Leave of absence was granted to Hon. Maj. Gen. Edmund Dillon, MP for Point Fortin, Dr. Lackram Bodoe, MP for Fyzabad, Mrs. Christine Newallo-Hosein, MP for Cumuto/Manzanilla, Hon. Maxie Cuffie, MP for La Horquetta/Talparo and Mr. Prakash Ramadhar, MP for St. Augustine from today’s Sitting.

The Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was brought from the Senate in the name of the Attorney General. He moved that the 2nd reading of the Bill take place at the next Sitting. This was approved.

Three papers were laid in the names of the Minister of Finance and the Member for Laventille West. Papers 1 and 2 were referred to the Public Accounts Committee. See Order Paper for details.

One Report was presented by the Member for Port of Spain South.

Prime Minister’s question time was a feature of this Sitting. Members of the Opposition posed questions to the Prime Minister. Nine questions were posed before the time for Prime Minister’s questions expired. See Order Paper for details.

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

Seven questions qualified for oral answer. Questions #135 was deferred for two weeks. See Order Paper for details.

A statement was made by the Minister of Education retracting a statement made on May 31, 2017 indicating that two of fourteen private special schools registered with the Ministry of Education had received cheques for 2016/2017 year.

Debate continued on The Miscellaneous Provisions (Marriage) Bill, 2016. On this day, the Member for Chaguanas West was first to enter the debate followed by the Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, the Member for Naparima, Minister of Education, Member for Caroni East, Member for Pointe-a-Pierre and the Prime Minister. The Attorney General wrapped up the debate. The Bill was then taken to the Committee of the Whole for consideration on a clause by clause basis. No amendments were made. The Bill was then read a third time and passed.

Dr. Tim Gopeesingh, MP, raised a matter on the adjournment namely the failure of the Government to conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of impropriety and corruption at EFCL. The Minister of Education responded.

The Sitting concluded at 7:25 p.m. The House adjourned to Wednesday June 14, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. At that Sitting, the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2017 will be considered.