State Opening of Parliament April 7

The State Opening of Parliament will take place on Tuesday, April 7, beginning at 11:00 a.m.
On that day, the Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Dr. Patrick Allen, will deliver the Throne Speech, in which he will outline the Government’s programmes and policies for the 2009/10 Fiscal Year, which begins on April 1.
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 on how the programmes will be funded and what the various Ministries and agencies will receive for Recurrent (House-keeping) and Capital (Development) expenses.
The Standing Finance Committee of the House will meet to consider the Estimates from April 14 to 16.
On Thursday, April 23, the Finance Minister will open the 2009/10 Budget Debate, which will last until May 6. During the Debate, selected members of the Government and the Opposition will make presentations.
Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Dr. Omar Davies, is expected to make his presentation on Tuesday, April 28, while presentations will be made by a Government Minister and an Opposition Spokesman on Wednesday, April 29.
On Thursday, April 30, Opposition Leader, Portia Simpson Miller, is scheduled to make her contribution to the debate.
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 make their presentations in the Sectoral Debate, which follows.