House Speaker Wade Mark is expected to lead parliamentary delegations to Cuba and Australia later this month. Sources said Cabinet had approved the $.5 million travelling budget for both events. The respective delegations will visit the National Assembly of People's Power in Havana and the Parliament in Australia and meet with parliamentary officials in both countries to discuss parliamentary procedures and related matters.
The visits are being described as parliamentary exchanges, sources said. The first trip to Cuba runs from February 10 to 16 and apart from Mark, Minister of National Diversity and Social Integration Rodger Samuel and Opposition Senator Lester Henry are also expected to attend.
The second trip is scheduled to Australia from February 19 to 27 and will include Mark, Minister in the Ministry of the People and Social Development Vernella Alleyne-Toppin and Opposition Senator Lester Henry. Sources say an Independent Senator is also expected to be in each delegation.
Both Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley and the MP for Chaguanas West Jack Warner have called on Mark not to leave the country in the wake of concerns over his decision to rely on a court document submitted by Finance Minister Larry Howai to stop the debate on a private motion of no confidence in Howai on January 23 filed by Warner. Mark claimed he mistook a court stamp for an official document from the Judiciary and apologised for his error.