It is unsure when Parliament will next meet, but it is certain that when it does, the proceedings will convene from the temporary Parliament building at Calliaqua.
Prime Minister and Leader of the House, Dr Ralph Gonsalves adjourned the April 4 Sitting of the House sine die (i.e. with no appointed date for resumption), saying that although he had gotten the assurance from Finance Minister, Camillo Gonsalves that the temporary facility would be ready by the end of the month, there were some minor matters that still warranted attention.
For example, Dr. Gonsalves said, there is need for the furniture currently being used to be upholstered and there was the issue of the roofs on a few houses near the facility, on which the galvanize needed to be changed to ensure that it fits the ambience.
“We don’t wanna see any rusty roof…you know you upstairs and watching down on this sort of thing,” Gonsalves said in Parliament.
“I hear the certainty of the Minister of finance, and I hope that he is correct. But I put a caveat – a little caution – in relation to those small matters,” he continued.
Construction on the temporary parliament building began in August 2021 after Parliament authorized government to borrow US$20 million (EC$53 million) for the construction of a modern parliament and courthouse building.
The existing parliament building was deemed to be in dire need of repair and legislators debated the Modern Parliament and Modern Court House Projects (Loan Authorization) Bill in 2020.
A modern parliament and courthouse building is expected to be constructed in Kingstown, in the vicinity of the National Library. (DD)