A Sitting of the House of Assembly is scheduled for Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 with Papers to be laid by the Honourable Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Development, Youth Economy, Justice and National Security, the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information, the Honourable Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs and the Honourable Minister for Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs.

The Motions for consideration are as follows:

1. BE IT RESOLVED that Parliament authorizes the Minister of Finance to borrow an amount of Special Drawing Rights (SDR)30,500,000.00 (the loan) from the International Development Association to finance the Saint Lucia Sustainable Recovery Development Policy Financing;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that —

• (a) the service charge is three-fourths of one per cent per annum on the withdrawn credit balance;
• (b) the maximum commitment charge is one-half of one per cent per annum on the unwithdrawn financing balance;
• (c) the loan is repayable in forty years commencing from the date of disbursement of the loan inclusive of a grace period of ten years;
• (d) the loan is repayable in semi-annual instalments on the 1st day of April and 1st day of October of each year after the grace period.

2. BE IT RESOLVED that Parliament authorizes the Minister of Finance to establish a special fund to be known as the Tourism Development Fund for the purpose of facilitating the operations, tourism development and tourism marketing of the Department of Tourism;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that —

• (a) the source and monies to be paid into the Fund comprises — (i) the sums allocated by Parliament, (ii) interest and penalties under section 117 of the Tourism Development Act, No. 1 of 2024, (iii) the surplus tourism levy revenue under section 119 of the Tourism Development Act, No. 1 of 2024, (iv) the grants received by the Department of Tourism in relation to tourism development, (v) the fees charged under the Tourism Development Act, No. 1 of 2024, (vi) all other sums that may become payable to or vested in the Department of Tourism in respect of matters incidental to its functions and powers;
• (b) in accordance with section 23(2) and (3) of the Act — (i) the accounting officer administering the Fund shall, within a period of one month after the end of the financial year, prepare, sign and submit to the Accountant General statements showing the financial position of the Fund at the end of the financial year, (ii) the statements under subparagraph (i) must include — (A) a statement of the assets and liabilities of the Fund; (B) a detailed statement of receipts and payments of the Fund; and (C) a statement of investments and interest or dividends credited to the Fund;
• (c) section 23(1) of the Act relating to the payment and accounting procedures applies to the Fund;
• (d) the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Tourism is the accounting officer who is responsible for administering the Fund;
• (e) the Fund must be maintained, unless — (i) it is closed by the Minister of Finance under section 24 of the Act where the Minister of Finance receives a report from the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Finance to indicate that the purpose for which the Fund was established has been fulfilled; or no longer exists and, in the opinion of the Minister, there is no likelihood that a purpose for which the Fund could lawfully be used will arise in the future, or (ii) the terms specified in this Resolution for the Fund has expired.

3. BE IT RESOLVED that Parliament authorizes the Minister of Finance to guarantee an amount of XCD80,000,000.00 (the loan) from the 1st National Bank Saint Lucia Limited (the Bank) to the National Lotteries Authority to assist with the financing of a youth and sports infrastructure programme;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the loan is repayable in fifteen years in biannual payments of three million, five hundred and seventy-one thousand, nine hundred and ninety-three dollars and seventy-eight cents inclusive of interest at a rate of four per cent per annum for the term of the loan.

4. BE IT RESOLVED that Parliament approves the establishment of the Women’s Parliament Caucus (herein referred to as the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus of Saint Lucia).

The following Bills are down for consideration:

1. Insolvency
2. Land and House Tax (Amendment)
3. Co-operative Societies

Tuesday’s Sitting is scheduled to commence at 10 a.m. The Sitting of the Senate is scheduled for Monday, March 25 at 10 a.m.