It’s going to be a busy day in the House of Assembly when parliamentarians meet on Wednesday.
Renardo Curry, who won last week’s North Abaco bye-election, is expected to be sworn in as the country’s newest Member of Parliament.
In an interview with The Bahama Journal yesterday, Leader of Government Business Dr. Bernard Nottage revealed other items on the agenda.
There were several bills that were tabled in the House last week, which parliamentarians hope to begin debating.
Those bills include an amendment to the Financial Administration and Audit Act; an amendment to the Industrial Relations Act and an amendment to the Local Government Act.
“Whether we’re able to deal with all of them will depend on the number of people who wish to speak during those debates,” Dr. Nottage said.
Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis on Sunday called on the government to provide the Opposition with a copy of the legislative agenda ahead of tomorrow’s session.
“We have not been informed yet by the government what the agenda will be in the House on Wednesday,” he told The Journal. “I hope members of the press can use their pressure to have the government inform us of what the agenda for Wednesday will be because we do not want to wait until Tuesday to find out and risk being ill-prepared.”
But, Dr. Nottage dismissed the FNM leader’s claims.
“Firstly, [Dr.] Minnis really shouldn’t say any such thing because it is not true,” he said.
“I am the leader of government business and Mr. Neko Grant is the leader of opposition business. He and I communicate on the matters which are to be dealt with before the House of Assembly.”
“I have communicated with Mr. Grant and Mr. Grant has acknowledged the communication. So, normally what he would do is disseminate the information to his members and I would disseminate it to mine. So, to the extent that it is necessary that they be notified they have been notified.”
He continued, “So, if he doesn’t know it means that he’s not communicating with the person who he appointed to be leader of Opposition Business.”