Senate President Baboolal, Deosaran off to Canadian Parliament

Senate President Dr Linda Baboolal and Independent Senator Ramesh Deosaran leave this weekend to attend a week-long attachment to the Canadian Parliament. Both senators will miss the ceremonial opening of Parliament which takes place on Monday. The comprehensive study programme is partly funded by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Ass-ociation. It is among other things aimed at strengthening the committee system by looking at the Canadian experience. Deosaran, who is chairman of a Joint Select Committee which examines the operations of Service Commissions and Municipal Corporations and one of the more senior senators, will be looking at how the very vibrant committee system functions. Baboolal’s training will include some focus on the role of the Presiding Officer. Canada was selected as the place for the training exercise because it has a more dynamic system than Trinidad and Tobago.