Hansard Contribution from My Learned Friend and Colleague, Sen
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469 Leave of Absence Tuesday, February 19, 2013 SENATE Tuesday, February 19, 2013 The Senate met at 1.30 p.m. PRAYERS [MADAM VICE-PRESIDENT in the Chair] LEAVE OF ABSENCE Madam Vice-President: Hon. Senators, I wish to inform you that the President of the Senate, Sen. The Hon. Timothy Hamel-Smith, is currently acting as President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. SENATOR’S APPOINTMENT Madam Vice-President: Hon. Senators, I have received the following correspondence from His Excellency, the Acting President, Timothy Hamel- Smith: “THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO By His Excellency TIMOTHY HAMEL-SMITH, Acting President and Commander-in-Chief of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. /s/ Timothy Hamel-Smith Acting President TO: ARCHBISHOP BARBARA BURKE WHEREAS the President of the Senate has temporarily vacated his Office of Senator to act as President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago: NOW, THEREFORE, I, TIMOTHY HAMEL-SMITH, Acting President as aforesaid, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, in exercise of the power vested in me by section 44 of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, do hereby appoint you, ARCHBISHOP BARBARA BURKE, to be temporarily a member of the Senate, with immediate effect and continuing during the period that Senator Timothy Hamel-Smith has temporarily vacated his Office as Senator to act as President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Given under my Hand and the Seal of the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago at the Office of the President, St. Ann’s, this 15th day of February, 2013.” 470 Oath of Allegiance Tuesday, February 19, 2013 OATH OF ALLEGIANCE Sen. Archbishop Barbara Burke took and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance as required by law. MR. ANTHONY CARMONA (CONGRATULATIONS) Madam Vice-President: Hon. Senators, this being the first occasion on which the Senate is sitting following the meeting of the Electoral College last Friday, I wish to extend congratulations to Mr. Anthony Carmona on his ascensions as President-Elect and soon to be the fifth President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Chapter 3, sections 22 to 38, of our Constitution deals specifically with the office and the election of the President. Chap. 4, section 39 provides that the Parliament shall consist of the President, the Senate and the House of Representatives and, as such, a change of the holder of this office is indeed a significant one to each and every one of us here as well as in the national landscape. Our Constitution further identifies the powers, privileges and procedures of the Parliament, especially the power to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of Trinidad and Tobago. Mr. Carmona has spent his life thus far in exemplary service to his country, and I am certain, as we all are, that he will continue to excel in his new office as Head of State. I also take the opportunity on your behalf to thank His Excellency Prof. George Maxwell Richards for the dedicated service he has given and wish him and his family the very best as he prepares for another phase of his life. PAPERS LAID 1. Report of the Auditor General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on the Financial Statements of the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, Children Authority Fund for the year ended September 30, 2010 [The Minister of Finance and the Economy (Sen. The Hon. Larry Howai)] 2. Report of the Auditor General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on the Financial Statements of the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, Children Authority Fund for the year ended September 30, 2011 [Sen. The Hon. L. Howai] 471 Papers Laid Tuesday, February 19, 2013 3. Report of the Auditor General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on the Financial Statements of the Agricultural Society of Trinidad and Tobago for the year ended December 31, 2001 [Sen. The Hon. L. Howai] 4. Annual Administrative Report of the National Insurance Appeals Tribunal for the financial year October 01, 2010 to September 30, 2011 [Sen. The Hon. L. Howai] 5. Annual Administrative Report of the Boiler Examiners Board for the period October 01, 2010 to September 30, 2011 [The Minister of the Environment and Water Resources (Sen. The Hon. Ganga Singh)] 6. Annual Administrative Report of the Minimum Wages Board for the fiscal period October 01, 2010 to September 30, 2011 [Sen. The Hon. G. Singh] 7. Annual Administrative Report of the Occupational Safety and Health Agency for the period October 2010 to September 2011 [Sen. The Hon. G. Singh] 8. Annual Administrative Report of the Advisory Friendly Societies Council for the period October 2010 to September 2011 [Sen. The Hon. G. Singh] 9. Ministerial Response to the Fifth Report of the Joint Select Committee on Ministries, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Group 2) on the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA) [Sen. The Hon. G. Singh] SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT Municipal Corporations and Service Commissions (Presentation) Sen. Elton Prescott SC: Thank you, Madam Vice-President. I have the honour to present the following report as listed on the Supplemental Order Paper in my name: Seventh report of the Joint Select Committee established to enquire into and report to Parliament on Municipal Corporations and Service Commissions with the exception of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission on an evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of the Chaguanas Borough Corporation. ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS The Minister of the Environment and Water Resources (Sen. The Hon. Ganga Singh): Whilst question No. 32 is prepared, the hon. Minister is not here, but we expect there will be supplementals so we will defer that for one week. We are in a position to answer question 36 and we ask for a deferral of question 33 for one week. 472 Oral Answers to Questions Tuesday, February 19, 2013 Sen. Pennelope Beckles: Just an enquiry as it relates to the written questions because there have been some on the Order Paper since October. Sen. The Hon. G. Singh: Yes. We are in a position to ask for a deferral for one week. The following questions stood on the Order Paper: Tobago Regional Health Authority (Details of Board of Directors) 32. With regard to the board of directors of the Tobago Regional Health Authority, could the Minister of Tobago Development please state: (a) The date that the Board of Directors first received their instruments of appointment; (b) Whether there have been any changes to the members of the Board of Directors of the Tobago Regional Health Authority since that date; and (c) The names of the current members of the Board of Directors? [Sen. Dr. V. Wheeler] “Colour Me Orange” Programme (Details of) 33. With respect to the “Colour Me Orange” programme, would the Minister of Housing, Land and Marine Affairs please indicate: (a) whether the programme has come to an end; (b) whether there is any plan or intention to extend the programme; (c) precisely how much was expended on this programme; (d) the number of jobs created by the programme; (e) what was the Government’s rationale for its activation; and (f) did the programme achieve its objective? [Sen. F. Hinds] Questions, by leave, deferred. LAN Chile/Dry Lease (Details of) 36. Sen. Terrence Deyalsingh asked the hon. Minister of Finance and the Economy: With regard to the decision to dry lease an aircraft from LAN Chile, could the Minister of Finance and the Economy state: 473 Oral Answers to Questions Tuesday, February 19, 2013 (a) who was the line minister at that time; (b) who was the chairman of the Board of Caribbean Airlines at that time; (c) the date of submission of the evaluation report on the suitability of any aircraft so leased to fly a transatlantic route as opposed to an overland route; and (d) who were the members of the team who submitted the evaluation report and state their relevant qualifications? The Minister of Finance and the Economy (Sen. The Hon. Larry Howai): Mr. President—Madam Vice-President, my apologies. The B767 aircraft, MSN 26327 and MSN 27597, were not leased by Caribbean Airlines Limited from LAN Chile but from the International Lease Finance Corporation. LAN Chile was the last operator. With respect to part (a) of the question, Madam Vice-President, Sen. The Hon. Devant Maharaj was the line Minister at the time when the B767 aircraft were leased from the International Lease Finance Corporation. Part (b): Mr. George Nicholas III was the chairman of the Board of Caribbean Airlines Limited at the time of the lease. Part (c): an evaluation of an overland route was not necessary as the shortest and most cost-effective route from Port of Spain to London would take the flight over the Atlantic Ocean. If Caribbean Airlines decided to fly overland the total distance for the route would have increased by 100 per cent thereby making it twice as costly. Madam Vice-President, in respect of the evaluation of the suitability of the aircraft type to operate the route, Caribbean Airlines engaged the services of an international aviation data and statistics expert company, Ascend, to provide Caribbean Airlines with an evaluation of wide-body aircraft, and in particular Boeing and Airbus aircraft’s potential uses on long haul routes. Ascend advised Caribbean Airlines, inter alia, as follows, and I quote: Having taken everything into account, it is Ascend’s view that the 767-300ER with winglets is the best aircraft for the immediate term with which CAL could enter the market on the Port of Spain to London Gatwick route for several reasons: 474 Oral Answers to Questions Tuesday, February 19, 2013 [SEN.