Hazel in UNC’s line of fire

WHILE ATTENTION will focus on where former Labour Minis-ter Larry Achong will sit when the House of Representatives sits next Friday at 1.30 pm, it is Education Minister Hazel Manning who will be in the line of fire. Manning will have to field a barrage of questions from her predecessor, Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar, on the cost of advertisements by the Education Ministry from January 2002 to the present; how many schools received computers during that same period; the cost of constructing the Russel Latapy High School; the number of schools de shifted since January 2003; and the steps taken to make the Ministry’s Student Services Unit operational. Health Minister John Rahael has to answer questions about the quantum of monies payable to the United Nations Development Prog-ramme (UNDP) for procurement of the 100 United Nations Volunteer (UNV) doctors and the quantum of monies payable to the UNDP for procurement of ambulances for TT. 

There are currently 23 UNV doctors in TT and following discussions with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in January, Prime Minister Patrick Manning hinted that more UNV doctors will soon be coming to TT.  The first batch of seven ambulances, under an agreement between Government and the UNDP, arrived in TT last month and Rahael indicated that the remaining ambulances will be arriving within the coming months. Rahael will also be asked to state the number of doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, pharmacists and radiographers employed by the Regional Health Authorities and by the Public Service Commission as at January 31, 2004.

Oropouche MP Dr Roodal Moonilal will ask Energy Minister Eric Williams about costs incurred by Petrotrin or any other state agency for refurbishment of the residence of executive chairman Malcolm Jones. Moonilal will also ask National Security Minister Martin Joseph to list the number of successful applicants for the position of special reserve police officer as of January. Debate is expected to continue on the Sentencing Commission Bill 2003 and the Insurance Amendment Bill 2004.