THA (S) 2/11/1 VOL. VIII
ORDER PAPER OF THE TOBAGO HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY _____________________________________
2017 – 2021 SESSION _____________________________________
18TH SITTING at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday 27th September, 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 Assemblyman Marisha Osmond
- Member for Buccoo/Mt. Pleasant - 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 Assemblyman Hayden Spencer
- Member for Bethel/Mt. Irvine - Member for Goodwood/Belle Garden West - Member for Belle Garden East/Roxborough/Delaford - Member for Parlatuvier/L’Anse Fourmi/Speyside
Assemblyman Watson Duke Assemblyman Farley Augustine
=================================== Councillor Kwesi Des Vignes Councillor Dr. Agatha Carrington Councillor Nadine Stewart-Phillips Councillor Dr. Faith B.Yisrael
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ORDER PAPER: Thursday 27th September, 2018
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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 (h) PRESENTATION OF REPORTS FROM: (i) Dispute Resolution Commission (ii) Select Committees Code of Conduct
(i) QUESTIONS TO SECRETARIES
4 ORDER PAPER: Thursday 27th September, 2018 ______________________________________________________ Questions for Oral Answer QUESTION NO. 52 TO THE SECRETARY OF TOURISM, CULTURE AND TRANSPORTATION (By the Minority Leader) With reference to the Tobago Jazz Experience 2018, please provide the following information: (a) The total number of General and VIP tickets printed for sale? (b) The total number of each type of ticket sold at full price, and the total revenue made from those sales? (c) The total number of tickets sold at reduced prices? Giving the reduced price(s) and the total revenue made from those sales? (d) How much money was spent on alcohol for the specially invited guests?
(e) How much money was spent on Tobago-based artists, Trinidad-based artists, Regional Artists and International Artists? (f) How much money was spent on each of the following: tent, chair, lights, stage, sound, and event management? Question No. 52 was deferred from May 24, 2018
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*QUESTION NO. 54 TO THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, WELLNESS AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT (By the Minority Councillor) With reference to the workers at the Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development, and paying attention to the “Chief Administrator’s Circular Memorandum No. 41 of 2016”, with subject matter “Policy on re-engagement of Officers on Contract”, please provide the following information: (a) Total number of persons employed at the Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development, delineated via the following categories: Public Servant, Contract Officers, Daily Paid Workers, Month to month, and Other. (b) No. of persons on contract (contract officers) on end of contract leave? (c) No. of persons employed on contract who are currently working without a signed contract? (d) No. of persons who have returned from end of contract leave, but have not been paid? (e) No. of persons whose contract ended on or after January 2017, who were not re-engaged. Question No. 54 was deferred from May 24, 2018 (for written response)
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*QUESTION NO. 56 TO THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, WELLNESS AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT (By the Minority Councillor) With reference to Sections 55.2 (Compulsory Retirement) and 55.3 (Employment Beyond the Normal Retirement Date) of the TRHA’s Human Resource Policies and Procedures, please provide the following information: (a) The number and categories of contract workers who have attained the retirement age of 60 on or before December 31st, 2017 and are still (or were retained) on contract to date? (b) The number and categories of contract workers who have attained the retirement age of 60 on or before April 30th, 2018 and have been as contacted indicating that their current contract will not be renewed? (c) The number and categories of contract workers who will attain the age of 60 after 1st May 2018, but before December 31st, 2019? Question No. 56 was deferred from May 24, 2018
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*QUESTION NO. 57 TO THE SECRETARY OF SPORT AND YOUTH AFFAIRS (By the Minority Leader) In June 2011 the YMCA Pool at Black Rock was commissioned. Since then residents of Tobago (young and old) have benefitted from its usage. The facility has been closed for some time. Please indicate the reason for its closure, and the plans for rectifying all related issues (including timelines and estimate costs).
*QUESTION NO. 58 TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, INNOVATION AND ENERGY (By the Minority Leader) Not withstanding the fact that the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service falls under the direct jurisdiction of the Minister of National Security, according to the Tobago House of Assembly Act Section 25 (3), which states that all State enterprises that provides services in Tobago, shall act “in accordance with the policies or programmes of the Assembly”, please provide information as it relates to the fire prevention and response in Tobago: (a) What is the status of construction of the Roxborough Fire Station? (b) What is the total number of Fire Tenders assigned to the Tobago District, and of those how many are in acceptable operating conditions according to manufacturer’s specifications.
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*QUESTION NO. 59 TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, INNOVATION AND ENERGY (By the Minority Leader) At the “Conversation with the Prime Minister” held in Tobago on August 23rd 2018, the Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley indicated that the Galleons Passage was a “slow boat” and it was procured with the aim of traversing the Toco to Tobago route (versus the Port of Spain to Tobago route). Please indicate whether the Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly Mr. Kelvin Charles was aware of this policy decision. Given the unique travel needs of Tobagonians, also indicate whether any study was done to determine the number of Tobagonians desirous of travelling to Toco (instead of to Port of Spain) and are willing to travel for over six (6) hours, when the current travel time is approximately three (3) hours.
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*QUESTION NO. 60 TO THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, WELLNESS AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT (By the Minority Councillor) Pertaining to lawsuits brought against the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA). Please indicate (a)The number of lawsuits brought against the TRHA between January 1st 2013 and July 31st 2018. (b) The category of claims (Employment Related; Misdiagnosis, Failed Procedures or Surgical/Medical Malpractice; Hospital Negligence; Birth Injuries; or Other - Please specified)? (c) The number settled in and out of court? (d) For each settled, the date the settlement was reached, the total sum of the settlement, and the amount of the settlement already disbursed.
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*QUESTION NO. 61 TO THE SECRETARY OF TOURISM, CULTURE AND TRANSPORTATION (By the Minority Councillor) In May 2018 five (5) new CNG buses were commissioned and placed in service in Tobago via the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC). To service these buses, two (2) CNG stations were scheduled to be deployed at the COVE Estate. Please indicate: (a) Whether those two (2) VNG stations have been deployed at COVE to service the CNG Buses. If not, when are those scheduled to be deployed. (b) What is the current status of those five (5) CNG buses? Meaning, are they currently being used to service their assigned routes? And if so, how are they serviced if the CNG stations have not been installed at COVE?
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*QUESTION NO. 62 TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, INNOVATION AND ENERGY (By the Minority Councillor) In March 2015 the Shaw Park Cultural Facility was officially commissioned. Since commissioning there have been various issues, including electrical and air conditioning malfunctions in 2017 and 2018. Please provide the following information. (a) The construction cost of the Shaw Park Cultural facility recorded at commissioning. (b) For each type of additional work done after March 2015, please outline the type of work done, the contractor hired to complete the works, and the cost associated with each type of work. (c) Are there any outstanding works that need to be completed at the Shaw Park Cultural Facility, and what is the estimated time and cost of completion of those works.
(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
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(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 PRIVATE BUSINESS MOTION Whereas the Tobago House of Assembly Act 40 of 1996 in its Fifth Schedule lists “Education including Curriculum” as a responsibility of the THA; And Whereas Tobago subscr ibes to a national cur r iculum that originates from the Ministry of Education in Trinidad and that aims to translate national development goals to classroom instruction; And Whereas Tobago’s environment, history, heritage, governance and culture can and should be incorporated into the delivery of lessons by representative teachers; And Whereas having pupils/students knowledgeable of Tobago’s environment, history, heritage, governance and culture is critical to Tobago’s thrusts for greater autonomy and developing its tourism sector among other industries;
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Be it Resolved that this House mandate the Division of Education, Innovation and Energy to construct an appropriately named subject (with varying levels), which will specifically incorporate Tobago’s environment, history, heritage, culture and governance; Be it Further Resolved that beginning in the 2019/2020 Academic Year, this subject becomes mandatory for all Tobago pupils/students enlisted at government and government-assisted schools between Nursery School and Lower Secondary School, and be taught using a combination of modern teaching techniques, the arts and field trips. (By Assemblyman Farley Augustine, Member for Parlatuvier/L’Anse Fourmi/Speyside)
(p) MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT SHARON IRVINE-COMBIE CLERK OF THE ASSEMBLY (AG.)
ASSEMBLY LEGISLATURE SECRETARIAT ADMINISTRATION BUILDING JERNINGHAM STREET SCARBOROUGH TOBAGO
September 27, 2018
TOBAGO HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
EIGHTEENTH SITTING ________________________________________
Thursday 27th September, 2018