Parliament resumes on Friday

After a one-week break, the House of Representatives will sit from 1.30 pm on Friday with bills that range from the pricing of cane to how mergers are conducted in the financial sector.

Several bills from the last sitting on June 9 are listed on the order paper for second reading.

Topping the list is the Fair Trading Bill which attempts to promote and maintain fair competition in the economy, which was piloted by Minister of Trade and Industry Kenneth Valley on May 26.

The Bill deals with maintaining, promoting and maintaining effective competition in the economy and to ensure that competition is not distorted, restricted or prevented in TT.

It also allows for the establishment of a competition commission to deal with issues involving anti-competitive conduct in another member state, which has the effect of lessening competition in TT.

An Act to introduce a new system for the pricing of cane is intended to amend the Production of Cane Act and will seek to alter the method of fixing the price of sugar cane produced by farmers and sold to millers.

The new formula will be based on the quality of the cane supplied instead of the quantity.

Also on the order paper is “An Act to Amend the THA Act 1996,” “An Act to Amend the Financial Institutions Act 1993” includes clauses dealing with disclosure of information, and mergers — entities cannot merge without the written approval of Central Bank or the Minister.

Another bill for second reading is “An Act to give effect to the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities of the Caribbean Examination Council” which is aimed at granting privileges and immunities to members and officials on missions on behalf of CXC, confer legal capacity on the Council and the Act also provides for settlement of a dispute.

Also on the agenda is the Bill entitled “An Act to amend the Supreme Court of Judicature Act.”

Several questions from MP for Nariva, Harry Partap are also listed for oral response from Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert. The questions deal with rehabilitation works for land slips at the 75km mark on Plum Mitan Road and along the Cumuto Main Road as well as rehabilitation work on Bonaire Road in Cumuto, Sangre Grande, which started three years ago but has not been completed.

One Bill is listed for introduction - the State Lands (Amendment) Bill 2006 and will be piloted by Minister of Agriculture Jarette Narine.

Under private business, a motion brought by Member of Parliament for Tabaquite Dr Adesh Nanan which calls for the Government to strengthen environmental pollution regulations for water and air pollution and hazardous waste is listed for resumption of debate. Debate was in progress on May 26 when the House adjourned.

The motion also calls for clear definitions on what types and levels of emissions can be expected from the aluminum smelters and the potential health risks for workers and residents “and how pollutants will be disposed of.”

Nanan also wants the Government to state clearly the economic benefits to be deemed from construction and operation of the smelters.