Leave of absence was granted to Hon. Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis, MP for Tobago West, Mr. Dinesh Rambally, MP for Chaguanas West and Mr. Rushton Paray, MP for Mayaro from today’s Sitting of the House.

The House paid tribute to the nation’s 5th Prime Minister, Mr. Basdeo Panday, who passed away on January 1, 2024. A minute of silence was observed.

Nineteen papers were laid. See Order Paper for details.

One urgent question was posed. See Order Paper.

Nine questions qualified for oral answer. All questions were answered. See Order Paper.

The Member for Lopinot/Bon Air West, offered a personal explanation with regards to his response to a question (posed on November 1, 2023) on the compromise of customers’ data at TSTT due to a recent cyber attack.

The Minister of Finance, Hon. Colm Imbert, MP, moved the second reading of The Miscellaneous Provisions (Trustees, Exchequer and Audit Act, the Minister of Finance (Incorporation) Act, Proceeds of Crime, Income Tax, Companies, Partnerships, Securities, Tax Information Exchange Agreements, the Non-Profit Organisations and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters) Bill, 2023 in the House. Debate began on the bill. Five members contributed to the debate before the wind up by the Minister of Finance. The bill was committed to a Committee of the Whole for consideration clause by clause. The bill was approved without amendments. The bill was read a third time and passed.

The Speaker made a ruling on a matter of privilege of the House, raised by Mr. Barry Padarath on December 13, 2023, involving the response of the Minister of Public Utilities to urgent questions. In light of the Member for Lopinot’s personal explanation, she ruled that this matter does not require the consideration of the Committee of Privileges.

The Member for Pointe-a-Pierre, Mr. David Lee, MP, raised a matter on the urgent need for clarification on the implementation period, requirements and qualifications for small businesses to access this facility in light of the imminent Christmas period. The Minister of Finance, Hon. Colm Imbert, MP, responded.

The Member for Couva North, Mr. Ravi Ratiram, MP, raised a matter on the failure of the Minister of National Security to provide a safe and secure enviroment for the fisherfolk to ply their trade without interference from criminal elements. The Minister of National Security, Hon. Fitzgerald Hinds, MP, responded.

The Sitting concluded at 6:47 p.m.