Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly is set to deliver her inaugural budget address as finance minister next Friday, 8 Dec., following the ceremonial opening of Parliament.
House Speaker Sir Alden McLaughlin, in a statement on Tuesday, said the official state opening of the 2023-2024 session of the House will commence at 10am and will include Governor Jane Owen’s first Throne Speech, as well as the Premier’s budget address.
McLaughlin, who was last week elected unopposed as the third Speaker in the current electoral term, said, the meeting will be “unique” with a new Speaker, Governor, and Premier.
“But it’s a mistake to think this is purely ceremonial. In fact, this is a vitally important meeting for all Caymanians and residents, as the country will be hearing about the Government’s spending plans over the next two years, as well as any policy developments that will no doubt impact the public,” he said.
McLaughlin said it is anticipated that the meeting will run over several daily sittings.
The Standing Business Committee, which is charged with deciding the order of business, will meet next week to finalise the order of House business.
“The State Opening typically leads the first regular meeting of a new Session after
proclaiming the start of the Parliamentary year, and is an opportunity for the
Governor to address the nation and to provide information about the Government’s achievements and budget. It also offers the Governor the chance to speak on the key priorities of the United Kingdom and the status of each arm of the Governor’s constitutional responsibilities,” a Parliament statement explained.
The last Throne Speech was delivered in November 2021, by former Governor Martyn Roper.
Following the Throne Speech, MPs will typically debate the address given by the Governor, however, this is often deferred to a future sitting in order for the Premier to provide remarks on the budget and any new government policies – as was done after the Throne Speech in 2021.
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