By Admin. Updated 6:00 a.m., Friday, June 2, 2023, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
In 1798, resolutions were entered into for the building of the Court House and Gaol, according to the St. Vincent Handbook published in 1938.
Since then, the Court House building has accommodated administrative and legislative gatherings of many shapes and forms to make laws to govern St. Vincent.
The Court House building has been a legislative and administrative engine room that has overseen the abolition of slavery, the regulation of religious gatherings, the country’s (then colony) first constitution, Adult Sufferage, Associated Statehood attainment, and Political independence attainment – major movements that spanned from the early 1800s to the late 1900s.
Today in 2023, lawmakers said goodbye to the chambers as they prepare to hold parliamentary proceedings at a new place at Calliaqua.
The 200-year-old building has reportedly been through rodent infestation, bat infestation, mold infestation, and structural issues.
Of particular concern over the years has been the noise disturbance to court proceedings when the House of Assembly meets during the same time court sessions are being held on the ground floor.
During a special sitting to mark the final sitting of parliament at the Court House Building, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves gave a detailed chronology of parliamentary proceedings and elected members of the Legislative Assembly before this country attained internal self-governance and of the House of Assembly after the attainment of internal self-governance.
Dr. Gonsalves also acknowledged the work of current and former members of Parliament, especially those who served after Adult Sufferage, in developing the country.
Leader of the Opposition – Dr. Godwin Friday also acknowledged the work of those who served before and announced his re-commitment and rededication to public service. He also encouraged members of the House to continue to serve the people.
Other members of the government and the opposition spoke. Senator Julian Francis was one of the speakers on the government’s side, and his short speech was notable as he had not spoken much in the public domain since he had fallen ill in 2022.
One opposition member – St. Clair Leacock reflected on what he described as missed opportunities to establish an Ombudsman, to have integrity legislation passed, and to have local government and a constituency development find established – an idea he has been touting for years.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Montgomery Daniel also spoke about the missed opportunity of the failed constitutional reform exercise in 2009 which was defeated in a referendum even after receiving full parliamentary support.
The opposition boycotted the new Constitution, which is passed, would have implemented an Integrity Commission and an ombudsman, a month other parliamentary democracy strengthening measures.
During the final sitting at the Court House location on June 1, a bill was also read through all its stages and passed.
The speaker then paid tribute to the members of the house – both current and former members, most of whom were seated in the strangers’ gallery. She then announced the start of the retirement journey of Clerk of the House – Ms. Nicole Herbert who served in the House for some 25 years.
Parliament was then adjourned sine die, after which members past and present were treated to a cocktail.
Official photographs were taken of current members and former members to mark the occasion.
Parliament’s transition from the old to the new is expected to be a process requiring patience since the House of Assembly will be convened in a temporary arrangement awaiting the constriction of its permanent home at Richmond Hill, Kingstown.
The transition is also not happening in isolation. A modern port is being constructed, a modern Acute Referral Hospital, and several large hotels, all of which are expected to change the face of St. Vincent.
Parliament’s transition also joins major transitions such as the decommissioning of the ET. Joshua Airport and the commissioning of the Argyle International Airport – AIA which took place in 2017.
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