Legislators voted unanimously to approve the first reading of the Non-Profit Organisations Act and three amendments: the Mutual Legal Assistance [Tax Matters] [Amendment] Act; the Partnership [Amendment] Act; and the Securities and Investment Business [Amendment] Act.

Each of the four bills that were given their first reading last Thursday will likely be Gazetted in the coming weeks and publicly debated by lawmakers during future HOA sittings.

Premier Dr. Orlando Smith, whose 94-year-old mother Eldra Davies-Smith died on Sept. 6, said that despite his personal loss, he wanted to convene a sitting of the HOA to speed up the laws’ passage, as they are important for keeping the territory’s financial services sector in line with international standards.

Instead of legislative business, though, lawmakers spent much of the 70-minute HOA sitting offering Dr. Smith condolences for his loss.

See the Sept. 20, 2012 edition for full coverage.