The Speaker of the House granted leave of absence to the Member for San Fernando East and the Member for Diego Martin Central (today’s sitting).

One Paper was laid in the House. See the Order Paper.

Three urgent questions were answered. Two questions were in the name of the Minister of Health and one question in the name of the Minister of National Security.

The Member for Chaguanas West sought approval of the House to raise the issue of matters regarding the Integrity Commission and its investigations following the resignation of two Committee members of the Commission. The Speaker ruled that the matter did not qualify under this item.

The Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs made a statement on a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs and the University of Trinidad and Tobago on Heavy Oil Development and Enhanced Oil Recovery.

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and the Economy moved that the next stage of the Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Control Bill, 2015 be taken on Wednesday May 27th, 2015.

The Member for Point Fortin moved debate on a Private Motion concerning allegations of impropriety surrounding Petrotrin’s South West Soldado Project. The Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs was the first to enter the debate, followed by the Member of Parliament for St. Joseph and the Minister of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development. Five members made contributions before debate on the Motion was suspended.

The Member of Parliament for Diego Martin North/East raised as a matter on the Motion for the adjournment of the House, the issue of “the implications of the recent public statement made by the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions on the status of the emailgate probe and related matters” The Minister of Housing and Urban Development responded.

At the next sitting, debate will commence on the Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Control Bill, 2015. Debate will also continue on the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill, 2015, the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2015, the Cybercrime Bill, 2015 and the Trinidad and Tobago Cyber Security Agency Bill, 2015. Time permitting, debate is also expected to continue on a Motion to consider the 36th Annual Report of the Ombudsman. The sitting ended at 7:07 p.m.