Today’s (Tuesday) meeting of Parliament has been postponed because a member of the support staff has tested positive for COVID-19.
Leader of the Opposition, Godwin Friday, told iWitness News that House Speaker Rochelle Forde made the announcement to lawmakers who were present for the meeting.
He said that Forde told MPs that after consulting with the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Simone Keizer-Beache, all unvaccinated House of Assembly staff members who had come into contact with the positive staff member were ordered to quarantine immediately.
Friday told iWitness News that no date has been set for the next sitting of the national assembly, but Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves had indicated that he wanted it to happen soon.
The opposition leader, however, noted to iWitness News that in the circumstances, public health consideration must be paramount in determining when Parliament next meets.
Today’s meeting was intended to complete the Order Paper for the meeting that began last Thursday.
Among the items on the Order Paper are four Supplementary Estimates bills that are intended to approve special warrants that the government issued to cover spending not foreseen in the budget.
A spike in COVID-19 cases in St. VIncent and the Grenadines has seen the country registering about 1,200 cases and 21 deaths since Sept. 9.
As of Monday, 33 people have died of the virus and there were 1,221 active cases.
The country has recorded 3,776 cases of COVID-19 and 2,522 recoveries since March 2020.
It would appear that COVID-19 deaths have surpassed homicides. Who Knew? I thought this could not happen back when we were trying to win the elections. I guess its serious now.
SMH, So parlement suspended? The people’s business is put on hold. Who shall we hold responsible? Or is it nobody’s fault? Well, if shit had bones it would walk. Allyo r just a waste of time. Pure jokes.
What’s the name of this support worker ? When the lawyer had his test done , didn’t the world knew his test was positive? Is it. Confidentiality for some and exposure for others? Come on man.
So, is parliament still out (suspended/postponed)?