Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC says her government is tackling long-standing issues “once and for all.”
Speaking at the opening of the second session of the 13th Parliament, the Prime Minister highlighted her government’s legislative track record in its first year, noting that out of 32 Bills presented, 28 were passed.
Looking ahead, in this new session, the Prime Minister outlined plans to advance several key pieces of legislation.
“A medical malpractice court, a no-fault compensation system, regulatory frameworks for cannabis and agricultural diversification, amendments to modernise the Education Act, development of a parental responsibility framework to address school violence.”
The legislative agenda also targets social media reforms, including stricter age limits for gambling and substance use, alongside updates to national security laws.
“Increases in the age limits for use of ganja, alcohol and gambling; the Victims’ Rights Act; Chancellor for the Judiciary; amendments to the Firearms Act; legislation regarding gated communities; social media regulation for children under 12; and local government reform of construction and building approvals, amongst many other pieces of legislation.”
The Prime Minister closed the legislative summary by assuring citizens that her administration remains deeply connected to their daily struggles.
Turning to Tobago, the Prime Minister emphasised that critical structural reforms are on the way.
“We plan to work with Tobago and the THA on legislative and admin reforms, including addressing long-standing discrepancies in the THA Act, exploring the establishment of a Tobago local police service, reforming the alien landholding licence system to better serve Tobagonians, and of course tackling the long-standing issue in Tobago of land tenure once and for all.”