By Sue-Ann Wayow
PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley was absent from Wednesday’s sitting of the House of Representatives.
He and three other MPs had sought leaves of absence which were granted by House Speaker Brigid Annisette-George at the beginning of the sitting as is customary.
Also absent were David Lee, Rushton Paray and Esmond Forde.
Dr Rowley’s absence created a stir in the House as it meant that the Prime Minister’s Questions would remain unanswered. There were five questions for answer. (See below)
Acting chief whip and MP for Couva South Rudranath Indarsingh said, “Just for clarification as it relates to Standing Order Prime Minister’s Question. In relation to this exercise and this is a very important exercise and it is clearly spelt out, so the Members of this House do not have an explanation in terms of the whereabouts of the Prime Minister? “
Indarsingh further asked, “Is it that the Prime Minister is not feeling well because he took his Pfizer vaccine? We need to clarify this is a very important exercise.”
The House Speaker stood on her feet but Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis fired back, “You don’t need to know…”
Annisette-George sought to calm the situation. “Members, I am on my legs. Are we proceeding with Urgent Questions or not?”
MPs usually have until an hour before the sitting to provide questions for the prime minister to answer and they must be approved by the speaker.
The urgent questions segment began with Member of Parliament for Naparima Rodney Charles asking his first question.
The five questions for the prime minister on Wednesday were:
- In light of the discrepancies contained in the Auditor General’s Report for 2020 relating to the COVID-19 grants, could the Prime Minister indicate whether an urgent investigation will be undertaken? (By the Member for Oropouche West)
- Could the Prime Minister inform the House what percentage/value in money terms of the recently signed loan agreement between China and Trinidad and Tobago is being used for the procuring of the Sinopharm vaccine? (By the Member for Oropouche West)
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. Azlan Mohammed/AZP News - Given the announcement by the Minister of Finance that a contributory pension plan for daily paid workers in the public service will take effect in 2020, could the Prime Minister inform this House why this said Plan has not come into effect? (By the Member for Couva South)
- Could the Prime Minister indicate how many doses of Covid-19 vaccines Trinidad and Tobago is expected to receive from the United States of America as per recent announcements by President of the United States that surplus vaccines will soon be made available to Caribbean nations? (By the Member for Fyzabad)
- Given recent reports that the Government is committed to locating a private operator to partner with Port of Port of Spain to divest its operations, could the Prime Minister provide the House with a status brief on this project? (By the Member for Caroni Central)
