Will the House censure Sharma?

At its last sitting on May 6, after an Opposition walkout, the House approved the report of its Committee of Privileges into the incident. The report criticises UNC members including Sharma, but exonerates them at committing any contempt of the House, or breaching the privileges of member Rowley.

The House voted to compel Sharma to apologise, failing which he is to be suspended from sittings for one month. Sharma has said he would not do so, and is supported by Leader of the Opposition, Basdeo Panday, who vowed that if Sharma was suspended, the whole UNC would boycott both Houses of Parliament. The order paper for Friday does not specifically mention Sharma, but parliamentary sources suggest that the matter is likely to be dealt with early in the sitting, either under the heading of "Announcements by the Speaker," or the unlisted head of "Personal explanations."

Also in the House, all eyes will be on Minister of Energy, Eric Williams, who has been keeping a low profile following bribery allegations which he has denied, and revelations that his Marantha Geophysical Services has an important contract with bpTT.

Focus will also be on former minister of works, Franklin Khan, as he takes his seat on the back-benches as the MP for Ortoire/Mayaro. Khan won respect for resigning his ministry amid bribery allegations, saying he is confident he will be cleared.

The House is also set to discuss the Election and Boundaries Commission (EBC) Draft Order 2005 which seeks to create five new electoral constituencies.

Tabaquite MP Dr Adesh Nanan will ask Attorney General John Jeremie to name any parliamentarians retained as State counsel, and any parliamentarians engaged in projects by State agencies, and how much money each was paid.

"Independent UNC" MP for Barataria/San Juan, Dr Fuad Khan, will ask Minister of Finance Patrick Manning if he intends to create new state agencies for the procurement of goods and services in Trinidad and Tobago.

Meanwhile, the three Police Reform Bills have been brought back to Parliament by Government despite previous rejection by the Opposition.