With just over one month to go until Parliament is dissolved, Housing Minister and Leader of Government Business Dr Roodal Moonilal says the Government still has critical legislation to deal with in the Lower House.
“We have a bill on worker protection rights, a bill on cyber crime, a critical report from the Ombudsman on government services. We have, as well, coming our way, a land registration bill. We have several bills that deal with crime and social welfare issues,” said Moonilal.
Moonilal said an insurance bill and a private security industry bill were also on the agenda.
The Constitution (Amendment) Bill will also returned to the Lower House, after being passed in the Senate last year.
Moonilal said Government was hoping to deal with that bill as well, as the population had had a lot of time to consider it.
“I want to complete some of these matters quickly so that the Senate can complete them before Parliament is dissolved.”
Moonilal said he had a very hectic agenda and Parliament was meeting twice a week to complete parliamentary work in time so that the bills could move to the Senate.
“It is a hectic schedule and we intend to go late into the night if we must.”
He said the Opposition had abdicated its responsibility to the people and to their constituents so that there was no opposition voice on critical legislation.
“That is their matter. The people will be the final arbiter on those matters, not us. We are just hopeful that we will complete the parliamentary agenda so that the legislation we want to pass would pass.”
Govt ready for motion
As of yesterday, 18 members of Government had indicated their wish to contribute to a debate on a private motion which proposes to have the suspension of Opposition Leader Keith Rowley rescinded.
The motion, which was filed by Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner to be debated in the Lower House on Private Members Day, May 29, was announced by Warner on Thursday after a statement by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Joan Honore-Paul that said the police investigation into “Emailgate” had not been completed.
Honore-Paul’s statement also said no one was cleared in the probe and raised concerns about the release of US Department of Justice documents to the public.
The first of two similar motions filed by Warner was rejected by House Speaker Wade Mark yesterday.
Speaking to media after the distribution of 100 houses at the HDC head office yesterday, Moonilal said he wanted to assure Warner that the Government would not boycott the motion.
“We have no intention of boycotting that motion. So far, 18 members of Government have indicated to me that they wish to speak so it will be another debate on these fake emails that Dr Rowley came to the Parliament with,” Moonilal said.
He said he was not sure if all 18 speakers would be able to speak on one day or if the debate would run for three or four days.
Rowley was suspended from the House of Representatives after Government used its simple majority to pass a motion to suspend him on the basis of claims he made with respect to the Emailgate matter.