House of Representatives

Sittings

14th Sitting of the House of Representatives

2nd Session - 11th Republican Parliament

Friday 6 January, 2017
1:30 PM
Announcements By The Speaker/Deputy Speaker
Change in Membership of Joint Select Committees

The Speaker announced changes in membership of Joint Select Committees as agreed to in the Senate on Monday December 19, 2016.

Announcements By The Speaker/Deputy Speaker
Tributes to Mr. Balgobin Ramdeen and Dr. Winston Murray

Tributes were paid by the House to former MPs, Mr. Balgobin Ramdeen and Dr. Winston Murray. A minute of silence was observed.

Papers
21 Papers

Twenty-one Papers were laid in the names of the Minister of Finance, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Minister of Public Utilities, Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, Attorney General, Prime Minister, Deputy Speaker and Member for Tobago West. Papers 1-11 were referred to the Public Accounts (Enterprises) Committee. See Order Paper and Supplemental Order Paper for details.

Questions To Ministers: Oral Answer
Four urgent questions

Four urgent questions were posed. See Order Paper for details.

Questions To Ministers: Oral Answer
7 Questions

Seven questions qualified for oral answer. See Order Paper for details.

Requests For Leave To Move The Adjournment Of The House On Definite Matters Of Urgent Public Importance
Two Matters

Mr. Rudranath Indarsingh, MP for Couva South, made a request for leave to move the adjournemnt of the House on a definite matter of urgent public importance namely the failure of the Government to adequately address the fallout between State-owned PETROTRIN and the Oil Field Workers Trade Union. The Speaker was satisfied that the matter qualified to be raised. The matter was stood down until 6 p.m.
The Leader of the Opposition also made a request for leave on a definite matter of public importance namely the failure of the government to address the continued increase in homicides, serious crime and criminal activity which has resulted in the breakdown in law and order in our country. The Speaker was not satisfied that this matter qualified under Standing Order 17.

Introduction Of Bills
One Bill

The Minister of Finance introduced the Fire Service (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

Government Business: Bills Second Reading
The Tax Information Exchange Agreements Bill 2016

Under Standing Order 68(3), the Minister of Finance moved a motion to withdraw the the Tax Information Exchange Agreements Bill, 2016 from the Committee of the Whole and to refer it to a Joint Select Committee. The Joint Select Committee will be required to report to the House by February 3, 2017. The motion was approved.

Requests For Leave To Move The Adjournment Of The House On Definite Matters Of Urgent Public Importance
Definite Matter: PETROTRIN and the Oilfield Workers Trade Union negotiations

At 3:16 p.m., debate began on the Definite Matter approved earlier on the fallout between PETROTRIN and OWTU. The Member for Couva South was first to contribute, followed by the Minister of Finance.

Adjournment
The House adjourned to Friday January 13, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.

The Sitting concluded at 4:20 p.m. The House adjourned to Friday January 13, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.