House of Representatives

Sittings

15th Sitting of the House of Representatives

3rd Session - 12th Republican Parliament

Friday 3 February, 2023
1:30 PM
Announcements By The Speaker/Deputy Speaker
Leave of absence

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

Hon. Bridgid Annisette-George [Speaker of the House]
Announcements By The Speaker/Deputy Speaker
Tribute to Jennifer Johnson

The House paid tribute to Ms. Jennifer Johnson, who passed away on Wednesday February 1, 2023. She was a former MP for Princes Town and a Minister during the NAR Administration. A minute of silence was observed.

Hon. Foster Cummings, MP [Minister of Youth Development and National Service]
Mr. Barry Padarath, MP [Opposition Member]
Hon. Bridgid Annisette-George [Speaker of the House]
Petitions
Introduction of Private Bill

The Member for Arima, Hon. Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, MP, filed a petition on behalf of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies to introduce a private bill to effect a name change to Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies Trinidad and Tobago. The petitioner was granted leave to proceed.

Hon. Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, MP [Minister of Planning and Development]
Petitions
Introduction of private bill

The Member for St. Joseph, Hon. Terrence Deyalsingh, MP, filed a petition on behalf of the Trinidad and Tobago National Council of Alcoholism to introduce a private bill to effect a name change to Centre for Addiction Prevention and Healthy Living and a change to its objectives. The petitioner was granted leave to proceed.

Hon. Terrence Deyalsingh, MP [Minister of Health]
Papers
Ten Papers

Ten Papers were laid. See the Order Paper.

Mr. Esmond Forde, MP [Government Member]
Hon. Colm Imbert, MP [Minister of Finance]
Hon. Camille Robinson-Regis, MP [Minister of Housing and Urban Development]
Questions To Ministers: Oral Answer
Prime Minister's Question Time

Prime Minister’s Question Time is a feature of today’s Sitting. Eleven questions were posed to the Prime Minister by Members of the Opposition.

Hon. Dr. Keith Rowley, MP [Prime Minister]
Questions To Ministers: Oral Answer
Three urgent questions

Three urgent questions were posed. See Order Paper.

Questions To Ministers: Oral Answer
Two Questions on Notice

There are two Questions on Notice.  Both questions were answered. See the Order Paper.

Government Business: Motions
Approve the Notification of the President of the nomination by the Police Service Commission of Mrs. Erla Harewood-Christopher to the office of Commissioner of Police

The Prime Minister moved a motion to approve the Notification of the President of the nomination by the Police Service Commission of Mrs. Erla Harewood-Christopher to the office of Commissioner of Police. The Member for Oropouche East made an intervention before the Prime Minister rose to wind up the debate. A division was taken on the Motion, the result of which was 36 for, none against, no abstentions.

Hon. Dr. Keith Rowley, MP [Prime Minister]
Dr. Roodal Moonilal, MP [Opposition Member]
Government Business: Bills Second Reading
The Firearms (Amendment) Bill, 2022

The Minister of National Security, Hon. Fitzgerald Hinds, MP, moved the second reading of the Firearms (Amendment) Bill, 2022. Seven members contributed to the debate before the wind up by the Minister of National Security. The bill was then committed to a Committee of the Whole for consideration clause by clause. The bill was approved with amendments. The bill was read a third time and passed.

Hon. Fitzgerald Hinds, MP [Minister of National Security]
Mr. Saddam Hosein, MP [Opposition Member]
Sen. the Hon. Reginald Armour SC [Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs]
Mr. Arnold Ram, MP [Opposition Member]
Hon. Stuart Young SC, MP [Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister]
Mr. Rodney Charles, MP [Opposition Member]
Hon. Keith Scotland SC, MP [Minister in the Ministry of National Security]
Hon. Faris Al-Rawi SC, MP [Minister of Rural Development and Local Government]
Adjournment
The House adjourned to Friday February 10, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.

The Sitting concluded at 7:35 p.m.