Finance Minister Colm Imbert has asked the Central Bank to find out how the recent distribution of foreign exchange was distributed and will make the report public.
Imbert made the disclosure in the Senate yesterday while replying to Opposition queries. He also said he would ask the governor about foreign exchange for citizens on health care and education.
Imbert said there was no de facto or official depreciation of the US currency, vis-a-vis the TT dollar.
Also in the Senate yesterday, Energy Minister Nicholle Oliverre said consultations would shortly be held with energy stakeholders on Government’s energy sector plans in its manifesto.
The Senate also named senators for the 15 Parliamentary Select Committees which will examine various issues over the term.
Also, the Opposition Senate seat held by former senator Vasant Bharath which was empty at yesterday’s session, will continue to remain empty for “now,” UNC general secretary Dave Tancoo said.
Bharath, who was appointed a UNC senator by UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar at the start of the term, resigned from the post last week to challenge her for the leadership in UNC’s December 5 party elections.
The UNC didn’t name anyone to fill his Senate space up to yesterday following which Tancoo told the T&T Guardian no appointments would be made “for now.”
The Senate also named senators for the 15 Parliamentary Select Committees which will examine various issues over the term.
The Lower House last week named MPs for the committees which will scrutinise State accounts and also national security, legal affairs, finance, local authorities, service commissions and statutory authorities, state enterprises, public administration and appropriations, land and physical infrastructure, social services and public administration, energy affairs, human rights, equality and diversity, foreign affairs and parliamentary broadcasting.
There is also a new committee, Government assurances, to monitor how promises by Government are maintained and the integrity of ministers’ statements.
Government had also promised in election pledges to refer certain bills to Joint Select Committees for indepth examination.
The first of these committees were announced in the House last Friday to examine the Procurement and Disposal of State Assets Bill and the whistleblower legislation. (GA)