Ministers must put before the Cabinet all significant matters of policy, including particularly matters that will or could affect other Ministers or Ministries.

The collective responsibility of Cabinet members and the interdependencies between the work of many Ministries demand that many issues be decided by Cabinet as a whole. A Minister who acts unilaterally without regard to wider implications for the Government and other Ministries risks undermining the coherence and collaboration of Government, as highlighted in section 2.3. At the same time, Cabinet’s agenda should not be clogged with routine matters, denying it the time to focus on the major strategic issues facing the nation. A balanced approach is therefore required, with the Secretary to the Cabinet providing advice to the Prime Minister on the agenda for each Cabinet meeting and on matters that are best handled by other means, such as correspondence between Ministers.

Considering this need for balance and judgement, the matters requiring Cabinet’s approval include:

1. any significant policy proposal (either a new policy or a significant amendment to existing policy);
2. government budget decisions and any proposal that has major financial implications outside of the approved Budget;
3. any proposal in which other Ministries will have an immediate or direct interest;
4. politically sensitive issues;
5. proposed legislation including substantial amendments;
6. proposals to enter into international treaties or agreements or matters that might affect Grenada’s international obligations or relations in any significant way;
7. major reform proposals, including those that seek to change the structure or functions of Ministries, departments or agencies;
8. any other matters in respect of which the Constitution and other laws vest responsibility in the Cabinet; and
9. any other matter on which the Prime Minister or the Cabinet decides that collective consideration is required.

As mentioned in section 3.2, proposals for training and travel should not be submitted for consideration by full Cabinet but should be referred to the Standing Cabinet Sub-Committee on Training and Travel.

The Prime Minister or the Cabinet may, from time to time, direct that other issues should be referred to a sub-committee or should be decided by individual Ministers (possibly based on criteria agreed by Cabinet), and therefore not submitted for consideration by full Cabinet.

If any Minister disagrees with an action that has been taken or a view expressed publicly by another Minister without prior Cabinet discussion, the first Minister may request that the matter be discussed by the Cabinet.

If a Minister is in doubt whether an item requires approval by the Cabinet, he or she should seek advice from the Secretary to the Cabinet, who will consult with the Prime Minister if required. Even where a law requires that an individual Minister make a decision, the matter must be brought before the Cabinet; the decision is taken by the Minister in the Cabinet.