Chief Secretary Farley Augustine disclosed that he and the team had a discussion about the long-standing tradition of deferring questions during end-of-year plenary sittings in favor of presenting motions of season’s greetings. He stated that the sitting should be more than just bringing greetings while acknowledging that it also has its importance. “But we continue to toss with the idea as to whether or not just doing this alone in the sitting is the most meaningful way to treat with this particular sitting in December“
Minority Councillor Petal Daniel-Benoit agreed with Augustine on his point. “We also welcome that consideration is given to at least responding to the questions, we understand that in the past, and this may not have happened, but last year in particular, we thought that a new precedent was being set where questions were responded to by secretaries and the chief secretary.“
Augustine then commenced with the motion of extending greetings by extending seasonal greetings first to President Christine Kangaloo. Deputy Chief Secretary Dr. Faith B. Yisrael extended her season’s greetings to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley.
One by one, various Assemblymen and Councilors read motions to deliver Christmas greetings to Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Chief Justice Ivor Archie, the President of the Senate Nigel De Freitas, Tobago East and West MPs Ayanna Webster-Roy and Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis, the Presiding and Deputy Presiding Officers, and the rest of the Assembly Legislature.
Meanwhile, the members of the Assembly appeared to be in a festive and jolly mood, especially Assemblyman Natisha Charles-Pantin, who was adorned with her Christmas-themed headwear.
