Members of Parliament will take the Oath of Allegiance when the First Meeting of the First Session of the Eleventh Parliament begins on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at 10: 00 a.m. at the House of Assembly. At this Meeting, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be elected and administered the Oath of Office signaling the start of the new parliamentary term, following general elections held on December 6, 2022. President of Dominica, His Excellency Charles A. Savarin will deliver an address, and Prime Minister, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit will present proclamations for the dissolution of parliament and the summoning of the Eleventh Parliament.
The Minister for Finance, Economic Development, Climate Resilience, and Social Security, Hon. Dr. Irving McIntyre will table a motion for the approval of Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year ending June 30, 2022, amounting to two hundred and thirty-five million, seven hundred and seventeen thousand, three hundred and seventy-six dollars and twenty cents (EC$ 235, 717, 376.20).
The other measures before the House will bring into law the policy decisions announced in the 2022/23 National Budget, designed to cushion the negative impact of global economic trends and bring relief to citizens. These include a Bill for an Act to amend the Value Added Tax Act to increase the number of VAT-free units from 100Kwh to 150Kwh of electrical energy provided by the Dominica Electricity Services Ltd (DOMLEC) to domestic consumers and the zero-rating of VAT on fuel surcharge payable to DOMLEC and to effect the exemption of VAT on agricultural tools and potting soil and the exemption of VAT on the importation of pleasure crafts and engines of pleasure crafts.
Amendments to the Stamp Act, the Pensions Act, the Title by Registration Act, the Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, and the Repeal of the Highway Maintenance Levy are also on the Order Paper; as well as amendments to the Civil Aviation Act and the International Maritime Act. The Financial Statements of the Dominica Agricultural Industrial and Development Bank and the 2021 Debt Portfolio Review Report will also be tabled at the Meeting. The parliament proceedings will be broadcast live via the Government Information Service (GIS) and the Dominica Broadcasting Corporation (DBS).