Ceremonial opening of Parliament today
THE new session of Parliament will commence today with the ceremonial opening at 11:00 am, followed by the tabling of the Estimates of Expenditure for the 2004/2005 financial year.
The most colourful ceremony associated with the parliamentary year, the ceremonial opening features parades by the military band, Jamaica Defence Force and the Jamaica Constabulary Force, as well the taking of the salute by Governor General Sir Howard Cooke.
Government members of the House of Representatives (MPs) and of the Senate (senators), and their Opposition counterparts will walk to Gordon House from the southern and northern ends, respectively, and are usually cheered on by flag waving supporters.
Inside Gordon House, Sir Howard will deliver the Throne Speech, outlining Government’s priorities for the financial year 2004/2005. Parliament will then adjourn.
The House of Representatives will resume at 2:00 pm when the minister of finance and planning, Dr Omar Davies, will table the Estimates which will reveal how the 2004/2005 budget will be allocated.
The Estimates will be studied by the Standing Finance Committee, which is comprised of all MPs, between April 6 and 8.
Dr Davies will open the annual budget debate on April 15. He will be followed by Opposition spokesman on Finance, Audley Shaw on April 21.
Opposition Leader Edward Seaga, will speak on April 22 and Prime Minister P J Patterson on April 27. Two other speakers who are yet to be named, from either side, will participate in the debate which will be closed by Davies on April 28.
Information Minister Burchell Whiteman told reporters at Monday’s post-Cabinet press briefing that it should be, “a year of economic growth and social stability”.
Senator Whiteman said that was the government’s expectation, after the important start to the year with the signing of the memorandum of understanding with the trade unions, that there would be hard evidence of investments and good prospects for growth.
“I hope that all this will be reflected in what happens over the next few weeks,” he said.
