THA (S) 2/11/1 VOL. VIII
ORDER PAPER OF THE TOBAGO HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ____________________________________________________
2017 – 2021 SESSION ____________________________________________________
14th SITTING at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday April 26th, 2018 at Assembly Chamber Jerningham Street, Scarborough, Tobago
Members of the 2017 – 2021 Session:
Presiding Officer - Dr. Denise Tsoiafatt-Angus ========================================== Assemblyman Kelvin Charles
- Member for Black Rock/Whim/Spring Garden
Assemblyman Joel Jack
- Member for Bacolet/Mt. St. George
Assemblyman Marslyn Melville-Jack
- Member for Scarborough/Calder Hall
Assemblyman Ancil Dennis
- Member for Buccoo/Mt. Pleasant
Assemblyman Marisha Osmond
- Member for Plymouth/Golden Lane
Assemblyman Clarence Jacob
- Member for Canaan/Bon Accord
Assemblyman Sheldon Cunningham
- Member for Providence/Mason Hall/Moriah
Assemblyman Jomo Pitt
- Member for Lambeau/Signal Hill
Assemblyman Shomari Hector
- Member for Bethel/Mt. Irvine
Assemblyman Hayden Spencer
- Member for Goodwood/Belle Garden West
Assemblyman Watson Duke
- Member for Belle Garden East/Roxborough/Delaford
Assemblyman Farley Augustine
- Member for Parlatuvier/L’Anse Fourmi/Speyside
========================================
Councillor Kwesi Des Vignes Councillor Dr. Agatha Carrington Councillor Nadine Stewart-Phillips Councillor Dr. Faith B.Yisrael
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ORDER OF BUSINESS (a)
PRAYERS
(b)
OATH OF ALLEGIANCE OF A NEW MEMBER
(c)
ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER
(d)
ASSEMBLY BILLS SENT BACK FROM CABINET
(e)
ASSEMBLY LAWS BROUGHT BACK FROM PARLIAMENT
(f)
PETITIONS
(g)
PAPERS (i) Tobago House of Assembly Monthly Budget Report as at the end of February 2018 (By the Secretary of Finance and the Economy)
(h)
PRESENTATION OF REPORTS FROM: (i)
Dispute Resolution Commission
(ii)
Select Committees Code of Conduct Report as at May 2017
(i)
QUESTIONS TO SECRETARIES Questions for Oral Answer
* QUESTION NO. 41 TO THE SECRETARY OF TOURISM, CULTURE AND TRANSPORTATION (By the Member for Parlatuvier/L’Anse Fourmi/Speyside) The immediate past Secretary with responsibility for tourism in September 2015
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announced that there will be “The Original Main Ridge Canopy Tour” to “begin at the reserve's reception center and run to the Gilpin Trace Trailhead”.
The announced
1.5kilometer zip line was to give visitors fresh views of part of the 4,000 hectare tropical forest and a grand opening was scheduled for November 14 , 2015. It was estimated then th
that over half a million US dollars was to go into creating this tour. To date this project has not materialized. Can the current Secretary for Tourism, Culture and Transportation give this House:
(a)
(b)
an update on the status of this project?
the total amount of monies spent by the THA (if any) on this project? and
(c) an indication of whether or not this current Executive Council is desirous of continuing with this said zip line project?
* QUESTION NO. 46 TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, INNOVATION AND ENERGY (By the Minority Leader) Provide the total number of monthly paid workers within the Tobago House of Assembly, identifying how many are employed via temporarily (contract workers) compared to those who have been appointed permanently via the public service commission (public servants).
* QUESTION NO. 47 TO THE SECRETARY OF INFRASTRUCTURE, QUARRIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT AND LEADER OF ASSEMBLY BUSINESS) (By the Minority Leader) The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) conducted a verification exercise for workers in the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP). Resumption of full employment should have begun on 1st March 2018. Please indicate 4
(a) how many people returned with full employment (working two consecutive fortnights per month)? and (b) how many people returned with partial employment (working one fortnight per month)?
* QUESTION NO. 48 TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, INNOVATION AND ENERGY (By the Minority Leader) At completion, it was promised that the Roxborough Sporting Complex would be officially named the “Cyd Gray Sporting Complex”. To date, the official naming ceremony has not been held, and the complex does not bear the name. (a) What are the plans of the Executive Council to rectify such?
* QUESTION NO. 49 TO THE SECRETARY OF TOURISM, CULTURE AND TRANSPORTATION (By the Member for Parlatuvier/L’Anse Fourmi/Speyside) In 2014 the Tobago House of Assembly purchased Manta Lodge and Sanctuary Villas Resort for 32 million dollars. In 2015 the THA through the use of brochures at the World Travel Market in the UK advertised that Manta Lodge will open in the first quarter of 2016 and the Sanctuary Villas Resort will be renamed the Tobago Great House Resort and Spa will be opened in fall of 2016.
To date neither hotels have been built or renovated and
opened. Can the Secretary for Tourism, Culture and Transportation give this House: (a) An update on both hotels and in so doing provide a timeline for completion of these projects;
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(b) A list of contractors hired for redeveloping both hotels;
(c) The amount of monies spent to date on Manta Lodge and Sanctuary Villas Resorts respectively
* QUESTION NO. 50 TO THE SECRETARY OF FOOD PRODUCTION AND FISHERIES (By the Member for Parlatuvier/L’Anse Fourmi/Speyside) The workers that are responsible for the upkeep of Little Tobago have been without a boat to take them to the island to conduct the necessary upkeep of the island. Previously, under the tenure of former Secretary Hilton Sandy that once led the Division of Agriculture, Marine Affairs, Marketing and the Environment (2010), a boat called Yellow Iron was purchased for the purpose of taking the workers to and from Little Tobago. The said boat was used for under 3 years before being parked at Tyrell’s Bay in Lucyvale for many years. The boat Yellow Iron has since been removed and the workers are still without a boat to get to and from the island. Currently, the team of workers on the island depends on the kindness of fishermen in the area or the availability of boats owned by the Division's workers to get to and from the island. Can the Secretary for Food Production, Forestry and Fisheries tell this House:
(a) When can the team of workers on Little Tobago expect to have access to a boat from the THA so that they can consistently conduct critical maintenance and environmental management work on the island of Little Tobago?
(b) The whereabouts of the boat -Yellow Iron?
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(j)
REQUESTS FOR LEAVE TO MOVE THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE ASSEMBLY ON DEFINITE MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
(k)
STATEMENTS BY SECRETARIES OR ASSISTANT SECRETARIES
(l)
PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS
(m)
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
(n)
MOTIONS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS OR SITTINGS OF THE ASSEMBLY AND MOVED BY A SECRETARY OR ASSISTANT SECRETARY
(o)
PUBLIC BUSINESS EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BUSINESS MOTIONS PRIVATE BUSINESS WHEREAS the Tobago House of Assembly is a corporate body with direct responsibility for the formation of policy regarding the items in the 5th Schedule of the Tobago House of Assembly Act; AND WHEREAS the Tobago House of Assembly is therefore indirectly responsible for operations of the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean Airlines Ltd and the Public Transport Service Corporation; AND WHEREAS Tobagonians have been experiencing hardship, anxiety, and frustration in exercising their fundamental constitutional right of freedom of movement via the public transportation system in Tobago, and the air-bridge and sea-bridge systems that exists between Trinidad and Tobago; AND WHEREAS the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has set precedence by demonstrating an understanding of the uniqueness of Tobago’s needs, and thereby approved the creation of a separate Tobago Tourism Agency (as opposed to the Tourism Development Company for both islands);
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AND WHEREAS the proposed Tobago Bill promises to give Tobago greater autonomy over the transportation sectors of the island, if the Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago should enact such constitutional change; BE IT RESOLVED that this House write to the Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago, as a matter of urgency, indicating the need for a Tobago Transportation Agency, with the responsibility for all transportation needs specific to Tobago, i.e. ground transportation, air transportation and sea transportation; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tobago Transportation Agency be implemented immediately, notwithstanding the proposed Tobago Bill as the Tobago transportation sector is in dire straits. (By the Minority Leader)
(p)
MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT SHARON IRVINE-COMBIE CLERK OF THE ASSEMBLY (AG.)
ASSEMBLY LEGISLATURE SECRETARIAT ADMINISTRATION BUILDING JERNINGHAM STREET SCARBOROUGH TOBAGO 13th April, 2018
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THA (S) 2/11/1 VOL. VIII
TOBAGO HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY (2017-2021)
NOTICE OF THE FOURTEENTH SITTING OF THE 2017-2021 SESSION TO BE HELD IN THE TOBAGO HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY CHAMBER, JERNINGHAM STREET, SCARBOROUGH, TOBAGO ON THURSDAY 26TH APRIL, 2017 AT 1:30 P.M.
SUPPLEMENTAL ORDER PAPER (g)
Papers 9
(i)
Tobago House of Assembly Monthly Budget Report as at the end of March, 2018
(By the Secretary of Finance and the Economy)
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