Leave of absence was granted to Dr. Fuad Khan, MP for Barataria/San Juan from today’s Sitting.

The Speaker announced the Senate appointments to the Joint Select Committees on the Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Control Bill, 2016 and the Insurance Bill, 2016.

The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property (Amendment) Bill 2016 was brought from the Senate in the name of the Minister of Finance.

Eight Papers were laid in the names of the Minister of Finance, Minister of Planning and Development, Minister of Trade and Industry, Attorney General and Member for St. Ann’s East. Papers 1 and 2 were referred to the Public Accounts (Enterprises) Committee. See Order Paper for details.

Prime Minister’s Question Time was a feature of this Sitting. See Order Paper for details.

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

Four questions qualified for oral answer. Question #44 was deferred for two weeks. See Order Paper for details.

The Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced in the name of the Minister of National Security.

The Minister of Finance moved the motion to adopt the Report of the Joint Select Committee appointed to consider and report on the Tax Information Exchange Agreements Bill, 2016. Debate began on this motion. Three (3) amendments were received to Committee Motion No. 1.
A motion was moved by the Member for Tabaquite, that the following be added to the end of the Committee Motion No. 1, “as an interim report, and the time be extended for the JSC to complete its work and report to this House.” The motion was seconded by the Member for Chaguanas West. A motion was moved by the Member for Port of Spain North St. Ann’s West, that the following be added to the end of the Committee Motion No. 1, “Subject to the recommittal of the Bill to the Committee of the Whole for the purpose of considering a proposed new Clause 29”. The motion was seconded by the Member for St. Joseph. A motion was moved by the Member for Diego Martin West, in accordance with S.O. 42(16) that the amendment proposed by the Member for Tabaquite and seconded by the Member for Chaguanas West be further amended to add the following words at the end of the proposed amendment, “by Thursday February 23, 2017”. The Motion was seconded by the Member for Arouca/Maloney.
At the conclusion of the debate, the question was put on the two of the three amendments to Committee Motion No. 1. The question was put that the amendment proposed by the Member for Diego Martin West to the amendment proposed by the Member for Tabaquite, “by the Thursday February 23, 2017”. A division was called with 39 For, 0 Against and 0 Abstentions. The motion (on the amendment to the amendment) was approved.
The question was put that the amendment proposed by the Member for Tabaquite, as amended, “As an Interim Report and the time be extended for the Joint Select Committee to complete its works and to Report to the House by Thursday February 23, 2017”. A division was called with 39 For, 0 Against and 0 Abstentions. The motion (on the amendment) was approved.

Leave of the House was sought and granted, in accordance with S.O. 42(17), that the amendment proposed by the Member for Port of Spain North/St. Ann’s West and seconded by the Member for St. Joseph be withdrawn.
The question was put that, “Be it Resolved that this House adopt the Report of the Joint Select Committee appointed to consider and report on the Tax Information Exchange Agreements Bill, 2016, as an Interim Report and the time be extended for the Joint Select Committee to complete its work and report to this House by Thursday February 23, 2017”. The Committee Motion No. 1 (as amended) was approved.

The Sitting concluded at 11:01 p.m. The House adjourned to Thursday February 23, 2017 at 2:30 p.m.