Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698073736351.pdf (Guyana)
PARLIAMENTARY AGENDA FOR THE WEEK MONDAY, 16TH DECEMBER, 2013 - FRIDAY, 20TH DECEMBER, 2013 MONDAY, 16th DECEMBER, 2013 Sitting of the National Assembly NIL Meetings of Parliamentary Committees Public Accounts Committee Time: 2.00 p.m. Venue: Parliament Chamber, Georgetown.
Public Buildings, Brickdam, Business: (i) Correction and confirmation of Minutes of 36th Meeting held on Monday, 9th December, 2013; (ii) (iii) Matters Arising; To continue the review of the Audit Office’s Evaluation Criteria for Recruitment; and *(iv) To receive a Progress Report: Sub-Committee on the Public Procurement Commission; and (v) To commence examination of the Public Accounts of Guyana for the fiscal years ended 31st December, 2010 and 2011, together with the report of the *Not to be proceeded with at this meeting 1 Auditor General thereon, in respect of the following: Ministry/ Department/ other 1.
Ministry of Agriculture Paragraphs in Auditor General’s Report 176-184 (9) (2011) Accounting Officer Mr. George Jervis 2.

Ministry of Legal Affairs 317-324 (8) (2011) Ms. Indira Anandjit 3.
Ministry of Amerindian Affairs 161-170 (10) (2010) 161-175 (15) (2011) Mr. Nigel Dharamlall Any Other Business TUESDAY, 17Th DECEMBER, 2013 Sitting of the National Assembly NIL Meetings of Parliamentary Committee NIL WEDNESDAY, 18Th DECEMBER, 2013 Sitting of the National Assembly NIL Meetings of Parliamentary Committees NIL 2 THURSDAY, 19th December, 2013 Sitting of the National Assembly TIME: VENUE: BUSINESS: 2.00 p.m. Parliament Chamber, Public Buildings, Brickdam REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES- By Dr. George Norton, M.P.
(Chairman of the Committee on Appointments): First Report of the Committee on Appointments in relation to the Appointment of Members of the Ethnic Relations Commission.

(To be Circulated) ORAL QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE QUESTIONS ON NOTICE- For Written Replies 1.

ESTABLISHMENT OF A STANDING COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS BORDER AND NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES Member Asking: Minister Answering: Brig.
(Ret’d) David Granger, M.S.S., M.P., Leader of the Opposition The Prime Minister and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (i) Could the Hon.

Prime Minister inform the National Assembly whether the Government intends to work towards establishing a Standing Parliamentary Committee to address, specifically, border and national security issues as recommended by the Border and National Security Committee in its Report of 21st June, 2001?

3 (ii) Could the Hon.


Prime Minister inform the National Assembly of the proposed date for the establishment of the recommended committee, if the Government intends to establish the committee as recommended?

(iii) Could the Hon.

Prime Minister inform the National Assembly, in the event that the Government intends not to act in accordance with the said recommendation, of the reasons for not establishing the Standing Committee?

(Notice Paper No.

260 (Q 169 Opp.

167) published on 2013-11-22) 2.


VISIT BY DEPUTIES OF ASAMBLEA NACIONAL De VENEZUELA INTO THE TERRITORY OF GUYANA AT ETERINGBANG IN THE CUYUNI-MAZARUNI REGION Member Asking: Brig.

(Ret’d) David Granger, M.S.S., M.P., Leader of the Opposition Minister Answering: The Prime Minister and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (i) (ii) (iii) Could the Hon.
Prime Minister inform the National Assembly of the circumstances surrounding the visit of Deputies of the National Assembly of Venezuela into Guyana’s territory at Eteringbang on or about Sunday, 10th November, 2013?

Could the Hon.

Prime Minister inform the National Assembly of the actual time and duration of the said visit and of the names of Members of the National Assembly of Venezuela who participated in the visit?

Could the Hon.
Could the Hon.

Prime Minister inform the National Assembly of the administrative procedures prescribed by the Government of Guyana and of the actions required of members of the Guyana Defence Force who were stationed at Eteringbang, with regard to such visits?

(Notice Paper No.

261 (Q 170 Opp.

168) published on 2013-11-22) 3.

LEASES/LICENCES/PERMITS ISSUED IN THE AREA OF NEW RIVER TRIANGLE OR CONTIGUOUS AREAS Member Asking: Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Joseph Harmon, M.S.M., M.P.
Minister Answering: The Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment 4 Could the Hon.

Minister state with respect to leases/licences/permits issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment in the area of New River Triangle or contiguous areas over the period 1st January, 2012 to 1st November, 2013?

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) How many leases/licences/permits were issued?

To whom were the leases/licences/permits issued?

The consideration for issue of leases/licences/permits?
Were the ISO 9001 procedures followed in the issue of leases/licences/permits?

Could the Hon.

Minister also provide copies of all leases/licences/permits issued during the period for the said areas?

(Notice Paper No.

262 (Q 171 Opp.

169) published on 2013-11-25) 4.

ALL LEASES/LICENCES/PERMITS ISSUED FOR MINING OPERATIONS IN REGIONS 7, 8 AND 9 OF GUYANA Member Asking: Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Joseph Harmon, M.S.M., M.P.

Minister Answering: The Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Could the Hon.
Minister state with respect to the period 1st January, 2012 to 1st November, 2013 the full particulars of all leases/licences/permits issued for mining operations by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment in Regions 7, 8 and 9 of Guyana?

(Notice Paper No.

263 (Q 172 Opp.

170) published on 2013-11-25) 5.


FULL DETAILS OF ALL FORESTRY CONCESSIONS ISSUED OVER THE PERIOD 1ST NOVEMBER, 2012 TO 1ST NOVEMBER, 2013 IN REGIONS 7, 8 AND 9 OF GUYANA Member Asking: Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Joseph Harmon, M.S.M., M.P.

Minister Answering: The Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment 5 Could the Hon.

Minister provide full details of all forestry concessions issued by the Ministry over the period 1st January, 2012 to 1st November, 2013 in Regions 7, 8 and 9 of Guyana?
(Notice Paper No.

264 (Q 173 Opp.

171) published on 2013-11-25) 6.

COURSES OF INSTRUCTION ATTENDED BY FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS Member Asking: Brig.

(Ret’d) David Granger, M.S.S., M.P., Leader of the Opposition Minister Answering: The Minister of Foreign Affairs (i) Could the Hon.

Minister inform the National Assembly of the courses of instruction attended by Foreign Service Officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2002 to 2012?

(ii) Could the Hon.
(ii) Could the Hon.

Minister, in so doing, state the institution, title, dates and numbers of students attending each of the courses and the countries in which those courses were conducted?

(Notice Paper No.

265 (Q 174 Opp.

172) published on 2013-11-28) 7.

COURSES OF INSTRUCTION CONDUCTED BY THE FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE Member Asking: Brig.

(Ret’d) David Granger, M.S.S., M.P., Leader of the Opposition Minister Answering: The Minister of Foreign Affairs (i) Could the Hon.
Minister inform the National Assembly of the courses of instruction conducted by the Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2002 to 2012?

6 (ii) Could the Hon.

Minister, in so doing, state the title, dates and numbers of students attending each of the courses?

(iii) Could the Hon.

Minister also state the names of the Director of Studies and the permanent instructors and lecturers at the institute during this period?

(Notice Paper No.

266 (Q 175 Opp.


173) published on 2013-11-28) 8.

FIRE HYDRANTS INSTALLED IN THE VARIOUS NEW HOUSING SCHEMES Member Asking: Ms Mabel Baveghems, M.P.

Minister Answering: The Minister of Housing and Water Can the Hon.

Minister provide this National Assembly with the total number of fire hydrants that have been installed in the various new housing schemes throughout the country?

(Notice Paper No.

267 (Q 176 Opp.


174) published on 2013-11-28) PUBLIC BUSINESS (i) GOVERNMENT’S BUSINESS BILLS – Second Readings 1.

PROCUREMENT (AMENDENT) BILL 2013 – Bill No.

17/2013 published on 2013-11-07 The Minister of Finance to move the second reading of the following Bill: A BILL intituled AN ACT to amend the Procurement Act.

(Read a first time on 2013-11-07) 2.

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING AND COUNTERING THE FINANCING OF TERRORISM (AMENDMENT) BILL 2013 – Bill No.
22/2013 published on 2013-12-10 7 The Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, to move the second reading of the following Bill: A BILL intituled AN ACT to amend the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act.

(Read a first time on 2013-12-12) 3.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES (ELECTIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 2013 – Bill No.
21/2013 published on 2013-12-05 The Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, to move the second reading of the following Bill: A BILL intituled AN ACT to amend the Local Authorities (Elections) Act to provide for the postponement of elections of councilors of local democratic organs.

(Read a first time on 2013-12-12) 4.

WILDLIFE IMPORT AND EXPORT BILL 2013 –Bill No.


20/2013 published on 2013-11-27 The Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, to move the second reading of the following Bill: A BILL intituled AN ACT to regulate international trade of Guyana’s wildlife and to enable Guyana to fulfill its obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Washington, 1973.

(Read a first time on 2013-12-12) 5.

EVIDENCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 2013 – Bill No.


23/2013 published on 2013-12-10 8 The Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, to move the second reading of the following Bill: A BILL intituled AN ACT to amend the Evidence Act .

(Read a first time on 2013-12-12) FIREARMS (AMENDMENT) BILL 2013 – Bill No.

24/2013 published on 2013-12-10 The Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, on behalf of the Government, to present the following Bill: A BILL intituled AN ACT to amend the Firearms Act.
(Read a first time on 2013-12-12) 6.

SUMMARY JURISDICTION (PROCEDURE) (AMENDMENT) BILL 2013 – Bill No.

25/2013 published on 2013-12-10 The Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, to move the second reading of the following Bill: A BILL intituled AN ACT to amend the Summary Jurisdiction (Procedure Act.

(Read a first time on 2013-12-12) 7.

GUYANA CRICKET ADMINISTRATION BILL 2012 – Bill No.


31/2012 published on 2012-12-20 The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport to move the second reading of the following Bill, which was referred to a Special Select Committee: A BILL intituled AN ACT to make provisions for the incorporation of autonomous national cricket administrative organizations in Guyana and to provide for other matters connected therewith.
(Read a first time and committed to the Special Select Committee on 2012-12-20) 9 Please note that the abovementioned Report was laid in the National Assembly on 7 th August, 2013.

8.

LAND SURVEYORS (PROFESSION) BILL 2013 – Bill No.


16/2013 published on 2013-06-26 The Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment to move the second reading of the following Bill: A BILL intituled AN ACT to make provision for the establishment of a Board of Land Surveyors, the registration and licensing of land surveyors, the regulation of the practice of land surveying and for connected matters.

(Read a first time on 2013-06-27) PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS BILLS – Second Reading 9.
THE MARRIED PERSONS (PROPERTY) (AMENDMENT) BILL 2013 – Bill No.

9 of 2013 published on 2013-06-14 Mrs. Deborah Backer, M.P., to move the second reading of the following Bill: A Bill intituled AN ACT to amend the Married Persons (Property) Act.

(Read a first time on 2013-06-13) MOTIONS 10.

REINTRODUCTION OF THE BERBICE RIVER FERRY SERVICE FROM NEW AMSTERDAM T0 KWAKWANI Mr. Trevor Williams, M.P.
to move the following motion: WHEREAS the Berbice River Ferry previously served a number of Communities from New Amsterdam to Kwakwani, providing critical and affordable transportation to hundreds of Guyanese families and their goods to and from the Berbice Coast; 10 AND WHEREAS the Government of Guyana with no explanation unilaterally removed this critical service which linked the hinterland with the Coast; AND WHEREAS individuals, families, organizations and institutions from Communities of the Berbice River benefitted from this service in the past and now have to severely alter their way of life to the extent of relocating and abandoning their primary economic activity; AND WHEREAS many of these communities have now become abandoned and deserted due to lack of significant economic activities; AND WHEREAS many young people can no longer embrace a future in Agricultural activities to further develop themselves; AND WHEREAS this Ferry service remains a critical component to the development of the Berbice Riverain Communities; AND WHEREAS other far flung areas in Guyana which remain accessible by river mainly Northwest, Bartica and Essequibo Coast have had the ferry services maintained, thereby providing critical support to residents and facilitating the transport of large scale commodities, BE IT RESOLVED: That this National Assembly immediately calls on the Government of Guyana to restore this service thereby reviving those communities and giving hope and stability to the many Guyanese who wish to venture into Agricultural entrepreneurship.
(Notice Paper No.

256 (M 88 Opp 52) published on 2013-11-13) 11.

RESTORATION OF THE ANNUAL SUBVENTION/GRANT TO THE CRITCHLOW LABOUR COLLEGE Mr. Trevor Williams, M.P.
to move the following motion: 11 WHEREAS the Critchlow Labour College through its three Campuses in Georgetown, Linden and Berbice served to educate thousands of Guyanese, both adult and youth, for decades and giving many a second chance at educating themselves; AND WHEREAS the Government of Guyana, both PNC and PPP/C, through the Ministry of Finance, provided a subvention to the Critchlow Labour College thereby subsidising the cost of education to thousands of Guyanese from all walks of life; AND WHEREAS through the benefit of this subvention the Critchlow Labour College successfully entered into partnerships for developing education within Guyana and abroad with reputable institutions; AND WHEREAS through its offering of academic courses hundreds of young Guyanese entered and re-entered the job market and rose through the ranks to become highly skilled and successful professionals; AND WHEREAS parents and guardians alike were able to access affordable education at a convenient time, thereby developing themselves and making their families more stable; AND WHEREAS after the withdrawal of this subvention the institution eventually collapsed thereby bringing to ruin the hopes and aspirations of thousands of young Guyanese from all walks of life; AND WHEREAS the Critchlow Labour College now offers a significantly reduced curriculum thereby limiting the options of those desiring higher education, BE IT RESOLVED: That the National Assembly calls on the Government of Guyana to restore the full subvention thereby allowing the Critchlow Labour College to be re-opened to its full capacity.
(Notice Paper No.

257 (M 89 Opp 53) published on 2013-11-13) 12 12.

THE BROADCASTING (AMENDMENT) BILL 2013 – BILL NO.

19 OF 2013 Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Joseph Harmon, M.S.M., M.P., to move the following motion: BE IT RESOLVED: That this National Assembly, in accordance with Standing Order No.

52(1), grant leave for the introduction and first reading of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2013 – Bill No.

19 of 2013:- A BILL intituled AN ACT to amend the Broadcasting Act.

(Notice Paper No.
(Notice Paper No.

259 (M 91 Opp 54) published on 2013-11-21) If leave is granted, the Clerk shall read aloud the title of the Bill.

COMMITTEES BUSINESS 13.

ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE DEEDS REGISTRY (AMENDMENT) BILL 2012 – BILL NO.
11 OF 2012 The Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs (Chairman of the Special Select Committee on the Deeds Registry (Amendment) Bill 2012) to move the following motion: BE IT RESOLVED: That the Report of the Special Select Committee on the Deeds Registry (Amendment) Bill 2012 – Bill No.

11/2012 be adopted.

(Notice Paper No.

226 (M 78 Committee 4) published on 2013-07-18) BILLS – THIRD READING 14.

THE DEEDS REGISTRY (AMENDMENT) BILL 2012 – Bill No.
11/2012 published on 2012-07-10 In accordance with Standing Orders No.

58(4), the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs (Chairman of the Special Select Committee on the Deeds Registry (Amendment) Bill 2012) to move the third reading of the following Bill: 13 A BILL intituled AN ACT to amend the Deeds Registry Act.

(Read a first time on 2012-07-12) (Read a second time and committed to the Special Select Committee on 2012-08-02) MOTION 15.
APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE ETHNIC RELATIONS COMMISSION Dr. George Norton, M.P.
(Chairman of the Committee on Appointments), to move the following motion: WHEREAS Article 212A of the Constitution provides for the establishment of an Ethnic Relations Commission; AND WHEREAS in accordance with Article 212 B (1) of the Constitution, the Ethnic Relations Commission shall consist of – “not less than five nor more than fifteen members, nominated by entities, by a consensual mechanism determined by the National Assembly, including entities, representative of religious bodies, the labour movement, the private business sector, youth and women, after the entities are determined by the votes not less than two-thirds of all elected members of the National Assembly; (a) a member who shall be a nominee, without the right to vote, chosen by and from each of the following commissions to be established under this Constitution, Indigenous Peoples’ Commission, Women and Gender Equality Commission, Commission for the Rights of the Child and Human Rights Commission.” AND WHEREAS the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Appointments (COA)examined the list of entities to nominate members to the Ethnic Relations Commission in accordance with article 212 B (1)(a) of the Constitution, and Resolution No.
62 of 2000 with regard to the number of members on the said Commission; 14 AND WHEREAS the Parliamentary Committee on Appointments recommends that the number of members on the Ethnic Relations Commission be increased to ten (10) and the categories or groups include the representatives of the Christian, Hindu, and Muslim bodies, the labour movement, the private business sector, youth and women and a new category “Cultural/ Ethnic” with one nominee each from the three (3) largest ethnic groups: Indo-Guyanese, Afro- Guyanese and Indigenous/Amerindian.
BE IT RESOLVED: That this National Assembly approves the increase in the number of members on the Ethnic Relations Commission from seven (7) to ten (10) as proposed by the Committee on Appointments; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That this National Assembly approves of the inclusion of a new category “Cultural/Ethnic” with the right to have three (3) members, one representative each of the three largest ethnic groups; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That this National Assembly approves the list of entities on the attached First Schedule in accordance with Article 212 (B)(1)(a); BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That this National Assembly approves that the number of nominees for each group of entities be as follows:- Groups of Entities Christian Religion Hindu Religion Muslim Religion Labour Movement Private Sector Organisations Youth Organisations Women Organisations Number of Members One Member One Member One Member One Member One Member One Member One Member 15 Cultural/Ethnic Organisations - Indo-Guyanese - Afro-Guyanese - Indigenous/Amerindian One Member One Member One Member AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That this National Assembly approves the consensual mechanism for the nomination of the members by the entities as set out in the Second Schedule attached.
(Notice Paper No.

250 (M 82 Committee 6) published on 2013-12-06) Any Other Business FRIDAY, 20Th DECEMBER, 2013 Sitting of the National Assembly NIL Meetings of Parliamentary Committees Any other Business NIL ------------------------- Parliament Office, Public Buildings, Brickdam, Georgetown.

16th December, 2013.

16