The Miscellaneous Provisions (Defence and Police Complaints) Bill 2013 will more than likely lapse as it is hardly likely to be debated when the Senate sits this afternoon. Today is the last scheduled sitting of the Senate for the current session. The bill, properly described as the Defence Amendment Bill 2013, was intended to allow for soldiers to be precepted to work in joint operations with the police. It was passed in the House of Representatives on March 15, 2013 with the required special majority. It was debated in the Senate subsequently but not put to the vote as independent senators expressed objections to it.
Debate was suspended to allow for consultations with the Independents...to no avail. While the item is on today’s Order Paper, it is not expected to be debated. Legislators are expected to debate and approve two bills this afternoon; the Dog Control Bill 2013 by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and the Sugar Industry Control Board (Repeal) (Validation) Bill 2013 by Finance and the Economy Minister Larry Howai. It is expected that Sport Minister Anil Roberts will present a written reply to a question from Opposition Senator Fitzgerald Hinds. The question was posed for answer since December 15 last year.
The question from Hinds was :
With respect to the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control, could the Minister indicate:
•The name(s) and professions/occupations of the members of the T&T Boxing Board of Control;
• The date of the appointment of each of these persons.
• Whether any person has been appointed as an adviser to the said T&T Boxing Board of Control; and if so, could the Minister provide the name of this person and indicate the full terms and conditions of the engagement of this person relative to this appointment;
•Whether any member of the said Board has ever been convicted for any criminal offence in Trinidad and Tobago; and if so, on what date(s) and what was (or were) the sentence(s); and
• Whether a criminal conviction disqualifies a person from holding a Board position?
Two questions are listed for oral answer; one from Opposition Senator Dr Lester Henry who wants an update on all outstanding matters required to achieve a resolution of the Clico/CLF matter. Finance and the Economy Minister Larry Howai is expected to answer that question and the second from Senator Shamfa Cudjoe to Persad-Bissessar.
She wants to know the status of the Constitution Amendment Bill. That legislation was brought to Parliament on the eve of the January 21 Tobago House of Assembly elections. It was never put to a vote as the Opposition objected. It was to be sent to a Joint Select Committee for further deliberation but Persad-Bissessar said a few months ago the legislation would lapse. Also today, the reports of three Joint Select Committees are to be presented.