Sittings
13th Sitting of the House of Representatives
1st Session - 9th Republican Parliament
One Paper was laid in the name of the Deputy Speaker (Ms. Pennelope Beckles, MP)
Eleven questions qualified for oral answer on the Order Paper. The Leader of the House indicated that the Government was in a position to answer questions 78 and 92. The Speaker announced that those two questions would lapse, since there were no members of the Opposition in the House to pose them. All other questions were deferred for two weeks.
14 Questions qualify for written answer on the Order Paper.
Debate continued on the Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 2008. The Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs (Mr. Junia Regrello, MP) made his maiden contribution in the House.
The Minister of Legal Affairs (Hon. Peter Taylor, MP) concluded the debate. The Bill was then considered in Committee up to clause 20. The Committee stage was suspended until the next sitting of the House.
Debate continued (from February 15, 2008) on the Teaching Service (Compensation) Bill, 2008. The Minister of Information and Member for Lopinot/Bon Air West (Hon. Neil Parsanlal, MP) resumed and completed his first contribution on a Bill in the House of Representatives. The Minister of Education concluded the debate. The Bill was considered in Committee and passed with amendments. It was then read a third time and passed.
The Leader of the House (Hon. Colm Imbert, MP) moved the Motion to acquire lands for a public purpose (St. Paul Street, Port-of-Spain and Constabulary Street, Carenage). There being no debate, the Motion was approved. Details of the parcels of land can be found in Appendix II of the Order Paper.
Before adjourning the House, the Speaker indicated that since no opposition members were in the Chamber to present them, all Matters on the Adjournment lapsed. They, however, could qualify for the next sitting of the House if they were resubmitted by Monday April 7, 2008.
No agenda was indicated for the next sitting, other than the continuation of the Committee Stage of the Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 2008 previously indicated by the Minister of Legal Affairs.