A NEW legislative year gets under way today, with a number of firsts at the State opening of Parliament scheduled for 10 a.m. at Gordon House.
Although an annual event, today's ceremony will be a special occasion as for the first time, a woman, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, will lead the Government team, including Members of Parliament and Members of the Senate, up Duke Street.
On the other side of Duke Street, Opposition Leader Bruce Golding will also for the first time lead his team into Gordon House.
Last year the Opposition was led by interim leader Dr. Kenneth Baugh.
THRONE SPEECH
The ceremony will also mark the first time Governor-General, Professor Kenneth Hall, who took up office in February, will deliver the Throne Speech, in which he will outline the Government's programmes and policies for the 2006/07 fiscal year, which began on April 1.
At 2:00 p.m., Dr. Omar Davies, Minister of Finance and Planning, will table the estimates of expenditure in the House of Representatives.
The estimates will outline how the Government's programmes will be funded as well as allocations to the various ministries and agencies for housekeeping and development expenses.
Dr. Davies is slated to open the Budget Debate on April 27 while Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Audley Shaw, is expected to make his presentation on Tuesday, May 2.
The Opposition Leader is scheduled to make his contribution to the debate on May 4.
Prime Minister Simpson Miller will make her presentation on May 9 while the Finance Minister will close the debate the following day.
Traffic changes for today's opening
The following streets will be closed to vehicular traffic from 8:00 a.m. until the conclusion of the ceremony:
Duke Street, between East Queen Street and South Heroes Circle
Charles Street, between East Street and Church Street,
Sutton Street, between East Street and Sutton Street
The streets listed below will operate as one way in the directions stated: Beeston Street, east to west between East Street and Mark Lane, and west to east from Church Street to Mark Lane.
No Parking : No parking will be allowed on the following streets from 7:00 a.m until the conclusion of the ceremony: South Heroes Circle - between East and West Heroes Circle Duke Street - between Manchester Square and East Queen Street Beeston Street - between East Street and Church Street John's Lane - between North Street and Georges Lane (except for JDF vehicles) Mark Lane - between Beeston Street and Church Street Charles Street - between East Street and Church Street East Street - between South Heroes Circle and East Queen Street East Queen Street - between East Street and East Parade. Georges Lane - between Duke Street and John's Lane.
