Hansard, I Am Quoting: in 2011 We Put in with Unanimous Support, Full Opposition Support, Sunset Clause for Five Years
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1 Leave of Absence 2017.12.06 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, December 06, 2017 The House met at 10.00 a.m. PRAYERS [MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair] LEAVE OF ABSENCE Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, Mr. Ganga Singh, MP, Member for Chaguanas West, has asked to be excused from the sittings of the House for the period December 06 to 15, 2017. Dr. Roodal Moonilal, MP, Member for Oropouche East, has asked to be excused from today’s sitting of the House. The leave which the Members seek is granted. PAPERS LAID 1. Audited Financial Statements of InvesTT Limited for the financial year ended September 30, 2015. [The Minister of Planning and Development (Hon. Camille Robinson-Regis)] 2. Audited Financial Statements of InvesTT Limited for the financial year ended September 30, 2016. [Hon. C. Robinson-Regis] Papers 1 and 2 to be referred to the Public Accounts (Enterprises) Committee. 3. Report of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago with respect to the progress of the proposals to restructure CLICO, BAT and CIB for the quarter ended September 30, 2017. [Hon. C. Robinson-Regis] 4. Ministerial Response of the Ministry of Finance to the Fifth Report of the Joint Select Committee on State Enterprises on an inquiry into the Administration and Operations of Caribbean Airlines Limited. [Hon. C. Robinson-Regis] UNREVISED 2 Papers Laid 2017.12.06 5. Ministerial Response of the Ministry of Finance to the Sixth Report of the Joint Select Committee on State Enterprises on an inquiry into the borrowing practices of State Enterprises with an emphasis on regulation of borrowing, purposes for borrowed funds and sustainability of debt servicing ratios. [Hon. C. Robinson-Regis] 6. Ministerial Response of the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries to the Eighth Report of the Public Accounts (Enterprises) Committee on the examination of the Audited Financial Statements of the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited for the financial years 2009 to 2015. [Hon. C. Robinson-Regis] 7. Ministerial Response of the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs to the Fourth Report of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee on an Examination of the System of Internal Audit within the Public Service. [Hon. C. Robinson-Regis] 8. Response of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service to the Fourth Report of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee on an Examination of the System of Internal Audit within the Public Service. [Hon. C. Robinson-Regis] 9. Ministerial Response of the Ministry of Health to the Fourth Report of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee on an Examination of the System of Internal Audit within the Public Service. [Hon. C. Robinson- Regis] 10. Ministerial Response of the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services to the Fourth Report of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee on an Examination of the System of Internal Audit within the Public Service. [Hon. C. Robinson-Regis] UNREVISED 3 Papers Laid 2017.12.06 11. Ministerial Response of the Ministry of Public Administration and Communications to the Fourth Report of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee on an Examination of the System of Internal Audit within the Public Service. [Hon. C. Robinson-Regis] 12. Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Regulations, 2017. [Hon. C. Robinson-Regis] PRIME MINISTER’S QUESTIONS Mouttet Investigation (Recommendations Made) Mr. Fazal Karim (Chaguanas East): Thank you, Madam Speaker. Can the Prime Minister state the recommendations of the Mouttet investigation into the circumstances surrounding the procurement of the Cabo Star and the Ocean Flower 2 and how this investigation has helped to change the situation? The Prime Minister (Hon. Dr. Keith Rowley): Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I am sure that it is common knowledge that the Mouttet Report has been made available to the Parliament by way of the Parliament’s Joint Select Committee which was looking into this matter, and that being so, this has been available for a few months, and I would have thought that my colleague would have familiarized himself with the contents of that report. And one of the first things you would have seen, very carefully taken, is that the Mouttet Report was not required to make any recommendations because it was not an all-encompassing enquiry, and therefore no recommendations were requested and none were made. Secondly, Madam Speaker, the Mouttet Report identified, as requested, the documentation and the facts surrounding the procurement of these two vessels. And what the report would have shown and what the Government has gleaned from the report, and the country should glean, is that the procurement process at the port with respect to the acquisition of this vessel, the Cabo Star, involved UNREVISED 4 Prime Minister’s Questions 2017.12.06 corrupt practice. As a result of that information contained in that report by documentation and by inference, the Government is satisfied that the board of the port was denied pertinent information in a deliberate way so as to facilitate the selection of the Cabo Star, and that the price paid could have been influenced by those circumstances. That is a matter which the Government has made public and I stand by that. Secondly, Madam Speaker, what it has done to treat with the situation is to allow the Cabinet, or even the Port Authority, if that be the case, to treat in a particular way with any recommendation coming from the company Bridgemans by way of its selection of an authority and that is what is happening at the moment. So therefore, we contracted with the Cabo Star, I dare say under duress, but duress meaning that pertinent information was hidden from the port and the same thing with the Ocean Flower being the same management, we are advised. [Desk thumping] Madam Speaker: Supplemental, Member for Chaguanas East. Mr. Karim: Thank you, Madam Speaker, in view of the statement made by the hon. Prime Minister that there were corrupt practices, is there or are there any contemplated actions against those who may have so been found? Hon. Dr. K. Rowley: Madam Speaker, I am not in a position to answer that question definitively but I will tell you I have seen suspensions and dismissals from the management of the port, some of it are consequential upon these processes. And I do not advise myself in the matters of law but I do know, as a layman, that fraud goes to the root of all contracts and the contract with the Cabo Star, I expect that the public interest would be pursued with respect to that contract and, particularly, with the price being paid and the selection of that vessel. Madam Speaker: Supplemental, Member for Caroni East. UNREVISED 5 Prime Minister’s Questions 2017.12.06 Dr. Gopeesingh: Based on the report, hon. Prime Minister, and you indicating that there was no consideration for recommendations, arising out of that, are you as Prime Minister considering any areas that you will be contemplating other than the issue of the corruption that has been unearthed? Hon. Dr. K. Rowley: Madam Speaker, I am not clear on the convoluted question. Could the Member clarify, please? Dr. Gopeesingh: Beside the issue of the corruption, is there any other area that you feel as Prime Minister that you need to deal with based on the report? Hon. Dr. K. Rowley: The report was specific with respect to the procurement and, therefore, since difficulties have been identified, we are focusing on the issue of procurement, particularly, since subsequently we have had another failed procurement exercise, and it is against that background that the Cabinet has intervened to ensure that there is a vessel to service Tobago and that vessel is being sought by a subcommittee of the Cabinet dealing directly with the marketplace Present Board of the Port Authority (Consideration for Removal) Mr. Fazal Karim (Chaguanas East): Thank you, Madam Speaker. Question number 2: Is the Prime Minister considering the removal of the present board of the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago for dereliction of duty in light of the appointment of a Cabinet subcommittee to procure a vessel to service Trinidad and Tobago? The Prime Minister (Hon. Dr. Keith Rowley): Madam Speaker, with limited information available to my colleague, I assume that that would be a reasonable position but that is not being considered at this time. And let us understand something, Madam Speaker, and I want to say this. It is very easy usually to jump on the backs of people who serve in those positions, but let us all understand that those boards are served by volunteers who come from the public sector and serve UNREVISED 6 Prime Minister’s Questions 2017.12.06 the public interest. And in the fullness of time, if there is need for the board to be dismissed for wrongdoing, then I would not hesitate. On the other hand, if the information indicates that there are reasonable considerations of that volunteer service, I will be the first to acknowledge that. Madam Speaker: Supplemental question, Member for Chaguanas East. Mr. Karim: Thank you. Hon. Prime Minister, will you be able to say that as such, given the circumstances, that your Government has lost confidence in the current board of the Port Authority? Hon. Dr. K. Rowley: Madam Speaker, I have said nothing to support that inference and I do not now say that. Madam Speaker: Supplemental, Member for Caroni East. Dr. Gopeesingh: Hon. Prime Minister, do you think it is satisfactory and appropriate for Cabinet to appoint a four-member Committee to look at the procurement of these vessels rather than sending it to the Central Tenders Board, et cetera, if you do not have the confidence in the port? Hon.