By CLINT CHAN TACK Tuesday, September 29 2009

THE Uff Commission of Inquiry will complete its work and legal action taken by Udecott against the inquiry will not affect the Commission from completing its job or the legislation which will be laid in Parliament later this week to validate its proceedings.

This was assurance yesterday from Planning, Housing and Environment Minister Dr Emily Gaynor Dick Forde, who is Udecott’s line minister. Dick Forde was in New York with Prime Minister Patrick Manning on government business when Udecott filed for judicial review against the Uff Commission of Inquiry.

Responding to a note sent to her by Newsday during yesterday’s sitting of the Senate, Dick Forde said: “Government is committed to the completion of all works by the Commission set up to do so.” Explaining that her understanding of the issues were based on common sense and not legal technical details, the minister said: “My common sense understanding of this matter is that the basis for Udecott’s challenge is not the validation process that Government is pursuing.”

“Therefore they are not in conflict with the process the Government is pursuing in the Parliament.”

Attorney General John Jeremie will open debate on the Commissions of Inquiry (Validation and Immunity from Proceedings) Bill 2009 in the Senate at 1.30 pm on Thursday. The bill will then be laid in the House of Representatives on Friday at 1.30 pm.

Independent Senator Michael Annisette, who is a member of Udecott’s board of directors, is seeking legal advice to decide whether he should recuse himself from Thursday’s sitting of the Senate.

The bill requires a three fifths majority for passage in the House (24 votes ) and Senate (18 votes). Government has 26 Mps in the House, meaning the bill will be easily passed there. Government needs three votes from either the Opposition or Independent senators to pass the bill in the Senate. Government has 15 senators who can vote on the bill while its 16th senator is Senate President Danny Montano who only uses his vote in the event of a tied vote in the Senate.