UNC talks Integrity in Senate

THE OPPOSITION United National Congress (UNC) will try to force the Government to say when the declaration forms for public officials for the Integrity in Public Life Act will be laid in Parliament.  This is but one of a series of questions which the UNC has in store for the Government when the Senate resumes its sittings at 1.30 pm on Tuesday. 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 under review by the Legislative Review Committee.

Housing Minister Martin Joseph will answer two 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 will also talk land issues but with Agriculture Minister John Rahael. Opposition Senator Sadiq Baksh will ask Work 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. The motion was struck off the Order Paper in May after the UNC said it was not prepared to begin the debate and was not put back on during the last parliamentary session.