2 bills in Parliament today

THE HOUSE of Representatives will deal amendments to the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago Bill 2004 and the Venture Capital (Amendment) Bill 2004 at its 1.30 pm sitting today. The former Bill was passed in the Lower House on April 2 and subsequently passed in the Senate with amendments on May 11. Science, Technology and Tertiary Education Minister Colm Imbert will move a motion in the Lower House today to approve Senate amendments to the Bill.

The purpose of the latter bill is to amend the Venture Capital Act 1994 “to remove certain restrictions and to provide further development of the venture capital regime and industry.” Clause Seven of this Bill amends Section 9(2) of the existing Act “to increase the amount of equity capital with which a venture company shall carry on business from $20 million to $100 million.” Among bills listed for second reading are the Food and Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2004 and the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals (Amendment) Bill 2004, which were laid in the Lower House last week in the name of Health Minister John Rahael. Rahael is currently attending the 57th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.