The first session of the new Barbados Parliament opened this morning with the President Dame Sandra Mason outlining the plans and policies of the re-elected Barbados government.

The special sitting was held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Center.

Those policies seek to make good on a number of manifesto promises including tackling crime, stamping out corruption, abolishing the eleven plus exam and ensuring a more effective, responsive and participatory government.

Dame Sandra stated key values that would underpin those policies.

There’s a promise to table anti-corruption legislation in parliament yet again.

The new policy statement promises zero tolerance for guns, crime and violence.

There’s also a commitment to pass a new education act and to follow through on a plan to do away with the Barbados Secondary Schools Entrance Exam.

The House of Assembly briefly convened following the formal opening during which a number of bills were tabled including one to amend the constitution.