Penal/Debe Regional Corporation
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PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Fifth Session (2014/2015) TENTH PARLIAMENT Eighteenth Report Joint Select Committee Appointed to inquire into and report on Municipal Corporations and Service Commissions oonn aann iinnqquuiirryy iinnttoo tthhee AAddmmiinniissttrraattiioonn aanndd OOppeerraattiioonnss ooff tthhee PPeennaall//DDeebbee RReeggiioonnaall CCoorrppoorraattiioonn Ordered to be printed with the Minutes of Proceedings and Notes of Evidence 18th Report of the JSC on Municipal Corporations and Service Commissions (with the exception of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission) An electronic copy of this report can be found on the Parliament website: www.ttparliament.org The Joint Select Committee on Municipal Corporations and Service Commissions (with the exception of the Judicial and Legal Service Commissions) Contact the Committee’s Secretariat Telephone: 624-7275 Extensions 2277/2527/2283, Fax: 625-4672 Email: [email protected] ii 18th Report of the JSC on Municipal Corporations and Service Commissions (with the exception of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission) Eighteenth Report of the Joint Select Committee appointed to inquire into and report on Municipal Corporations and Service Commissions [with the exception of the Judicial and Legal Service commission] on an inquiry into the Administration and Operations of the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation Date Laid: HoR: 08.05.2015 Senate: 12.05.2015 iii 18th Report of the JSC on Municipal Corporations and Service Commissions (with the exception of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission) iv 18th Report of the JSC on Municipal Corporations and Service Commissions (with the exception of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission) The Committee Mr. Anthony Vieira Chairman Mr. Hugh Russell Ian Roach Mr. Prakash Ramadhar, Vice -Chairman MP Member Mrs. Vernella Alleyne - Toppin , Ms. Marlene Coudray Ms. Shamfa Cudjoe MP Member Member Member Mr. Chandresh Sharma, Ms. Marlene McDonald, Mr. Devant Maharaj MP MP Member Member Member Mr. James Lambert Mrs. Joanne Thomas, Member Mr. Rodger Samuel, MP MP Member Member v 18th Report of the JSC on Municipal Corporations and Service Commissions (with the exception of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission) Committee Mandate and Establishment In accordance with provisions of section 66(A) of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, on September 17, 2010 the House of Representatives and October 12, 2010 the Senate, agreed to a motion on the subject of the appointment of a Joint Select Committee to inquire into and report to Parliament on Municipal Corporations and Service Commissions with the exception of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission on all matters relating to: . their administration . the manner of exercise of their powers . their methods of functioning; and . any criteria adopted by them in the exercise of their powers and functions. Powers of the Joint Select Committee Standing Orders 71B of the Senate and 101 of the House of Representatives outline that inter alia the Committee is empowered to study and report on all matters relating to the mandate, management and operations of the Ministry or Body assigned to it by the House. In consequence, the Committee has the powers inter alia: to review and report on all matters relating to: . the statute law relating to the Ministry/body assigned to it; . the program and policy objectives of the Ministry/Body and its effectiveness in the implementation of same; . other matters relating to the management , organization of the ministry or body, as the Committee deems it fit; to send for persons, papers and records; to adjourn from place to place; to appoint specialist advisers either to supply information which is not otherwise readily available or to elucidate matters of complexity within the Committee’s terms of reference; and to communicate with any other Committees of Parliament on matters of common interest. vi 18th Report of the JSC on Municipal Corporations and Service Commissions (with the exception of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission) Membership The members of the Committee are as follows: . Mr. Anthony Vieira1 - Chairman . Mr. Hugh Russell Ian Roach2 - Vice-Chairman . Ms. Marlene Coudray3 . Mr. James Lambert4 . Ms. Shamfa Cudjoe . Mr. Devant Maharaj . Mrs. Vernella Alleyne-Toppin, MP . Mr. Chandresh Sharma, MP . Mr. Rodger Samuel, MP . Mr. Prakash Ramadhar, MP . Ms. Marlene McDonald, MP . Mrs. Joanne Thomas, MP Secretariat Support Secretarial assistance was provided by the following officers: Mr. Julien Ogilvie - Secretary Ms. Candice Skerrette - Assistant Secretary Ms. Kimberly Mitchell - Graduate Research Assistant Mr. Johnson Greenidge - Parliamentary Intern Meetings For the purpose of this inquiry, the Committee held one meeting with officials of the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation on Friday July 25, 2014. 1 Mr. Anthony Vieira replaced Mr. Elton Prescott on the Committee with effect from September 23, 2013. 2 Mr. Hugh Russell Ian Roach replaced Mr. Subhas Ramkhelawan on the Committee with effect from May 6, 2014 following his resignation as a Senator on 10 April, 2014 3 Ms. Marlene Coudray replaced Brig.(Ret’d) John Sandy on the Committee with effect from 16.10.12 following the termination of his Senatorial appointment on June 25, 2012 4 Mr. James Lambert replaced Mr. David Abdulah on the Committee with effect from 16.10.12 following the termination of his Senatorial appointment on June 22, 2012. vii 18th Report of the JSC on Municipal Corporations and Service Commissions (with the exception of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission) Contents Page # List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. x List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ x Table of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................. x Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... xii Chapter 1 ....................................................................................................................................... 1 Background of inquiry ................................................................................................................ 1 Chapter 2 ....................................................................................................................................... 7 Evidence received ....................................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 3 ..................................................................................................................................... 33 Findings and Recommendations ............................................................................................... 33 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 43 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................. 45 Appendix I ................................................................................................................................... 46 Entities falling under the purview of the Committee ................................................................ 46 Appendix II .................................................................................................................................. 48 Minutes ...................................................................................................................................... 48 Appendix III ................................................................................................................................ 64 Excerpt of Verbatim Notes of the Public hearing held on July 25, 2014 .................................. 64 Appendix IV ................................................................................................................................ 97 PDRC Organizational Chart ...................................................................................................... 97 Appendix V .................................................................................................................................. 99 PDRC Composition of Staffing 2012/2013 .............................................................................. 99 Appendix VI .............................................................................................................................. 101 PDRC Departmental Responsibilities ..................................................................................... 101 Appendix VII ............................................................................................................................. 107 PDRC Budget Formulation Process 2012/2013 ...................................................................... 107 viii 18th Report of the JSC on Municipal Corporations and Service Commissions (with the exception of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission) Appendix VIII ........................................................................................................................... 109 PDRC Financial Statement on the Recurrent Programme 2010