State Opening of Parliament May 10

The State Opening of Parliament will take place on May 10, beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen  will deliver the Throne Speech, in which he will outline the government’s programmes and policies for the 2012/13 Fiscal Year, which began on April 1.

Later in the afternoon, Minister of Finance, Planning and Public Service, Hon. Dr. Peter Phillips,  will table the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure in the House of Representatives.

The Estimates will provide details on how the programmes will be funded and what the 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 May 15 to 17.

The 2012/13 Budget Debate begins on May 24, in the House of Representatives, with Dr. Phillips making his presentation.

Dr. Phillips will tell the country how the budget for the fiscal year will be funded.

The Budget Debate will last until June 6.  During the debate, selected members of the Government and the Opposition will make presentations.

Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Audley Shaw, is expected to make his presentation on Tuesday, May 29, while presentations will be made by a Government Minister and an Opposition Spokesman on Wednesday, May 30. 

On Thursday, May 31, Opposition Leader, Andrew Holness, is scheduled to make his contribution to the debate.                                              

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller is slated to make her presentation on Tuesday, June 5, while the Finance Minister will close the Debate on Wednesday, June 6.

After the Budget Debate is completed, other members of the House of Representatives will make their presentations in the Sectoral Debate, which follows.

By Godfrey Barnes, JIS Editorial Manager