The first session of the 11th Parliament of Saint Lucia was officially opened on Tuesday, July 12.

The session convened with a formal meeting of the House of Assembly, during which the new Speaker of the House was duly elected in the person of Hon. Leonne Theodore-John. Upon failure to submit a nominee for Deputy Speaker of the House by the Opposition, the Prime Minister moved to nominate the Hon. Sarah Flood-Beaubrun for the position. The honorable member was unanimously and duly elected as the Deputy Speaker of the House.

The session proceeded with a formal meeting of the Senate. The President of the Senate was duly elected in the person of Andy Daniel. Mrs. Mauricia Thomas-Francis an independent senator appointed by the Governor General was elected as the Deputy President of the Senate.

The other independent senator appointed by the Governor General is Mr. Adrian Augier. The meetings concluded in a joint session for the delivery of the throne speech by the Governor General.

View the full address delivered by the Governor General, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqABYmkAMHI

Watch the full opening of the 11th Parliament of Saint Lucia, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxVPXZ0xU9o

For the full text of the Governor General's speech, visit:

http://www.govt.lc/news/opening-of-the-first-session-of-the-eleventh-parliament-of-saint-lucia