National

Unfinished Business

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – With little time between a general election and the opening of Parliament, any new administration must quickly lay out its legislative agenda in a ‘Speech from the Throne’.

Published

2 years ago

October 4, 2023

Berthony McDermott

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – With little time between a general election and the opening of Parliament, any new administration must quickly lay out its legislative agenda in a ‘Speech from the Throne’.

Fresh off of the 2021 election victory, the Davis administration laid out a plan to rescue an economy crushed by the global pandemic, resolve the COVID-19 health crises, and bring immediate relief to business owners and consumers.

While there has been some headway toward achieving those goals, there is still some unfinished business.

Prime Minister Philip Davis believes getting the job done does not always require parliamentary backing.

Ten weeks later, a new session of Parliament is sitting with the hope that much of the un-passed legislation will make it back onto the floor of the new parliament.

Attorney General Ryan Pinder gave some promises as to what might make it back onto the new legislative agenda.

Most of the commitments outlined were a part of the Progressive Liberal Party’s election blueprint for change. One such promise was anti-corruption legislation. More than a year later, there still has not been parliamentary approval.

Both pieces of legislation were promised by the former Minnis administration but never came to fruition.

The Davis administration also promised a plan to regularize the cannabis industry.

In August, the government announced that the proposed cannabis bill is now out for public consultation.

This administration increased the minimum wage to $260 per week but also promised a livable wage.

Back in March, the now former Labour Minister Keith Bell said the National Tripartite Council was asked to look into it.

While there is no guarantee at this point what makes it onto the house floor this session, the opening parliament and speech from the throne is a first glimpse into what “could” be passed into law this session.