Parliamentary JSCs hit overdrive

ALTHOUGH Parliament is still in recess, today’s public meeting of the Joint Select Committee (JSC) on the Government Ministries (Part II) Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises at 9.30 am at the Red House, represents a period of unprecedented activity by the JSCs in Trinidad and Tobago’s parliamentary history. Last week, the North-West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) came under heavy fire from another JSC meeting chaired by Independent Senator Mary King at the same venue, after its directors were unable to answer several questions.

Among the questions which stumped the NWRHA directors were reports that doctors were conducting their private practice in public hospitals, questionable procedures used by the NWRHA to contract out goods and services and senior managers taking extended vacations shortly after their appointments. The NWRHA is due to reappear before that JSC at a later date. Today, the JSC will meet with the Ministry of Public Utilties, TTEC, WASA, the National Social Development Programme and the TT Solid Waste Management Company to discuss their reports and other matters.

This JSC is chaired by Independent Senator Parvatee Amolsingh-Mahabir and its members include Housing Minister Dr Keith Rowley, Legal Affairs Minister Danny Montano, Opposition Chief Whip Ganga Singh and UNC senator Sadiq Baksh. On Friday, the JSC for Municipal Corporations and Service Commissions meets with the Police Service Commission (PSC) at the Red House at 9.30 am to discuss their reports for the years 2001 and 2002 “and matters arising therefrom.” This JSC, which is chaired by Independent Senator Prof Ramesh Deosaran, will then discuss these same reports with Police Commissioner Trevor Paul at the same venue at 11.30 am.