by Linda Straker
- No reason provided for postponement
- Disaster Management Bill of 2023 was also down for debate and approval
- Several questions and motions were down for debate
The Regular Sitting of the Upper House of Parliament or the Senate that was scheduled for 29 March 2023 will not take place. A new date will be announced.
“Please be advised that the Special Sitting of the Senate at 9 o’clock in the forenoon on Wednesday, March 29th, 2023 at the Parliament Building, Mt Wheldale, St George, has been postponed to a later date,” said a Notice from the Parliament to accredited media houses.
No reason was provided for the postponement.
The controversial Data Protection Bill was among 2 bills down for debate and approval. The other was the Disaster Management Bill of 2023 which will create a new statutory body for the operations of the National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA).
The order paper also showed that there were a number of questions from Senator Roderick St Clair who represents the farming and fishing communities, and representative in the Upper House to the Leader of Government Business Senator Adrian Thomas.
They included questions on the Government’s plans for addressing the sargassum invasion of our shores affecting our fisherfolks and seamoss farmers in particular, and the Government’s plans for Grenada to become compliant with the CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) agreement such that Grenada will be allowed to export conch (Lambie) and our divers can be able to improve their income.
There were also 2 motions down for debate. A motion on the need for effective praedial larceny enforcement by Government to protect our farmers and our food security, and a motion requesting Government lift the restrictions for young registered farmers and fisherfolk under 25 years to obtain a D-class driver’s licence.