The Speaker granted leave of absence from today’s sitting to the member for Point Fortin (Hon. Paula Gopee-Scoon, MP).

The Speaker ruled on the matter of privilege raised by the Member for Siparia on Monday June 30, 2008. He found no prima facie case had been made out that the Minister of Local Government deliberately attempted to mislead the House.

Six Papers, two in the name of the Speaker of the House, three in the name of the Minister of Finance and one in the name of the Minister of Local Government were be laid. The Deputy Speaker laid the Papers which stood in the name of the Speaker of the House. See the Order Papers for details and the Leader of the House laid the Paper which stood in the name of the Minister of Local Government.

Five questions qualified for oral answer. Four questions (146, 147, 155 and 156) were answered and the fifth deferred. See the Order Paper for details.

14 Questions qualify for written answer. See the Order Paper for details.

The Member for Siparia raised a matter of privilege concerning statements made by the Minister of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development during his contribution to the debate on the Private Motion on Containing Food Prices. The Speaker ruled immediately in accordance with his earlier ruling.

The Prison Service (Amendment) Bill, 2008, The Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2008 and the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2008 were introduced in the name of the Minister in the Ministry of National Security, the Minister of Local Government and the Minister of Finance respectively.

The Minister of Local Government made a statement pertaining to incorrect information she had inadvertently given during her response to a matter raised on the Motion on the Adjournment by the Member for Siparia on 18 June 2008.

The Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs made a Statement pertaining to the National Youth Month (July 2008).

The Leader of the House sought leave to move the next stage of the Treasury Bonds (Amendment) Bill, 2008 later in the proceedings. Leave was granted.

The Leader of the House (Hon. Colm Imbert, MP) began debate on a Motion in his name to approve the Notification of the nomination of Mr. Stephen Williams to the office of Commissioner of Police. The Member for Tabaquite and the Minister of National Security made contributions before the Leader of the House wound up the debate. When the question was put the Motion was defeated by a margin of ten for and 22 against.

The Minister of Kinance, Hon. Karen Nunez-Teshiera, MP, moved the second reading of the Treasury Bonds Bill, 2008. The Bill is in the name of the Minister of Finance.

At its next sitting the House will begin debate on the Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2008 and continue debate on the Treasury Bonds Bill, 2008.