Sittings
8th Sitting of the House of Representatives
2nd Session - 11th Republican Parliament
Leave of Absence was granted to Hon. Faris Al-Rawi, MP for San Fernando West for Sittings during the period November 9-11, 2016.
Twenty-five Ministries were examined at the Standing Finance Committee Meeting held during the 7th Sitting of the House of Representatives. Twenty-one ministries submitted their reports coming out of this Meeting. Receipts of outstanding reports are expected by Monday November 14, 2016.
Thirty-four papers were laid in the names of the Minister of Finance, Minister of Public Administration and Communications, Minister of Rural Development and Local Government, Minister of Community Dwvelopment, Culture and the Arts, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, Minister of Labour and Small Enterprise Development, Deputy Speaker, Minister of Health and Minister of Social Development and Family Services. Papers 1-12 were referred to the Public Accounts Committee. See Order Paper for details.
Seven Reports were presented. See Order Paper and Supplemental Order Paper for details.
First Report of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee, First Session of the Eleventh Parliament on Examination into the Current Expenditure of Ministries and Departments under three (3) Sub-Heads: Current Transfers and Subsidies, Development Programme – Consolidated Fund and Infrastructure Development Fund
Two questions qualified for oral answer. See Order Paper for details.
The Minister of Finance introduced the Finance (No. 3) Bill 2016 and moved that the next stage of the Bill be taken later in the proceedings.
A motion was moved by the Minister of Finance to Confirm the Provisional Collection of Taxes Order, 2016. The Minister further moved that three similar motions and the The Finance (No. 3) Bill 2016 be debated simultaneously and this was agreed upon. The three motions were the Confirmation of the Customs (Import Duty) (Caribbean Common Market) (Amendment) Order, 2016, Confirmation of the Excise Duty (Alcoholic Beverages) Order, 2016 and the Confirmation of the Excise Duty (Tobacco Products) Order, 2016. All motions were approved.
The Finance (No. 3) Bill 2016 was debated together with the four motions. The Bill was then taken to the Committee stage where it was approved without amendments. The Bill was read a third time and passed.
Dr. Surujrattan Rambachan raised a matter on the adjournment namely the failure of the Minister of Education to provide for the continuation of Flanagin R.C. School despite the assurance of the Minister that funds would be allocated at an earlier date. The Minister of Education responded.
The Sitting concluded at 8:59 p.m. The House adjourned to Friday November 18, 2016 at 1:30 p.m.