House meets for Budget Debate amid protests

By Aaron Humes: It’s safe to say that this year’s Budget debate will be nothing like last year’s, or indeed any other.

For one, all 31 parliamentarians should be in attendance, unlike the quorum of seven last year, and they are all expected to speak.

Second, the parties have switched sides. John Briceno, who has led off the second reading debate for several years, spoke first two weeks ago as Prime Minister and will speak last on Friday before the vote. Patrick Faber will lead off today’s debate as leader of the Opposition, but the United Democratic Party has but four speakers thereafter and no chance of overturning the bill in the lower chamber.

The People’s United Party has not debated a Budget as Government in ten years and for some it will be their first time ever. Expect lots of fireworks as recriminations flow back and forth.

All of that is even before we get to the protests of the trade unions, which this morning lined the Hummingbird Highway entering the capital city and will be rotating in front of the National Assembly building which has been barricaded by police to avoid anything like August of 2016, or this January’s breach of the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

The action begins at 9 a.m. and we will have it all for you.

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