The Speaker read into the record a letter from the President of the Senate informing the House about a resolution of the Senate to appoint members to a Joint Select Committee of Parliament on the Data Protection Bill and the Electronic Transactions Bill.

The Speaker granted leave of absence to the Member for D’Abadie/O’Meara (March 12-16), Port-of-Spain North/St. Ann’s West (March 6-20), Arouca/Maloney (March 6-20) and Point Fortin (today).

The Leader of the House laid three Papers on behalf of the Minister of Finance. See the Order Paper for details.

12 Questions qualify for oral answer. The responses to six questions (34,36,42,43,48,53) were answered and/or circulated and the rest deferred for two weeks. See the Order Paper for details.

Three Questions qualify for written answer. See the Order Paper for details.

The Member for Caroni East raised a matter of privilege about an advertisement published by UDeCOTT which he considered defamatory. He sought leave to bring the authors of the advertisement before the Committee of Privileges. The Speaker indicated that he would consider the matter and rule on a subsequent date.

The Member for Siparia sought leave to raise a matter under Standing Order 12 asking that the Prime Minister revoke the appointment of the Minister of Finance. The Speaker ruled that the matter did not qualify under this standing Order but would have qualified under Standing Order 11 (Matter raised on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House)

The Minister of Legal Affairs moved the Second Reading of the Status of Children (Amendment) Bill, 2009. The Member for Naparima was first to enter the debate, followed by the Minister of Social Development and the Member for Princes Town North. In all some six members made contributions before debate was suspended.

There were two matters raised on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House. First the Member for Oropouche East raised the matter of “The decision of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to impose a Voluntary Separation of Employment Programme (VSEP) on over two thousand workers at the Board of Inland Revenue and the Customs and Excise Division pursuant to the establishment of the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority.” The Minister of Trade and Industry and Minister in the Ministry of Finance responded.

The Member for Princes Town North then raised the matter of “the failure of the Government to repair and/or rehabilitate the M1 Ring Road from Manahambre Road, Ste. Madeline.” The Minister of Works and Transport responded.

At its next sitting debate is expected to continue on the Status of Children (Amendment) Bill, 2009 and begin on a motion to acquire land for a public purpose. The sitting adjourned at 7:44 p.m.