Leave of absence was granted to Mr. Rodney Charles, MP for Naparima, from today’s Sitting.

Twenty-seven Papers were laid in the names of the Minister of Finance, Minister of Education, Deputy Speaker, Minister of Public Administration and Communications, Minister of Sport of Youth Affairs, Minister of Health, Minister of Energy and Energy industries, Minister of National Security, Minister of Works and Transport and the Member for Mayaro. Paper 1 will be referred to the Public Accounts (Enterprises) Committee and Papers 2-11 will be referred to the Public Accounts Committee.

One Report was presented by the Minister of Finance. See Supplemental Order Paper for details.

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

Four questions qualified for oral answer. All questions were answered. See Order Paper for details.

One request for leave was made by Dr. Tim Gopeesingh to address an urgent matter namely the failure of the Government to take swift and decisive action on the poisoning of the National Water Supply through the lead from various public landfills. The Speaker was not satisfied that this matter qualified under Standing Order 17.

Four Bills were introduced in the names of the Attorney General and the Minister of Finance. See Supplemental Order Paper for details.

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. The motion was taken to the Committee of the Whole and amended. The amended motion was approved.

The Tax Information Exchange Agreements Bill, 2016 was read a third time and passed.

The Sitting concluded at 7:50 p.m. The House adjourned to Friday March 3, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.