The Clerk of the House read the proclamation by His Excellency the President appointing the venue, date and time for the commencement of the 2nd Session of the 9th Republican Parliament.

The Speaker welcomed all members back to the House following the Christmas season. He further granted Leave of Absence to the Member for St. Augustine from today’s sitting and reminded the Leader of the House and Chief Whip to forward the names of persons to serve on Sessional Select Committees.

The Member for Tabaquite presented a Petition by the Action Committee of the Tabaquite Constituency against crime. Leave was granted and the Clerk read the Petition.

The Member for Chaguanas West then presented a Petition on behalf of the Chaguanas West Foundation for Justice concerning pension payments to senior citizens. The Clerk read the Petition.

11 Papers were laid in the name of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and the Attorney General. The Papers in the name of the Minister of Finance were referred to the Public Accounts Committee.

The Minister of Social Development made a statement pertaining to the payment of the Senior Citizen’s Grant in January 2009.

The Minister of Health then made a statement on the status of the arbitration proceedings between NIPDEC and NH International on the construction of the Scarborough Hospital.

The Minister of Works and Transport made a Statement on the delivery of public sector construction projects.

The Prime Minister made two statements, the first thanking the national community for best wishes extended to him following his surgery. The Second was on improving the systems of governance in Trinidad and Tobago. The Prime Minister laid the Working Document on Constitutional Reform for Public Consultation as a Paper.

Five Bills were laid, namely the Children Bill, 2009, The Status of Children (Amendment) Bill, 2009, The Data Protection Bill, 2009, the Electronic Transactions Bill, 2009 and the Finance Bill, 2009. The Minister of Social Development moved that the next stage of the Children Bill, 2008 be taken at a sitting of the House of Representatives on Wednesday January 14, 2008. Leave was granted.

At its next sitting the House will consider the Children Bill, 2009. The Bill is expected to be referred to a Select Committee. The House adjourned at 3:29 p.m.