Legislation rush in Senate

WITH Parliament due to prorogue on September 12 (Friday), the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) will be in a hurry to get answers from the Government on key issues and pieces of legislation when the Senate sits tomorrow at 1.30 pm.

Topping the UNC’s things-to-do list will be finding out when the declaration forms for public officials for the Integrity in Public Life Act will be laid in Parliament. Despite promising last month that the forms would be laid in Parliament on its resumption, Attorney General Glenda Morean said the forms were still being examined by the recently-appointed Integrity Commission. The forms are part of a broader package of legislation which is still under review by the Legislative Review Committee. Speaking in the House of Representatives on Friday, former AG Kamla Persad-Bissessar criticised the Government for not bringing any of the legislation it promised to Parliament. Housing Minister Martin Joseph will answer questions from Senate Minority Leader Wade Mark about whether lands being used for housing in Tunapuna are State or privately owned and provide details of all lands purchased on the private market for the purpose of satisfying Government’s housing policy or programme.

UNC Senator Jennifer Jones Kernahan talks land issues with Agriculture Minister John Rahael. Opposition Senator Sadiq Baksh will ask Works Minister Franklyn Khan whether there was a pre-qualification exercise for the Piarco Airport Runway Overlay Project while Independent Senator Professor Ken Ramchand will ask Trade Minister Ken Valley to give an update on the status of restoration work on the Red House. Debate will continue on a motion by Foreign Affairs Minister Knowlson Gift to affirm the Extradition (Commonwealth and Foreign Territories) (Extraditable Offences) Order 2003.  The Senate will also discuss Ramchand’s motion for a Technical University of TT and Opposition motions on Equal Opportunity legislation, prevention of corruption and regulation of the banking sector. The UNC’s no-confidence motion against Senate President Dr Linda Baboolal remains off the Senate Order Paper.