00:00The Municipal Cooperation Bill took center stage in the Upper House today with Opposition Senator Faris al-Rawi leading off
00:07debate for his bench.
00:09He said Senators were told the bill was based on recommendations, reports and a Cabinet note.
00:16We were told that a committee was appointed, that a report was generated based upon consultation.
00:23Mr. President, I prepare to give way to the Honorable Minister.
00:26Minister, can you please provide this information to us today?
00:30Is that possible that you can provide us with those written reports?
00:33The Cabinet minute and the reports that you referred to?
00:37Cabinet minute, what?
00:40And those can be provided?
00:44Mr. President, insofar as those can be provided, and we're here debating it, are we now in a situation with
00:50the cart before the horse?
00:52Because none of us have the information referred to by the Honorable Member.
00:57While local government minister Khadija Amin cited a drop in electors for the city of Port of Spain,
01:05al-Rawi argues this does not reflect the urban footprint of the city and should not determine funding or programs.
01:13The 110,000 people that travel to Port of Spain every single day still occupy it between the hours of
01:215 a.m. and 6 p.m. on average, Mr. President,
01:25thereby requiring an allocation of resources and commitment that defies the logic that the Honorable Minister has put forward on
01:32this table.
01:32To say that Port of Spain has only 37,000 people living here without saying that the migration into Port
01:43of Spain every day involves 100,000 people, Mr. President,
01:47is to completely miss the boat on the truth and the facts.
01:50The senator tried to introduce the proposed allocations for regional corporations in the appropriation bill in the lower house,
01:59but was stopped by Senate President Wade Mark as the bill was not passed in the House of Representatives and
02:06therefore could not be cited in the Senate.
02:09We will soon find out, at the appropriate time and discuss it, that this is an entire charade, Mr. President,
02:18because I dare say that I hold the view that there will not be adequate resource allocation, Mr. President,
02:26in terms of treating with manpower issues, in terms of treating with the funding for the EBC,
02:31in treating with the administrative concerns of the local government.
02:34In the creation of these new entities, Mr. President, it will demand that there is parity amongst the entities that
02:42comprise the UNC or comprise the PNM.
02:45The bill requires a simple majority for passage.
02:49It was passed in the lower house with 27 votes in favor and 11 against.
02:55Doing this debate today, where we stand in Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. President,
03:04having had zero consultation, Mr. President, having had no data, having had the minister effectively say,
03:11listen, trust me, we spoke to people, I ain't showing it to you.
03:15Mr. President, I just think it is an absolute danger and disaster.
03:20Irvashita Mwari, Rupnarain, TV6 News.
