20010629, House Debates
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29 Ombudsman Report Friday, June 29, 2001 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Friday, June 29, 2001 The House met at 1.30 p.m. PRAYERS [MR. SPEAKER in the Chair] OMBUDSMAN REPORT (TWENTY-THIRD) Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, I have received the 23rd Annual Report of the Ombudsman for the period January 01, 2000—December 31, 2000. The report is laid on the table of the House. CONDOLENCES (Mr. Tahir Kassim Ali) Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, it is disheartening that I announce the passing of a former representative of this honourable House, Mr. Tahir Kassim Ali. I wish to extend condolences to the bereaved family. Members of both sides of the House may wish to offer condolences to the family. The Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs (Hon. Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj): Mr. Speaker, the deceased, Mr. Tahir Ali served this Parliament from the period 1971—1976. He was the elected Member of Parliament for Couva. He resided in the constituency of Couva South. In addition to being a Member of Parliament, he was also a Councillor for the Couva electoral district in the Caroni County Council for the period 1968—1971. He served as Member of Parliament and Councillor as a member of the People’s National Movement. In 1974 he deputized for the hon. Shamshuddin Mohammed, now deceased, as Minister of Public Utilities for a period of time. In 1991, Mr. Tahir Ali assisted the United National Congress in the constituency of Couva South for the general election of that year. He would be remembered as a person who saw the light and came to the United National Congress. It is very sad that we have got the news that he has died but he has been ailing for some time. Notwithstanding that, however, it is a very sad moment for us and we on this side of the House would like to express our condolences to his wife and members of his family. Thank you. Mr. Kenneth Valley (Diego Martin Central): Mr. Speaker, I think that death is always the reminder to all of us of our own mortality. I think it points to the fact that what is extremely important is what we do while we are here on earth. 30 Condolences Friday, June 29, 2001 [MR. VALLEY] I think it was Shakespeare who spoke about man having his entrance and exit, playing different roles from time to time. Longfellow said it differently: In the fourth standard Royal Reader he says: “Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream! For the soul is dead that slumbers And things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul.” Meaning, Mr. Speaker, that in fact, each and every one of us was put here on earth for a purpose. We have all been given talents by the Creator that make us equal but different. Equal in the sense that the sum of your talents is equal to the sum of mine; but different, meaning that you do not have the same talents that I may have. But the Creator has blessed us each with talents to be able to contribute in this world. Therefore, it is clear to all of us that life has a purpose. Tahir Ali I have known since I was about 12 years old. As you know, Mr. Speaker, I am from Couva. Tahir lived on the McBean stretch just around the Rienzi Complex, in spite of the fact that he belonged to the PNM. I remember Tahir at the time when he worked at Pointe-a-Pierre. He and one of his good friends opened a little restaurant, Sugar Inn, I think it was called, right at Bally Junction. In my youth I frequented the place and we became very close to the family. His sons and I played table tennis for the Youths Table Tennis Club, just to indicate how many years I am speaking about. So this is an individual that I have known at a very close range. He has never campaigned for me, although I must inform the Leader of the House, that in fact, he returned to the PNM subsequent to 1991, having seen the light. 1.40 p.m. Sometimes they say that the grass looks greener on the other side, but some of my friends are finding out that it is not so. It is only with time, just a little more time, they would come back where the grass is really green and we would welcome them back. 31 Condolences Friday, June 29, 2001 As we mourn the loss of another parliamentarian, it is good that we reflect on our own existence here on earth and come to terms with our mortality and the fact that we are here for some God given purpose, that we must try to identify and fulfil, if we are really to be one with our Creator. On behalf of the Members of this side of the House, I join with my colleagues on the other side in sending condolences to the wife and children of Tahir Ali. Thank you. Mr. Speaker: Hon. Members, I have asked the Clerk to send a condolence card to the bereaved family. The House of Representatives stood. CIVIL AVIATION BILL Bill to make provision for the establishment of the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority, for the regulation of all civil aviation activities, for the implementation of certain international conventions and for the institution of safety requirements; brought from the Senate. [The Minister of Transport]; read the first time. PAPERS LAID 1. The Petroleum (Amendment) Regulations, 2001. [The Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs (Hon. Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj)] 2. Report of the Auditor General on the accounts of the Arima Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1995. [Hon. R. L. Maharaj] 3. Report of the Auditor General on the accounts of the Arima Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1996. [Hon. R. L. Maharaj] 4. The 1999/2000 annual report of the Venture Capital Incentive Program for the year ended September 30, 2000. [Hon. R. L. Maharaj] 5. The Professions Related to Medicine Rules, 2001. [The Minister of Health (Dr. The Hon. Hamza Rafeeq)] 6. Sector Policy for Food Production and Marine Resources 2001–2005. [The Minister of Food Production and Marine Resources (Hon. Trevor Sudama)] 7. A Special Report of the Auditor General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on an audit into certain areas of internal controls at the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA). (Hon. R. L. Maharaj) Papers 2, 3, 4, and 7 to be referred to the Public Accounts Committee. 32 Occupational Safety and Health Bill Friday, June 29, 2001 OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH (NO. 2) BILL Select Committee Report Presentation Mr. Subhas Panday (Princes Town): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the following report: Special Report of the Special Select Committee appointed to consider and report on the Occupational Safety and Health (No. 2) Bill, 2001. COMMITTEE OF PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Select Committee Report Presentation The Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs (Hon. Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj): Mr. Speaker, I beg to present the following report: Report of the Committee of Privileges of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (2001 Session). ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS Tobago House of Assembly (Dispute Resolution Commission—Recommendations) 25. Mr. Nathaniel Moore (Tobago East) asked the Minister of Finance: In reference to the report of the Dispute Resolution Commission appointed under section 56 of the Tobago House of Assembly Act, No. 40 of 1996 and dated September 14, 2000 which was approved by the House of Representatives on October 25, 2000: (a) Would the Minister indicate and explain which of the seven (7) recommendations in the summary of the report have been implemented by the Government? (b) For each of the recommendations still to be implemented (if any) would the hon. Minister: i. explain why it is not implemented; ii. say when it is scheduled for implementation? (c) Since the triggering of the action of the Commission was particularly in reference to funding of the THA for the years 1998, 1998—1999 and 1999—2000, how much does the Government consider itself indebted to the Tobago House of Assembly for those years? 33 Oral Answers to Questions Friday, June 29, 2001 The Minister of Enterprise Development and Foreign Affairs (Hon. Mervyn Assam): Mr. Speaker, I am not the Minister of Finance. I am merely responding on his behalf because he is unable to be in this honourable House this afternoon. The Dispute Resolution Commission in its report made seven recommendations. To date, the Government has implemented the following recommendations: (1) Percentage of allocation of national budget The commission recommended that a percentage in the range of 4.03 per cent to 6.90 per cent of the national budget be allocated annually to the Assembly. This recommendation is retrospective notwithstanding that the allocations to the THA during the years 1998–2001, fall well within the range of 4.03 and 6.90 per cent. (2) Disbursements The commission recommended that releases for recurrent and development expenditure in each fiscal year, bear the same proportion of total releases made to Government and departments and authorities in Trinidad. A review of the releases from October 1, 2000, to May 31, 2001 show that the percentage releases to the THA exceed those made to the central government as follows: 2001 Allocations Releases as at Releases as a May 31, 2001 percentage of allocation Central Government Recurrent 14,955,430,046.00 10,149,174,000.00 67.86 Capital 863,269,000.00 456,320,000.00 52.86 Total Trinidad 15,818,699,046.00 10,605,494,000.00 67.04 Tobago House of Assembly Recurrent 374,861,000.00 291,926,600.00 77.88 Capital 98,600,000.00 67,220,000.00 68.17 Total THA.