Leave of absence was granted to Hon. Shamfa Cudjoe, MP for Tobago West, from today’s Sitting.

Seven Papers were laid in the names of the Minister of Finance, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Deputy Speaker, Member for St. Ann’s East and Minister of National Security. Paper 1 was referred to the Public Accounts Committee and Papers 2 and 3 were referred to the Public Accounts (Enterprises) Committee. See Order Paper for details.

Nine Reports were presented. See Order Paper for details.

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

Four questions qualified for oral answer. Question #29 was deferred. See Order Paper for details.

Mr. David Lee, MP for Pointe-a-Pierre, made a request for leave to move the adjournment of the House on a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely the indiscriminate, unprecedented and unacceptable number of murders taking place on a daily basis in Trinidad and Tobago. The Speaker was not satisfied that this matter qualified under Standing Order 17.

Debate continued on the Gambling (Gaming and Betting) C0ntrol Bill, 2016. The Bill was referred to a Joint Select Committee which will consider the Bill and report to the House by March 17, 2017.

The Attorney General, on behalf of the Minister of Finance, moved the second reading of the Insurance Bill, 2016. Dr. Tim Gopeesingh is first to enter the debate. The Bill was referred to a Joint Select Committee for consideration and report to the House by March 17, 2017.

The Sitting concluded at 6:44 p.m. The House adjourned to Monday February 13, 2017 at 2:30 p.m.