Joint Select Committee business goes ahead

Finance Minister Colm Imbert said the Government still plans to convene a Parliament committee to study details of legislation to implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance ACT (FATCA) of the US. The Opposition has refused the support the bill and asked for the matter to be sent to a JSC. Following a meeting with Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar on September 2, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said Government and Opposition agreed to use the National Security JSC as a mechanism to collaborate on the passage of effective anti-crime legislation in the Parliament. He said this this JSC, which was chaired in the last session by Works and Transport Minister Fitzgerald Hinds, will be chaired by an Independent Senator.

Friday’s opening is not a ceremonial opening of Parliament, where the President addresses members of the House and Senate. Both Houses will meet at the same time, the proclamation will be read in both Houses, and both Houses will conduct preliminary business before adjourning.

Meeting of some other JSCs have been arranged ahead of the Friday’s opening of the new parliamentary session.