House of Representatives

Sittings

24th Sitting of the House of Representatives

3rd Session - 12th Republican Parliament

Wednesday 24 May, 2023
1:30 PM
Announcements By The Speaker/Deputy Speaker
Leave of absence

Leave of absence was granted to Mr. Rushton Paray, MP for Mayaro, from today’s Sitting of the House.

Mr. Esmond Forde, MP [Government Member]
Papers
26 Papers

26 papers were laid. See the Order Paper.

Hon. Colm Imbert, MP [Minister of Finance]
Hon. Camille Robinson-Regis, MP [Minister of Housing and Urban Development]
Presentation Of Reports From Select Committees
One Report

One Report was presented. See the Order Paper.

Dr. Lackram Bodoe, MP [Opposition Member]
Questions To Ministers: Oral Answer
11 Prime Minister's Questions

11 Questions were approved for oral answer by the Prime Minister. All questions were answered. See the Order Paper for details.

Mr. Rodney Charles, MP [Opposition Member]
Hon. Dr. Keith Rowley, MP [Prime Minister]
Mr. Arnold Ram, MP [Opposition Member]
Mr. David Lee, MP [Opposition Member]
Mr. Davendranath Tancoo, MP [Opposition Member]
Mr. Rudranath Indarsingh, MP [Opposition Member]
Questions To Ministers: Oral Answer
Two Urgent Questions

Two Urgent Questions were posed and answered. See the Order Paper.

Mr. Barry Padarath, MP [Opposition Member]
Hon. Ayanna Webster-Roy, MP [Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister]
Mr. Rodney Charles, MP [Opposition Member]
Hon. Fitzgerald Hinds, MP [Minister of National Security]
Questions To Ministers: Oral Answer
Three Questions on Notice

Three Questions on Notice qualify for oral answer. See the Order Paper.

Mr. Davendranath Tancoo, MP [Opposition Member]
Hon. Colm Imbert, MP [Minister of Finance]
Mr. Rodney Charles, MP [Opposition Member]
Dr. Lackram Bodoe, MP [Opposition Member]
Hon. Marvin Gonzales, MP [Minister of Public Utilities]
Statements By Ministers
Local Government Reform

The Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Keith Rowley, MP, made a statement regarding Local Government Reform.

Hon. Dr. Keith Rowley, MP [Prime Minister]
Personal Explanations
Attorney General

The Attorney General made a personal explanation with respect to answers he gave during the Standing Finance Committee, which were later challenged by the Member for Barataria/San Juan.

Sen. the Hon. Reginald Armour SC [Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs]
Government Business: Bills Second Reading
The Miscellaneous Provisions (Establishment of the Borough of Diego Martin and Borough of Siparia) Bill, 2021

Debate resumed (from April 21, 2023) on the Miscellaneous Provisions (Establishment of the Borough of Diego Martin and Borough of Siparia) Bill, 2021. Three members added to the debate today before the wind up by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Faris Al-Rawi, MP. The Bill was then committed to a Committee of the Whole for consideration clause by clause. No amendments were made. The Bill was read a third time and passed.

Mr. Ravi Ratiram, MP [Opposition Member]
Hon. Dr. Keith Rowley, MP [Prime Minister]
Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC, MP [Leader of the Opposition]
Hon. Faris Al-Rawi SC, MP [Minister of Rural Development and Local Government]
Introduction Of Bills
The Valuation of Land (Amendment) Bill, 2023

One Bill, the Valuation of Land (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was introduced in the name of the Minister of Finance. The Minister of Finance, Hon. Colm Imbert, MP, moved that the next stage of the bill be taken forthwith. The motion was approved.

Hon. Colm Imbert, MP [Minister of Finance]
Government Business: Bills Second Reading
The Valuation of Land (Amendment) Bill, 2023

The Minister of Finance, Hon. Colm Imbert, MP, moved the second reading of The Valuation of Land (Amendment) Bill, 2023. Four members contributed to the debate before the wind up by the Minister of Finance. The bill was committed to the Committee of the Whole for consideration clause by clause. No amendments were made. With 18 votes for, 14 votes against and no abstentions, the bill was read a third time and passed.

Hon. Colm Imbert, MP [Minister of Finance]
Mr. Davendranath Tancoo, MP [Opposition Member]
Hon. Faris Al-Rawi SC, MP [Minister of Rural Development and Local Government]
Mr. Saddam Hosein, MP [Opposition Member]
Hon. Brian Manning, MP [Minister in the Ministry of Finance]
Privilege Motions
Ruling by the Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker, Mr. Esmond Forde, MP, was satisfied with the explanation and apology provided by the Attorney General, regarding the privilege matter raised at the last Sitting by Mr. Saddam Hosein, MP. He ruled that the matter referred to the chair of the House does not constitute a prima facie breach of privilege warranting going before the Committee of Privileges.

Mr. Esmond Forde, MP [Government Member]
Adjournment
The House adjourned to Friday May 26, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.

The Sitting concluded at 9:23 p.m.