By SEAN DOUGLAS Thursday, October 22 2009

THE House of Representatives yesterday unanimously passed the Validation and Immunity from Proceedings Bill 2009 to approve the Commission of Inquiry into Udecott despite a previous omission to gazette the probe chaired by Prof John Uff.

Attorney-General John Jeremie, in his wrap-up, vowed to encourage the work of the Commission, and to act on its findings. Jeremie said, “I am authorised by the Prime Minister to say, to give an undertaking, that the Government will take all steps to ensure that the Commission of Inquiry will complete its work, and two, that the Government will take the appropriate action on the report of the Commission”.

Mayaro MP Winston “Gypsy” Peters asked if he would promise to lay it in Parliament as soon as it is finished. Jeremie replied: “We will take the appropriate action”. He added that it had been a red letter day for Parliament of which he had been proud.

Earlier, the AG rejected accusations that certain lawyers had deliberately fouled up the gazetting of the inquiry in order to trip up the Commission in its work. “I do not think Members opposite were doing anything but creating mischief when they spoke of the conspiracy theory,” said Jeremie.

The Senate has already passed the Bill.