TODAY’S sitting of the National Assembly is expected to be a very critical one, with an agenda of matters such as the second reading of the Hydro-Electric Power (Amendment) 2013 Bill, which seeks to amend the Hydro-Electric Power Act and will be tabled by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds.

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, recently, emphasised the importance of parliamentary support for this legislation, noting that progress with the Amaila Falls Hydropower project could be threatened as critical deadlines and expiration dates loom.
The Bill, Number 15, was read a first time in the House last June 13 and is scheduled for the second today, when it is anticipated to attract a vigorous debate.
Meanwhile, the second readings of the Telecommunications Bill and Public Utilities Commission (Amendment) Bill, also to be moved by PM Hinds, are on today’s Order Paper.
The passage of those two will enable the demonopolisation and liberalisation of the telecommuications sector in Guyana, allowing for it to be more open and competitive.
However, they were both proposed for second readings some time ago and have been repeatedly deferred.

HOLDING TALKS
Mr. Hinds has  explained that the Government was holding talks with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and Digicel (Guyana) in relation to the legislation.
At a recent media briefing, Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon had disclosed that Government’s discussion with Atlantic Tele Network (ATN), parent company of GT&T, on the related issues has been very fruitful and further deliberations are expected.
He said the bills were put on hold to facilitate the conversation with ATN-GT&T.
It is the hope that Government will sooner, rather than later, be returning to the House to debate the tabled bills.
On the Order Paper for second reading today, too, is the Land Surveyors (Profession) Bill, which is seeking to establish a Board of Land Surveyors, registration and licensing of land surveyors and the regulation of the practice of land surveying.
The first reading of that is to be moved by Natural Resources and the Environment Minister, Mr. Robert Persaud.
In addition, four local government bills are up for second readings. These are the Fiscal Transfers Bill, the Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Bill, the Local Government (Amendment) Bill and the Local Government Commission Bill.
Those are to pave the way for the holding of Local Government Elections and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Ganga Persaud had stated that the Government is anxiously awaiting deliberations on the bills which were sent to a special select committee since last year.

NOT HELD
Local Government Elections were constitutionally due in 1997 but were not held since 1994.
Another significant motion to be moved in the Parliament today is one to put a limit on amount outstanding under guarantees given under the Guarantee of Loans (Public Corporations and Companies) Act and that is in the name of Finance Minister Singh.
In addition, Opposition Leader, Mr. David Granger is to table a motion calling the appointment of a commission of inquiry to investigate the incidence of maritime and riverine incidents, injuries and deaths.