it more in terms of modern life, Mr. Speaker. The member spoke about abuse of phone calls, threats, Mr. Speaker, because several times we inadvertently abuse people and we've not realized that we abuse in them. And the police before only had the criminal act to act upon. So in several situations where there was abuse, there was an act of criminality, but the police only use the criminal act, the criminal code to deal with that abuse. So the domestic violence bill seeks to make these acts an offense, which is punishable, Mr. Speaker. But Mr. Speaker, in acting the bills are fine, but we have to police them and we have to make sure it works. And I think domestic violence stems from the whole, Mr. Speaker, because several times we set examples to our children and we do not even remember or understand that we are setting the example, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can proudly say that my mother and my father have never seen, have never seen, and they're dead, they're dead now. I never saw my dad ever raise his hands on my mother, never, Mr. Speaker. And when they needed to quarrel, they waited when they saw that I was asleep. They waited when they saw that I was asleep and they began to have their discussions. And when they got up in the morning, it was as if nothing happened, Mr. Speaker. And this is why possibly today I'm a pacifist and people think they can, people think that they can take advantage on me and they underestimate me and they did that so much that they put me where I am today. Mr. Speaker, so this idea of violence is something that we have to stop, Mr. Speaker. We have to stop. We have to stop the abuse, we have to stop the intimidation, Mr. Speaker. And sometimes a lot of it comes through selfishness and arrogance and the belief, the belief that we always have to be right and we cannot see, we can't admit that we're wrong. We can't admit that we've made, we can't admit that we've made a mistake, Mr. Speaker. We can't admit that. So we end up, no one wants to say, I'm sorry, no one wants to say that I'm wrong. But Mr. Speaker, so I'm saying that whereas this bill has all the requirements, it's a modern legislation. And as the minister said, it will possibly help me in that I hope she can bring some money in into the coffers so we can assist more, Mr. Speaker. Because as you know, the fiscal realities are real, Mr. Speaker. Speaking about fiscal realities, I want to compliment the staff of the Minister of Finance because only this morning we got the information that St. Lucia is still considered as a country that is not on any so-called blacklist, as far as Europeans are concerned. So, Mr. Speaker, I want to compliment all the people, the ladies and the men and the gentlemen who made this bill possible. I want to say that we have to enforce it. We have to make sure it works, Mr. Speaker. We have to make sure that we give, that we educate the police in how it works. And because all violence is wrong. And there are certain acts of violence that we have to stem at the bottom, Mr. Speaker. The obscene language in public, the abuse of people, the threats in public, Mr. Speaker. They want to be able to run radio stations without licenses. These acts of criminality. And we have to stop these things, Mr. Speaker. It has to be a holistic approach to this entire thing. And finally, I would have hoped that the member for SHUZELL would not have brought the politics into this discussion, Mr. Speaker. I would have hoped that he would have forgotten the cut and thrust of politics. And at least for once in this honorable house, come away from it. But he had to open the door, Mr. Speaker. And since he opened the door, it's my duty to defend the government that I have the privilege to lead, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just very, very quickly. Mr. Speaker, do you know that for our eight months in office, we have been the only government that has not sent, I want to use my words correctly, one public servant home because of the political affiliation. Not even at the level where we have, where we can do it, Mr. Speaker. I'm talking at the level of cleaner, of driver, of office assistant, we have kept every one of them, Mr. Speaker. Every one. Gain an example, Mr. Speaker. There's a program called NAPS in Vuford. Everybody in there is a political appointee. One of the people who work there every day, she's on Facebook using her name, saying the worst things about me and the worst things about the government. We've kept her there for the last eight months. And in fact, she boasts on Facebook that they can't do anything, Mr. Speaker. She remains there because we believe that people must own a living in this country, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'll tell you something further. The last government, Mr. Speaker, there are some traditions that we hold dearly. This government refused to keep any of these traditions, Mr. Speaker. The post of cabinet secretary is a sacred post. The cabinet secretary is the highest serving civil civil, Mr. Speaker. This government, the last government, forced the parliament secretary out, forced the cabinet secretary out of office, Mr. Speaker. And he comes in and he speaks about victimization, Mr. Speaker. This we can tell you something further. The ambassadors, we allowed every ambassador to serve their term till the contract ended and they left in dignity. The ambassador to Taiwan, he sent a message. He even had the opportunity to give a farewell address, Mr. Speaker, because we cheated him with dignity. The ambassador asked to extend her stay for four months because of family concerns. We allowed that to happen, Mr. Speaker. The ambassador, the high commissioner in England, we allowed him to stay to complete his domestic affairs. The ambassador to New York, Mr. Speaker, we allowed him to stay till the end of his affairs and gave him some more time to compete with him, Mr. Speaker. So we have treated these people with dignity, Mr. Speaker, with the dignity that they deserve. And I want to thank my cabinet colleagues for agreeing to treat people with dignity and respect. That is what we are about, Mr. Speaker. We are about the government of dignity and respect. So when the mayor of Ocasio-Zell wants to follow his leader and speak about these things, Mr. Speaker, I have to defend this government. I have to defend the honor and the integrity of this government, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, I want to end by commanding all the people who made this bill possible, the attorney general's office, Mr. Speaker, the people who work in the ministry of gender affairs and those who work in the other ministries before, and everyone who made it possible, and people in civil society who also helped make it possible. Let us make it work. Let's make St. Lucia a less violent place. Let's make St. Lucia the best place to live and work in the Caribbean. I thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I beg to move that down. Member, I recognize you. I wish to recognize you. I can't remember what I see myself. Mr. Speaker, I beg to move that this house stands suspended until 3.30. Before I put the question, I just would like to ask members to while we are paid tribute in words to Officer Timit, I would like for the house to stand with me for one minute of silence in sparsing. Thank you, members. Members, the question is that this house do stand suspended until 3.30 p.m. I now put a question as many as of that opinion say aye. As many as of a country opinion say no. I think the ayes have it. The ayes have it. House suspended. House of assembly standing suspended there. Going in for the lunch break, we've seen the completion of the morning session and very, very lively debate there, very personal debate and moving as well, a debate on the domestic violence bill and the bill being heralded as one of the most progressive, if not the progressive in the Caribbean amongst the women who have been applauded this morning is Ms. Lauren Williams and certainly she had been recognized as one of the leading forces, having been at the helm as Attorney General and Minister Senoucha's first female Attorney General and well as the First Minister for Women's Affairs, having overseen the Domestic Violence Semi-Procedents Act and this domestic violence bill is what is going to replace this act and the bill says a name as was described by Minister Honourable Dr. Virginia Arthur Pollard is one that is a very significant step towards combating crime in St. Lucia. It is going to provide further training of medical doctors, police officers, human services officers and so forth. It's also going to provide for the support services. It's going to improve on the police powers. It's going to speak to bail and protection orders, the conduct of court proceedings as well. The bill the Minister indicated has absolutely no tolerance for violence in the home. It also speaks to the breach of protection orders saying that the breach of protection orders rather was the only charge that could have been preferred to onto someone under the 1995 Semi-Procedents Act. However, this domestic violence bill has broadened what that can be and the Minister indicating that the definition of abuse under the act as well has been expanded. It also speaks to the intent of committing a violent act. So the definition of abuse has expanded to include cyber stalking, stalking, the economic abuse which is the withholding of financial support, harassment, coercion and so forth. There was also the statistic that on average three women per year die at the hands of intimate partners here in St. Lucia and so the bill is seeking to be able to prevent such situations by delivering a robust and coordinated approach to preventing domestic violence as well as towards the prosecution of those engaged in domestic violence. We also heard a very moving contribution from the Minister for Equity Honourable Joachim Henry when he spoke to sort of individual and community responsibility to the prevention of domestic violence and dealing with domestic violence and he did indicate that some 30 million dollars is being spent by the state to maintain public assistance and 500 seniors who have been abandoned by family members. The state has to spend like an annually eight million dollars to help before their care and he was indicating that that within itself is a form of abuse, a form of abuse that the society is not speaking about and that is adding to the cost ballooning the recurrent expenditure of government and certainly eroding the sort of social fabric of the country when it comes to family relations and family ties. So debate on the domestic violence bill is going to continue into the second session, the afternoon session, along with the debate on the Community Tourism Development Bill, the Agriculture and Fisheries Incentives Amendment as well as Customs Control and Management Amendment, Eastern Caribbean Centre Bank Agreement Amendment. Just to also just to recap a little bit early on in the morning we did see the Honourable Minister for Youth and Sports, Youth Development and Sports rather, Honourable Kenson Kasme paying tribute to the Seymusha's sports women and we did have the team members of the senior national network team right here in the house, they know to a standing ovation and certainly applauding them on their recent success in the OECS competition and so the Honourable Kasme indicates in there like you know Seymusha's national flag is continuing to be flown high by the nations of women and so government has pledged government support to ensure that this continues. Just to also tell you that the Prime Minister in the statement made a statement to the House on the recent killing of police officer, police constable Nathan Tamat as well as the critic did an injury there to his partner Isaac King. The Prime Minister indicated that violence is a result of long festering issues within the society and he didn't ascribe any blame to any single entity. The Prime Minister called for the country to come together to be able to tackle this scourge that we are all facing. He indicated that his government is going to continue to provide the necessary resources that is human and as well as training for police officers and he indicated that the fight for those against the scourge must be a lawful one and the Prime Minister's indicated that so serious is the government on providing all the necessary resources to the police force that in just the eight short months that they his administration has been in government some 16 vehicles have been distributed to the Royal Sinusia Police force and so the House there just before going to break taking a moment of silence a minute of silence to really honor the fallen police officer Nathan Tamat that will do us for the roundup of the first session or for the sit-in of the House of Assembly and the Prime Minister Hutchinson is going to be back with you during the lunch session I am Lisa Joseph see you next time