Leave of absence was granted to Mrs. Glenda Jennings-Smith, MP for Toco/Sangre Grande and Mr. Prakash Ramadhar, MP for St. Augustine from today’s Sitting of the House.

Hon. Fitzgerald Hinds, MP for Laventille West, lodged a petition on behalf of the Chief State Solicitor requesting the use of the Hansard in court proceedings. The Petitioner was granted leave to proceed.

Seven papers were laid. See Order Paper for details.

One Report was presented.

Five urgent questions were posed.

Seven questions qualified for oral answer. Question #47 was deferred for two weeks.

Hon. Fitzgerald Hinds, MP for Laventille West, made a statement regarding the Lima Commitment on Democratic Governance against corruption.

Private Members’ Business will take precedence at this Sitting of the House. The Member of Siparia, Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, S.C., MP, moved a motion to consider the details of the two-part address by the Hon. Keith Rowley, MP, Prime Minister termed, ‘Mind your Business: Reporting to the Nation’ that aired on January 6, 2019 and January 7, 2019. Debate began on the motion.

The Sitting concluded at 9:39 p.m. The House adjourned to Friday February 1, 2019 at 1:30 p.m.