PENAL REFORM is expected to be a highlight of today's debate when the House of Assembly meets to look at three items on the Order Paper.

Deputy Prime Minister and Attorney General Freundel Stuart will pilot the First Reading of the Penal System Reform (Amendment) Bill, 2010.

The bill seeks to amend the Penal System Reform Act Cap 139, to make provision for the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Caribbean Court of Justice to award compensation for personal injury, and loss or damage resulting from an offence for which a conviction has been entered.

Meanwhile, Leader of Government Business, Ronald Jones, is expected to move the passing of a Resolution to grant the sum of $23 347 806 from the Consolidated Fund and to place it at the disposal of Government, to supplement the Estimates 2009-2010.

This is indicated in the supplementary Estimates No. 7, 2009-2010, which forms the schedule to the Resolution.

Jones will also seek to have the explanatory notes to Head 19, 38 and 65 amended, as set out in Schedule 2 to the Resolution.

Minister of Economic Affairs and Empowerment, Innovation, Trade, Industry and Commerce, Dr David Estwick, is also slated to table a motion for the Second Reading of the Barbados Water Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2008. (RJ/BGIS)