President of the Republic of Westdom Rose Gray delivered her State of the Union Address to a Joint Session of Parliament

Madam Prime Minister,

Mr. Speaker,

Madam President, 

Madam Secretary General,

And Honorable Members,

It is my esteemed honor to be delivering the State of the Union this evening. 

To start the evening, I want to start with 3 minutes of silence for the 3 lives lost in the Ministry of Home Affairs Attack in Noddingham.

[3 MINUTES OF SILENCE]

Honorable Members, 

Thank you so much for joining us for the first State of the Union Address before a joint session of Parliament.

Just one year ago today we formed a government to deliver for the people. With this, we created three priorities for the people, Growing the Economy, Free Flowing Trade, and Ensuring Government is Delivering.

Honorable Members,

We have delivered on growing the economy with the new Fighting Illegal Drugs Initiative. This policy has 3 priorities that are set out with this; they are Breaking illegal drug supply chains, Delivering outstanding treatment, and Creating a shift in demand for drugs in this country. 

We will break illegal drug supply chains by using the full force of the Home Office to ensure that we have the resources and personnel to respond to this crisis.

Then, we will deliver outstanding treatment by funding a new program through the Department of Health. This program will be a much-needed expansion of the University of St. Ives Medical Center. During my visit to the University of St. Ives Medical Center on Tuesday, I witnessed how hard all of the staff were working. I also realized that they need more funding for staff and equipment. 

Lastly creating a shift in demand for drugs in this country we will not be prescribing opioids as frequently. We will be developing new drugs that are less addictive. The Department for Small Businesses, Businesses, and Trade Export has been working with industry partners for a new drug. The Scientific, Technology, and Innovation Office is researching new opportunities and pathways.

This plan will help curve the amount of drug traffic and drugs that are crossing into this country.

Honorable members, 

We have supported the efforts of the Ukrainians since the start of this horrid war. We hope that in this coming year, they will be successful in their fight for freedom. We will continue to aid them in the fight that they are fighting. The Rt. Hon. Kamari Ahvi is planning a state visit to meet with His Excellency Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Honorable members, 

In recent months the world has been watching the incredibly saddening and frustrating war in the Middle East. The Foreign, State, Aid & Development Office has been working on a package they will be delivering to the house when Parliament reopens.

Honorable members, 

This is just a brief address but essential to the way this country operates when we are dealing with what the people elected us to do.

Thank you all for joining us this evening.

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