 As we say in another place, we apologize for the break in continuity. When that happened, the Minister of Finance was in his rebuttal. Please proceed, Minister. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, we will talk about accountability, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, direct awards, Mr Speaker. Supervision Services for Land Stabilization and Road Realtation at Bagaltale and Forest Hill. Bagaltale and Forest Hill. Mr Speaker, the Bagaltale is part of my constituency. The members of Microsoft had some fond memories of that. The last time you went there, you had some fond memories. Bagaltale is part of my constituency. I do not recall where the road re-habitation was done at Bagaltale. I know that at the top of Bagaltale, there was a landslide from 2016. No, after the last hurricane between 2021, Thomas, and I know that was repaired, but it cost $389,000 for the Supervision Works. $389,000 for Supervision, Mr Speaker. No, of course. Of course, the Supervision Works is well said by the members of Microsoft. Supervision of works, island-wide, generated systems. Listen to that colotation. Supervision of works, island-wide. Okay, generated systems in Microsoft and then Resolve. So that means they supervise works island-wide. But they would generate systems in Microsoft and then Resolve, $800,000. I talk about accountability because of the law. Supervision services for the construction of the Bexar Community... Mr Speaker, how much is that community center cost? $904,000 supervision services for the Bexar Community Center. $904,000, Mr Speaker. So that means... $10 million for a community center. $10 million for a community center. We are going to finish the Basel Reserve Community Center, Mr Speaker. This year, and we are not going to spend nothing near $10 million, Mr Speaker. But for a supervision, Mr Speaker, I mean... I said a while ago that we are going, but this thing is very, very... The more you see this, Mr Speaker, the more it's ready and ready to hook you, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, listen to that, listen to that. $2.09 million for supervision services for one contractor. I'm not going to be calling people's names here, I won't call it. $2.09 million for supervision land at Bagatell and Forest here. Now, let's go straight to Forest here. In the same Forest here, Mr Speaker, you have another direct award, Mr Speaker, of $2.8 million for the same Forest here rule. So you have $2.8 million for the construction... For Forest here, Mr Speaker, and then you have another $389 million spent in Forest here alone, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, I will end very shortly because sometimes when I see, Mr Speaker, that officials and the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury have to hustle to find money to pay poppers. They have to hustle to find money to transfer to the public assistance vote, Mr Speaker. And you can pay $2 million for supervision and you cannot find, we cannot find, sometimes we cannot find in the government's coffers $50,000. Mr Speaker, I want to see that no law, no law can help you when you have a government operate in that manner, Mr Speaker. No law can help you, Mr Speaker. And I join the members that say we have to ensure that these laws do not cause us to have our hands tied behind our back while if you are in scrupulous government, you can do a lot of things while you have your hands tied behind your back if you want to follow the right procedure, Mr Speaker. So, Mr Speaker, we are going to, hopefully, we get support for this slight amendment to align the laws to the Constitution of St. Lucia, Mr Speaker. And, Mr Speaker, you know, we're supposed to have a debate one day and put on the table one day, Mr Speaker. And I hope the constituency development program. Mr Speaker, I don't want to tell you who signed that one. Because if I tell you who signed that one, you're going to find yourself, you're going to get vexed with me. Contract for design joints for the construction of the road brook and PI community centers and the Marcus Gavi Hall. No, no, I just want to be the commissioner for you. I've been in it. $648,000, Mr Speaker. Summary of deliveries on submission of narrative report, 15% of the fees. That means when you talk the project, 50% of the fees, $97,000. On submission of draft joints, $262,000. On submission of architectural designs, $162,000. BOQs and specifications, $162,000. On DCA approval and final acceptance, $64,000. Total $648,500, Mr Speaker. For the road brook and PI community center musical. And I'm not going to mention who was given a contract, direct award. Not a contract to build. The contract for design of joints, $648,000. To draw the buildings, contract for design joints for the construction of the road brook and PI community centers and the Marcus Gavi Hall. $648,000. At some point. Marcus Gavi Hall? Yes. I'm Mr Speaker. We are building a community center in Washington, Joseph, Mr Speaker. And I can assure you, there are going to be no fees of that nature. Because we are going to use a government infrastructure to do it. So it's going to be supervised by the Ministry of Planning and the Ministry of Infrastructure. So we're not going to pay any fees, Mr Speaker. That's $648,000, Mr Speaker. And up to now, the mayor of the enemies for sure, he has no commission. Your commission though? It's for me. Okay. $648,000, Mr Speaker. And I will not tell you who the person is, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, there is more, you know, there is more. And I'm saying that, Mr Speaker, to make you know. The same, well, the direct award, yes. $648,000 direct purchase for detailed designs for the Marcus Gavi Hall road brook and PI community center. $648,000 and direct award. So you didn't give somebody else an opportunity to tell them, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, there are more, you know, there is more, Mr Speaker. Direct award, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, direct award for a water contract for security services. $1.1 million. Security services at the St. Jude Hospital. $1.1 million, Mr Speaker. Direct award. I have never heard security services ever given by direct award. $1.1 million. And there is something that's consistent from the Department of Economic Development, Transport and Civil Aviation, consistency. All of them, Mr Speaker. Victorious direct award from the Department of... Mr Speaker, on the take in for structural work at Victoria Hospital, $3.3 million. Direct award under the disaster vulnerability reduction project, Mr Speaker. Again, Ministry of Economic Development, I'm not going to mention the contracting name. $3.3 million, Mr Speaker. I want to ask anybody who is living in Sel�usha, tell me where, when, and how. In May 2020, was $3.3 million worth of work done at Victoria Hospital? Dependable. For $3 million. $3.3 million, Mr Speaker. On May, May the 4th 2020, Mr Speaker. $3.3 million. Another one again, Mr Speaker. Direct award. I'm not going to mention by name again. $1 million for the provision of technical assistance to the project management unit. Technical assistance to the project management unit for configuration, supervision, and transitioning services for St. Louis Blood Reconstruction Project. Department of Economic Development, Transport and Civil Aviation. And that's on the 10th of May 2021. 10th of May, elections on the 26th of July. 10 to 21, Mr Speaker. Direct award, $1 million for the provision of technical assistance to the project management unit for configuration, supervision, and transitioning services. So look at the dichotomy. In May, you are talking about configurations of transition services now. In May, but you all know, you haven't completed a billion yet, you know. You are not building to transition to because in July, you've just signed another direct award and then a contract for $70 million. But already in May, you're paying for configuration and transitioning services to move across somewhere that you have started. So, Mr Speaker, so you understand why, Mr Speaker, there is need to slander and blasphemers every day on the radio. You see why? Because these things must not be told, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, back to... Mr Speaker, contract for supervision of works at St. Jude Hospital reconstruction site. $4.4 million. So again, Minutes Department of Economic Development, Transparency, and Civil Aviation. May 2021. May 2021, you know. Mr Speaker, I'm laughing. Not because I'm, I think it's a joke, you know, but because if I go laugh, I'll cry. On the basis of recommendation from the poor men's secretary, Department of Economic Development, Transparency, and Civil Aviation, dated 10th May 2021, and the powers confer upon me as Minister of Finance, pursuant to Part 3, Section 9-1C of the Programming Association, I hereby grant approval for contract by director of... I'm not going to mention the name. In the month of Eastern Caribbean, $4.478,625. That exclusive for the supervision of works on the St. Jude Hospital reconstruction site. And the contract that you have is for design finance bills. Yes. So if you have a design finance bill contract, you're supposed to be supervised by the Ministry of Infrastructure because the contractor has all his designs and everything else, but you have to pay somebody $4 million for a thing, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, listen, listen to the other one, Mr Speaker. $1 million as part payment on full designs, part payment on full designs and contract administration on the construction of the police headquarters and court facility on the proposed bold arrangement. Listen to that carefully. Not only that, but a bold arrangement means that the contractor comes in with everything. Build, own, lease and transfer, $1 million. Part payment. Part payment, Mr Speaker. There's more again. Listen now again. Again, Mr Speaker. You have $4 million left for that one. And then in October, you have $405,000. Because again, design consultants who business for St. Jude Hospital reconstruction site. The same person again. Mr Speaker, all of them consistent with one Ministry. Yes. Mr Speaker, we're still into St. Jude's, you know. Mr Speaker, you know, this St. Jude Hospital thing, request for direct purchase again to St. Jude. On May 19, 2021, $25,687,893. In addition to that. In addition to that. For architectural work. That's not, I'm not, I'm not going to, I can make it a document. If you want to make a document, I'm not in the midst of calling people's names inside. $25,687,893 for architectural works for St. Jude Hospital reconstruction project. And there is a document for $70 million for St. Jude Hospital reconstruction project. And you talk about, because we're trying to align a law to the Constitution, talk about accountability, and we are breaking the cardinal virtues of the Ten Commandments because we are trying to align, we're trying to align a hospital, a subsidiary law to the Constitution of St. Jude, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, in my hands, again, St. Jude Hospital, again. St. Jude Hospital, again. St. Jude Hospital, again, Mr Speaker. We have finished here, you know. St. Jude, again, look, look, look, look. You remember the story of the Dairy Polykinic? Remember that? The Dairy Polykinic. Remember that? $719,000 professional fees for assessment and redesign of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing joints for Dairy Polykin. $719,000 in length of March 2020. $709,000, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, so when will you, people get accused? Mr Speaker, St. Jude, again. St. Jude, again, Mr Speaker. $10,999,985.36 for the construction of the structural frame. Of the St. Jude Hospital reconstruction project. So you pay separate for the frame rate. $10,999,985.36. St. Jude Hospital, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, St. Jude Hospital, and, you see, I'm not mentioning the names of the people involved because I always say to people, if you get, if a businessman is allowed to fool the government, he must go ahead and fool the government. And the problem is that if a government allows a businessman to fool them, then go ahead and fool him. But the question is whether the government did not allow the businessman to fool him indirectly for direct benefits later. That's the question. St. Jude, again, Mr Speaker. St. Jude, again, December 2020, $776,000 for technical support and design advisory services. Technical support and design advisory services. $776,000. Mr Speaker, listen to even more of it, Mr Speaker. Direct award for implementations of projects in the Sufra constituency. Now, that one is a funny one. That one is very funny. I gave my grant approval for contracts by direct award for implementation of, oh, yeah, oh, I see now. I see the person now. For implementation of projects in the Sufra constituency. $134,000 for the supply of materials for construction of old traffic complex. Listen to me. The first line says for the implementation of projects, but long line it says for construction of materials, for construction of old traffic complex, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, that was February 2020. Now, Mr Speaker, look at, listen to the one that this government is going to continue. But you know, faith is a wicked thing, Mr Speaker. We came here and we debated a bill, we debated alone from the Caribbean Development Bank. For the replacement of the LED lights. That loan was cancelled. They cancelled it. The CDB up to today, I was speaking to the CDB and they are regretting that we cancelled that loan and they are inviting us to start over again, but it's too late now and they will not do like them. $12 million. $324 million for the replacement of the LED lights. $12 million, $324,000 to install and operate energy saving LED lights island wide. But you know what we were told? Won't we tell that that was a project that was financed by the developer? That's what we were told. We were told that that was financed by the developer and we continued. But we have now a direct award for $12 million. That one is a lot more serious than I thought. Because there's a direct award for $12 million to install and operate energy saving lights again the same ministry, the Department of Economic Development. $12 million. But we were told in this horrible house that the gentleman was sitting there. He was boasting how he caught a phone to put the lights and they would pay back we won't spend a cent. $12 million, $224,000. U.S. dollars, Mr. Speaker, U.S. and we were told that that project cost $9 million. Mr. Speaker, that one, that one, Mr. Speaker, will have to be further looked into. I'm not in a business of threats. I've never been a threat in my life. But that one is a little more serious. That's a little more serious. So I'll make down the document at the house. You think I should? Mr. Speaker, look. A while ago, Mr. Speaker, we were talking about police and we paid $1 million. Another one, Mr. Speaker, $70,000 for the supervision and side preparation works of the police headquarters and court facilities. What? I must ask you. I was in government. I can do that. But I have made up your chief. I don't know. I was in 2020. I don't know. I don't know. So they were just written. So that's a public show. You just write them things and put it away. That's how you're in the government. And that's your accountability. So you're going to write things and you have to put it. Just write it and give it away. Come on. You know better than that. You are banned. Come on. You'll have your money right now. What's the intent? Members, if you're going to have that discussion, that's better in the launch. Now, Mr. Speaker, listen the next day, December 24th, 2020, $70,000 for side preparation works of the Puerto Rican conference. And listen to another one that supersedes the 1,024th of December. $850,000 for side preparation works of the Puerto Rican conference. Let me say that one, Mr. Speaker, is calling to heaven for vengeance. But we're going to pay. We're going to pay that one, Mr. Speaker. As soon as you get the money, we'll pay that one, Mr. Speaker. $800,000 for the provision of energy savings, LED lights, photocells, and arms. $800,000, Mr. Speaker. That's a 7% commitment. Sorry, 7% commitment. Here you have $12 million, right? And now you have another $800,000 for the same lights. And whereas you had a contract signed with the Caribbean Development Bank from 2016, May 2016, the whole of Cassius would have had LED lights, Mr. Speaker. So we're in the country, thank you. And you cancel it. Mr. Speaker, but that one for $12 million, that one is one that is very, very shady. I can even hand it to the 20 general now. Then, Mr. Speaker, we're into the fortuna picks. I mean, Mr. Speaker, there is more, you know, there is just a tip on where I went. Very usually why I bought these for the... I bought... A while ago, we had $3 million for Victoria Hospital. We had $3 million now. Listen to what we have there. Listen to what we have there now. $2,544,870 to undertake additional infrastructure works for the establishment of a dedicated respiratory facility at Victoria Hospital. So that means the $6 million has spent at Victoria Hospital. Mr. Speaker, I'm... There are some fancy names, Mr. Speaker. Forest Air, $2.8 million for the construction of Forest Air Human Resource Development Center. So, Mr. Speaker, I'm bringing these things to your attention just to show you, Mr. Speaker, that no matter what laws we have, if your ethos of government is not correct, you'll find ways to go around these laws. And that is why I'm bringing these things to your attention, Mr. Speaker, that you can quote from best practice all over the world, Mr. Speaker, but if in your practice of government... You have the idea? If in the practice of government, governance, Mr. Speaker, you do not do it correctly, no law will save you. So, Mr. Speaker, I gave these examples to show you that laws on books do not help good governance, Mr. Speaker. And if there was good governance, these things would never have existed. And that is only the tip of the iceberg, Mr. Speaker. So you'll see a reason why we're not allowed to speak. A reason why they want to cloud us out. There's a reason why you have all these rumors of fighting and internal strife just to keep the lead on the truth, Mr. Speaker. But, Mr. Speaker, I am not a man of threats. I'm a very simple guy. I'm not a bit of a threat in anybody. I don't believe in victimization. I don't believe in vindictiveness. I don't believe in making people cry. I don't believe in using my position to make other people suffer. That's not what I am about, Mr. Speaker. What I can tell you is the taxpayers of this country will have to get an account for the money which has wasted anybody who put to waste the money of the taxpayers of this country, the hard-working men and women, the poor people who cannot get their $250 a month because they don't have money. The disabled children who some month have to stay without the $250 because they don't have any money to give them, Mr. Speaker. That, Mr. Speaker, that's what hurts my heart. And when I see that waste and squandermenia happening, for the benefit of the few, I think it's wrong. My conscience does not allow me to support that kind of behavior, Mr. Speaker. And we will try our best to eradicate, Mr. Speaker. I thank you. Members, the question is that the Public Finance Management Amendment Bill be read a second time. I now put the question as many as of that opinion. Say aye. Aye. As many as of the country opinion. Say no. I think the ayes have it. The ayes have it. An act to amend the Public Finance Management Act number 14 of 2020. Close two. Interpretation. Close two stands part of the bill. Close three. Amendments of section 32. Members, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker. Close three. A1. The minister shall causely be prepared and leave before the House of Assembly. Before. Before. The word before. Or not later. Before or not later. So we are adding the word before or not later. And we are changing no to not. So we shall read the minister. Or not later. The minister shall cause to be prepared and leave before the House of Assembly. Before or not later than 30 days. Close three as amended stands part of the bill. Close four. Substitution of section 40. Close four. Stands part of the bill. The Stating General. If we can go back to. Let's go back to three. Estimates of revenue and expenditure. What section? Estimates. Three. Estimates. Estimates of revenue and expenditure. So you want to have estimates of revenue and expenditure. Estimates of revenue and expenditure. And the same would go for... And continue because we got off St Lucia for the financial aid. Estimates the revenue for St Lucia. Estimates of the revenue and expenditure of St Lucia for the financial aid. Okay. Off St Lucia, off St Lucia for that financial aid. That's exactly the constitution. Okay. And would that also apply to subsection 3, the sin amendments? Which one? Yes, yes. Okay, so the sin amendment about before or not later? An estimate of the revenue and expenditure. Okay. So sin amendments. Okay. And Mr Attorney General, subsection 6, 1, 2, 3, line 4. From the beginning of the financial year, order or ver coming into. The word ver is missing. After all, line 4, subsection 6. For the beginning of the financial year, or coming into. Should not be or ver coming into? Yeah, or ver coming into. Yeah, order coming into. Okay, so clause 4 stands part of the bill, right? Clause 5. Amendments of the principle act. Clause 5 stands part of the bill. Aye. Clause 1. Short title. Clause 1 stands part of the bill. Aye. Members, the question is that the committee rises and the bill be reported. And I'll put the question as many as of that opinion say aye. Aye. As many as of a country opinion say no. I think the ayes have it. The ayes have it. The public finance management amendment bill went through committee stage with amendments to clause 3. Minister of Finance? I move that the public committee be adopted and the bill be read a third time and passed. Members, the question is that the report of the committee be adopted and that the public finance management amendment bill be read a third time and passed. I now put the question as many as of that opinion say aye. Aye. As many as of a country opinion say no. I think the ayes have it. The ayes have it. The Eton acted by the Queen's most excellent Magistrate by and with the advice and consent of the House of Assembly and the Senate of St. Lucia and by the authority of the same as follows. This act may be cited as the Public Finance Management Amendment Act 2022. Minister of Finance? Pen far. Deputy Prime Minister? Mr. Speaker, I beg that this House be suspended for half an hour until 7.30. The question is that this House be suspended until 7.30 p.m. Now for the question, as many of that opinion say aye. Aye. As many as of our country opinion say no. If the ayes have it, ayes have it. Meetings suspended until 7.30. We say good evening to all our viewers and to just update you. And today is sitting of the lower house of the essential parliament that the House has been suspended for half an hour. We expect to be back at about 7.30 p.m. as we just had the completion of the debate on the first bill held in today's sitting. And that was presented by the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Development and the Youth Economy. And that's on the Public Finance Management Amendment, which you just saw having his first reading, going to committee stage and also read a third time. We'll let you know that still on the order paper for today's meeting is the International Business Companies Amendment up for second reading. Also the Insurance Amendment for first reading, Financial Services Regulatory Authority first reading and the Land and House Tax Amendment for first reading. And also down on the order paper by the Honourable Minister for Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Corporates and Consumer Affairs and that will be the distribution and price of goods amendment up for second reading. We can also let you know that during the session here this evening that we had a brief power outage just after 6 p.m. at about 6.05 p.m. being brought to delay to proceedings as the Prime Minister was closing the debate on the bill that we just mentioned. So we'll be taking a break here from the House of Assembly and we'll be back as soon as we can bring you further debate today as we go through the order paper today, Tuesday, February 1st, 2022.