20140610, Senate Debate
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185 SENATE Tuesday, June 10, 2014 The Senate met at 1.30 p.m. PRAYERS [MR. PRESIDENT in the Chair] LEAVE OF ABSENCE Mr. President: Hon. Senators, I have granted leave of absence to Sen. Avinash Singh, who is out of the country and Sen. H. R. Ian Roach who is ill. SENATORS’ APPOINTMENT Mr. President: Hon. Senators, I have received the following correspondence from His Excellency the President, Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona, O.R.T.T. S.C.: “THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO By His Excellency ANTHONY THOMAS AQUINAS CARMONA, O.R.T.T., S.C., President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. /s/ Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona O.R.T.T. S.C. President TO: DR. AYSHA B. EDWARDS WHEREAS Senator Hugh Russell Ian Roach is incapable of performing his duties as a Senator by reason of his illness: NOW, THEREFORE, I, ANTHONY THOMAS AQUINAS CARMONA, President as aforesaid, in exercise of the power vested in me by section 44(1)(b) and section 44(4)(c) of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, do hereby appoint you, AYSHA B. EDWARDS, to be temporarily a member of the Senate, with effect from 10th June, 2014 and continuing during the absence from Trinidad and Tobago of the said Senator Hugh Russell Ian Roach. 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 10th day of June, 2014.” “THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 186 By His Excellency ANTHONY THOMAS AQUINAS CARMONA, O.R.T.T., S.C., President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. /s/ Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona O.R.T.T. S.C. President TO: MR. STUART YOUNG WHEREAS Senator Avinash Singh is incapable of performing his duties as a Senator by reason of his absence from Trinidad and Tobago: NOW, THEREFORE, I, ANTHONY THOMAS AQUINAS CARMONA, President as aforesaid, in exercise of the power vested in me by section 44(1)(a) and section 44(4)(b) of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, do hereby appoint you, STUART YOUNG, to be temporarily a member of the Senate, with effect from 3rd June, 2014 and continuing during the absence from Trinidad and Tobago of the said Senator Avinash Singh. 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 9th day of June, 2014.” OATH OF ALLEGIANCE Senators Dr. Aysha B. Edwards and Stuart Young took and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance as required by law. VISITORS (Roytec) Mr. President: Senators, before we move to the next order of business, I would like you to join me in welcoming the students from Roytec who are here with us this evening. [Desk thumping] I take that signifies that you will be on your best behaviour. [Laughter] INDICTABLE OFFENCES (COMMITTAL PROCEEDINGS) BILL, 2014 Bill relating to committal proceedings in respect of indictable offences by Magistrates and for ancillary matters, brought from the House of Representatives [The Attorney General]; read the first time. Motion made: That the next stage be taken at a sitting of the Senate to be held on Tuesday June 24, 2014. [Hon. A. Ramlogan] 187 Indictable Offences Bill, 2014 Tuesday, June 10, 2014 Question put and agreed to. PAPERS LAID 1. Audited Financial Statements of TAURUS Services Limited for the financial year ended September 30, 2010. [The Minister of Finance and the Economy (Sen. The Hon. Larry Howai)] 2. Audited Financial Statements of TAURUS Services Limited for the financial year ended September 30, 2011. [Sen. The Hon. L. Howai] JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT Legislative Proposal Draft Houses of Parliament Service Authority Bill, 2014 (Presentation) Sen. Elton Prescott SC: Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I have the honour to present the following report as listed on the Order Paper in my name: Interim Report of the Joint Select Committee on the Legislative Proposal entitled, “The Draft Houses of Parliament Service Authority Bill, 2014”. ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS The Minister of the Environment and Water Resources (Sen. The Hon. Ganga Singh): Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, the Government is in a position to answer questions 71, 75, 80, 86, 76 and 77. The other questions would be deferred for a two-week period. The following questions stood on the Order Paper: Contract WTC 197/2011 by WASA (Details of) 69. A. Would the Minister of the Environment and Water Resources indicate whether an investigation has been launched into allegations of bid- rigging, in respect of Contract WTC 197/2011 issued by WASA, in the sum of approximately $70 million? B. Would the Minister indicate the status of this investigation, if indeed, one is ongoing? C. Would the Minister confirm whether this allegation of bid-rigging, or any related conduct, was reported to either the Auditor General, the Integrity Commission or to the police? D. If the answer to C is affirmative, would the Minister indicate when was/were this/these report(s) made and what is the status of this/these 188 Indictable Offences Bill, 2014 Tuesday, June 10, 2014 report(s)? E. If the answer to C is negative, would the Minister say why no report was made and further indicate whether there is any plan or intention to do so? If so, when? F. Would the Minister also indicate whether the person or persons who was/were suspected to be involved in this matter is/are still in office or whether such person or persons has/have been suspended, pending the outcome of this investigation? G. Would the Minister further indicate what interim measures, if any, have been taken to protect the authority and the taxpayers of Trinidad and Tobago from the type of conduct that brought about these allegations and investigation? H. Would the Minister provide the names of the companies which bid for the said contract and which company actually emerged as the awardee, in the process now under investigation? I. Would the Minister say whether this contract award is the subject of any court proceedings? [Sen. C. Robinson-Regis] Colour Me Orange Programme (Funds Expended) 78. A. Would the Minister of Housing and Urban Development indicate what amounts of the Government’s figure of $73,568,637.50 expended on the now defunct “Colour Me Orange” Programme was specifically spent on (i) Equipment, (ii) Materials (iii) Security; and (iv) Salaries and Emoluments in both actual and percentage terms? B. Would the Minister indicate what plans are in place to generate further employment in the communities from which the “Colour Me Orange” programme was withdrawn and discontinued? C. Would the Minister explain why the Government’s targets of this programme of a $300 million expenditure and the creation of 20,000 jobs, as outlined by the Prime Minister, were not achieved? [Sen. C. Robinson-Regis] Sinkhole along the Beetham Highway (Details of) 189 Oral Answers to Questions Tuesday, June 10, 2014 81. A. Would the Minister of Works and Infrastructure indicate the name(s) of the firm(s) which undertook roadworks on behalf of the Ministry to refill and repair the “sinkhole” which developed along the Beetham Highway, in the vicinity of Sea Lots on September 6, 2012? B. Would the Minister briefly describe the nature and the cause of this problem? C. Would the Minister indicate the total cost of repairs to this piece of infrastructure and the source of the funds utilized to meet this cost? D. Would the Minister further indicate the action taken to ensure that this mishap never recurs? E. Would the Minister also indicate whether a technical report was prepared in respect of this problem? And if so, by whom? [Sen. C. Robinson-Regis] Atrius (Details of) 87. With regard to Atrius, could the Minister of Finance and the Economy inform the Senate: (i) what is the status of Atrius; (ii) what are the impediments to the transferring of the assets from CLICO to this new entity; and (iii) what activities has the Board of Directors of Atrius been engaged in and are they being paid? [Sen. Dr. L. Henry] VMCOTT (Details of) 91. With respect to the Vehicle Management Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago, could the Minister of Transport please inform this Senate as to: (a) whether the CEO contract at VMCOTT was terminated by the new Chairman of the Board; (b) if the answer to (a) is in the affirmative, on what basis was it done; (c) whether the Chief Operating Officer position at VMCOTT was an existing position prior to 2010; (d) whether the Chairman of VMCOTT is an Executive Chairman; and 190 Oral Answers to Questions Tuesday, June 10, 2014 (e) have the Managers at VMCOTT met the minimum qualifications for their positions? [Sen. A. Singh] Surveillance Bays (Maintenance and Upkeep Contracts) 100. Could the Minister of National Security inform this Senate on: (a) the number of surveillance bays currently installed on the Solomon Hochoy Highway and their exact locations; (b) whether a maintenance contract exists for routine upkeep and, if so, the name of the contractor to whom such was awarded; and (c) if the answer to (b) is in the affirmative the cost per month of the contract? [Sen. D. Baldeo-Chadeesingh] National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) (Maintenance and Oversight Responsibility of) 102. In relation to the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), could the Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism inform the Senate: (a) which Ministry/Department has oversight responsibility for health, safety and maintenance of the three functional areas at