Leave of absence was granted to

• Hon. Maxie Cuffie, MP for La Horquetta/Talparo for the period February 3-20, 2018
• Hon. Randall Mitchell, MP for San Fernando East for the period February 8-19, 2018
• Mr. Rushton Paray, MP for Mayaro for the period February 16-23, 2018 and

Mr. Fazal Karim, MP for Chaguanas East, Mr. David Lee, MP for Pointe-a-Pierre, Hon. Marlene McDonald, MP for Port of Spain South and Mr. Prakash Ramadhar, MP for St. Augustine from today’s Sitting.

Thirteen Papers were laid in the names of the Minister of Finance, Deputy Speaker, Minister of Public Utilities, Minister of National Security, Minister of Public Administration and Communications and Minister of Trade and Industry. Papers 1-4 were referred to the Public Accounts (Enterprises) Committee and Papers 5 and 6 were referred to the Public Accounts Committee. See Order Paper for details.

One report was presented. See Order Paper for details.

Prime Minister’s Question Time is a feature of this Sitting as it is the 2nd Sitting of the House of Representatives for the month of February. Questions were posed to the Prime Minister by Members of the Opposition. Eight questions were asked before the time for Prime Minister’s Questions expired.

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

Ten questions qualified for oral answer. Questions #86 and #87 were deferred. See Order Paper for details.

Debate continued on the motion to Adopt the Report of the JSC – Insurance Bill, 2016. The Attorney General was first to contribute, followed by the Member for Caroni Central, Member for Caroni East, Member for Port of Spain North / St. Ann’s East, Member for Chaguanas West and Member for Couva South before Hon. Colm Imbert, MP wrapped up the debate. The motion was approved.

Dr. Surujrattan Rambachan, MP for Tabaquite, raised a matter on the adjournment namely the failure of the Minister of Works and Transport to attend to urgent matters of collapsing bridges, landslips and roadways in Tabaquite. The Minister of Works and Transport responded.
Dr. Lackram Bodoe, MP for Fyzabad, raised his concern on the failure of the Minister of Works and Transport to repair a landslip in the vicinity of LP #69 Thick Village, Siparia. The Minister of Works and Transport responded.

The Sitting concluded at 7:51 p.m. The House adjourned to Friday February 23, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.