Leave of absence was granted to the Member for Lopinot/Bon Air West who asked that he be excused from May 20th – June 1st, 2014. Leave was also granted to the Member for Tunapuna and the Member for Pointe-a-Pierre who are both out of the country. The Member for Chaguanas West, the Member for Laventille West, the Member for San Fernando East, the Leader of the Opposition, the Member for Diego Martin Central, the Member for La Brea, the Member for Point Fortin, the Member for Port-of-Spain North/St. Ann’s West and the Member for St. Augustine also asked to be excused from today’s sitting. The Leave which the members sought was granted.

18 Papers were laid. The Minister of Finance and the Economy moved that Papers nos. 1, 2 and 15 be referred to the Public Accounts Committee and Papers nos. 3, 16, 17 and 18 be referred to the Public Accounts (Enterprises) Committee. See the Order Paper and Supplemental Order Paper.

The Fourteenth Report of the Joint Select Committee appointed to inquire into and report on Municipal Corporations and Service Commissions on a review of the administration of the San Fernando City Corporation was presented by the Member for St. Ann’s East.

Three Questions qualified for Oral Answer. Question no. 96 was deferred for one week while all other questions were answered. See the Order Paper.

Question Nos. 99 and 115 for Written Answer was circulated. See the Order Paper.

The Minister of Finance made a statement regarding the Foreign Exchange Situation.

The Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development made a statement regarding payments to Contractors for work done on a water tank in Pump Trace, East POS in 2012.

Three Bills were introduced by the Attorney General, the Minister of Finance and the Economy and the Minister of Legal Affairs respectively. See the Supplemental Order Paper.

Debate resumed on a Private Motion by the Member for Diego Martin North/East calling on the Government to take immediate steps to deal with the Unacceptable Crime Levels facing the citizenry of Trinidad and Tobago. The Member for St. Joseph was the first to enter the debate followed by the Member for Tabaquite.

The Member for Diego Martin North/East raised a Matter on the Adjournment regarding the need for a proper standard of care and due diligence on the part of the Government in disposing of the assets of CL Financial and/or Clico. The Minister of Finance and the Economy then responded. The Member for Diego Martin North/East then raised the second Matter on the Adjournment regarding irregularities in the evaluation of tenders and award of contract for the design and construction of a Flyover at the intersection of the Churchill Roosevelt Highway and the Southern Main Road (Package D). The Member for Tabaquite followed and gave his contribution on the Matter.

The House of Representatives adjourned to Wednesday 28th May 2014 at 10:00 a.m. where it is their intention to debate Bill No. 10 on the Order Paper and Bill No. 2 introduced on the Supplemental Order Paper.