Dominica: MPs to take Oath of Allegiance at First Session of 11th Parliament

Roseau, Dominica: The government of the Commonwealth of Dominica has announced that the Oath of Allegiance will be taken by the Members of Parliament during the First Session of the Eleventh Parliament will begin on February 7, 2023 (Tuesday). As per the update by the government, the session will start at 10 in the morning at the House of the Assembly.

The meeting will signal the commencement of the new parliamentary term as it will see the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker following the general elections held on December 6, 2022.

The meeting will be addressed by the President of Dominica, Charles A Savarin and Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit will present the proclamations for the parliament dissolution and summoning of the 11th Parliament.

Along with this, Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure’s motion for the approval for the financial year ending June 30, 2022, will be tabled by Dr Irving McIntyre, the Finance, Economic Development, and Climate Resilience Minister. The motion will be amounted to around EC$ 235 717, 376.20.

The other measures, designed to cushion the negative impact of global economic trends, will also be presented before the house to bring them into law. These measures will also focus on providing relief to the citizens of the nation.

According to the government, one of the bills to be presented will be an amendment to the Value Added Tax. After the implementation of the Bill, the VAT-free units of electricity provided by the Dominica Electricity Services Limited (DOMLEC) will be increased from 100 Kwh to 15 Kwh.

Furthermore, the Pensions Act, Stamp Act, Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, the Title by Registration Act, along with the Repeal of the Highway Maintenance Levy will also be on the Order Paper, as well as the International Maritime Act and the Civil Aviation Act will also be amended.

In addition to this, the Debt Portfolio Review Report of the year 2021 and the Financial Statements of the Dominica Agricultural Industrials as well as the Development Bank, will be tabled at the meeting.

As per the government, the parliamentary proceeding will be broadcast live through the Government Information Service (GIS) and the Dominica Broadcasting Corporation (DBS).