Parliament’s 2009/2010 Session Starts Today

The ceremonial opening of Jamaica’s Parliament for the 2009/2010 Session will take place at Gordon House, Duke Street, downtown Kingston, this morning at eleven.
Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Dr. Patrick Allen, will deliver his first Throne Speech since his installation in February, after inspecting the Guard of Honour formed by the Jamaica Defence Force(JDF) on Duke Street.
Later in the afternoon, Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw, will table the 2009/10 Estimates of Expenditure in the House of Representatives. The Estimates will provide details of Government’s programmes and how they will be funded. The Standing Finance Committee of the House will review the Estimates, April 14-16.
On Thursday, April 23, the Finance Minister will open the 2009/10 Budget Debate. Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Dr. Omar Davies, will make his presentation on Tuesday, April 28, while presentations will be made by an unnamed Government Minister and an Opposition Spokesman on Wednesday, April 29.On Thursday, April 30, Opposition Leader, Portia Simpson Miller, will speak.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding is slated to make his presentation on Tuesday, May 5, while the Finance Minister will close the Debate on Wednesday, May 6.
After the completion of the Budget Debate, other members of the House of Representatives will participate in the Sectoral Debate.