The Speaker granted leave of absence to the Member for Tabaquite (today) and the Member for St. Augustine (5-12 February).

The Speaker also brought to the attention of the House a letter from the President of the Senate informing him of the appointment of six Senators to a Joint Select Committee to consider the Securities Bill, 2010.

The Speaker announced the members appointed to serve on Sessional Select Committees of the House of Representatives.

The Supreme Court of Judicature (Amendment) Bill, 2010, which was passed in the Senate on Tuesday February 2, 2010 was read a first time in the House of Representatives in the name of the Attorney General.

Three Papers were laid by the Minister of Finance. See the Order Paper.

Three Questions qualify for oral response. All three were answered by the Leader of the House on behalf of the Minister of Planning, Housing and the Environment. See the Order Paper.

The Member for Caroni East sought leave to raise the matter of “the urgent need for the Minister of finance to fully inform the nation on the CLICO and CL Financial matters because of the widespread fear, anxiety and apprehension of the thousands of policyholders and depositors across the country on their policies, annuities and deposits.” The Speaker ruled that the matter did not qualify under Standing Order 12 but would have qualified under at least two other Standing Orders.

The Member for Oropouche East sought leave to raise the issue of “the well publicized and unprecedented admission of corruption, waste and nepotism by the highest officials at the WASA and the dreadful implications of this on the provision of such an essential commodity as water in the context of the national water crisis.” The Speaker was satisfied that the matter qualified to be raised and 11 members stood to allow it to be raised. The matter was stood down until 6 p.m.

The Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 2010 was introduced in the name of the Minister of Works and Transport.

The Leader of the House moved a Motion in the name of the Prime Minister to affirm the Draft Order entitled “The Elections and Boundaries Commission Order, 2009.” The Member for Princes Town North was first to enter the debate, followed by the Minister of Public Administration, during whose contribution debate was suspended.

The Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security resumed her wind up on the Prisons (Amendment) Bill, 2010. The Bill was considered in Committee and passed without amendment. At third reading a division was taken, the result of which was 35 for, none against, no abstentions. The Bill was therefore passed with the requisite majority.

The Minister of Public Administration then resumed his contribution on the Motion to Affirm the Elections and Boundaries Commission Order, 2009. He was followed by the Member for Cumuto/Manzanilla and the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs. The Minister then rose to conclude. The Motion was affirmed.

At 6 p.m. debate began on the Definite Matter approved earlier on problems at the Water and Sewerage Authority. The Member for Oropouche East was first to contribute, followed by the Minister of Public Utilities.

The Leader of the House moved a Motion to appoint six Members to the Joint Select Committee on the Securities Bill, 2010. The Motion was approved.

The Leader of the House moved a Motion to appoint six members to the Special Select Committee of the House on the Children Bill, 2010. The Motion was approved.

The Member for Caroni East moved the issue of “the failure of the Government, the National Infrastructure Development Company (NIDCO) and the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) to adequately inform and consult with residents of the constituencies of Caroni East and Caroni Central on the proposed Rapid Rail Project passing through these areas with consequential serious emotional, social and economic problems to hundreds of affected homes, land owners and families.” The Minister of Works and Transport responded.

The Member for Caroni East raised a second matter, “the failure of the Government to inform and consult with the citizens on the widely publicized Caribbean Airlines/Air Jamaica proposed alliance.” The Minister of Works and Transport responded.

At its next sitting the House will begin debate on the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority Bill, 2010.