Leave of absence was granted to Hon. Pennelope Beckles, MP from Arima, from today’s Sitting of the House.

Seven papers were laid. See Order Paper for details.

Four urgent questions were posed.

Five questions qualified for oral answer. All questions were answered.

The Minister of National Security, Hon. Stuart Young, MP, made a personal explanation reiterating the accuracy of what he said in the House on November 27, 2020, regarding the Coast Guard Damen vessel boat repairs.

Opposition Member Saddam Hosein raised a matter of privilege stating that Hon. Stuart Young, MP, Minister of National Security and Member for Port-of-Spain North/St. Ann’s West deliberately misled the House on November 27, 2020 during his contribution to the debate on the private motion regarding the repair of the Damen vessel. The Speaker of the House ruled that no prima facie case had been made which warranted the matter being referred to the Committee of Privileges.

The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property (Amendment) Bill, 2020, the Miscellaneous Provisions [2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)] (No. 2) Bill, 2020, the Miscellaneous Provisions (FATF Compliance) Bill, 2020, the Miscellaneous Amendments (Powers of Statutory Authorities and Matters related to
certain Boards) Bill, 2020 and the Miscellaneous Provisions (Administration of Justice) Bill, 2020 will be introduced in the names of the Attorney General and Minister of Finance, who moved that the next stage of all five bills be taken later in the proceedings. Motions were approved.
The Miscellaneous Provisions (Special Reserve Police and Police Complaints Authority) Bill, 2020 and the Finance Bill, 2020 were also introduced in the name of the Attorney General and Minister of Finance respectively.

The Attorney General, Hon. Faris Al-Rawi, MP, moved the second reading of The Miscellaneous Provisions [2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)] (No. 2) Bill, 2020. Mr. Rudranath Indarsingh, MP, was the sole contributor to the debate. Following the debate, the Bill was referred to the Committee of the Whole for consideration. The Bill was read a third time and passed, with amendments.

The Minister of Finance, Hon. Colm Imbert, MP, moved the second reading of The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property (Amendment) Bill, 2020. Debate began on the Bill. Following the debate, the Bill was committed to a Committee of the Whole for consideration. Amendments were made. With 21 votes for, 18 votes against and no abstentions, the Bill was read a third time and passed.

The Minister of Finance, Hon. Colm Imbert, MP, moved the second reading of The Miscellaneous Amendments (Powers of Statutory Authorities and Matters related to certain Boards) Bill, 2020. Debate began on the Bill. Following the debate, the Bill was committed to a Committee of the Whole for consideration. One amendment was made. The Bill was read a third time and passed.

The Attorney General, Hon. Faris Al-Rawi, MP, moved the second reading of The Miscellaneous Provisions (Administration of Justice) Bill, 2020. Mr. Dinesh Rambally, MP was the sole contributor to the debate. The bill was then committed to a Committee of the Whole for consideration. Amendments were made. The Bill was read a third time and passed.

The Attorney General, Hon. Faris Al-Rawi, MP, moved the second reading of The Miscellaneous Provisions (FATF Compliance) Bill, 2020. Mr. Saddam Hosein, MP, was the sole contributor to the debate. The Bill was committed to the Committee of the Whole for consideration clause by clause. Amendments were made. With 20 votes for, 15 votes against and no abstentions, the bill was read a third time and passed.

The Sitting concluded at 1:28 a.m. on Saturday December 5, 2020. The House adjourned to Wednesday December 9, 2020 at 1:30 p.m.