Members
Parliament
Transparency
Dr. Douglas De Couto, JP, MP

Dr. Douglas De Couto, JP, MP

1768
Speeches
616,883
Words Spoken
69
Sittings Active
12 Sep 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
12 words
Actually, a point of clarification request . The Chairman: Go right ahead.
12 Sep 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
62 words
The Premier did say that the valid ID information does not actually have to be entered into the register, but I have to say I read clause 10(2) as “The minimum required information . . . that the legal person shall enter in its beneficial [ownership] register is as follows —" and then goes onwards to list that item, the …
12 Sep 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
68 words
Yes . . . well, I imagine if you have the ID number and the date of issue and the country of issue, and that is all the information. My question is, why do we have that when my understanding is other registers do not quite . . . and this is perhaps a little too much personal information that …
12 Sep 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
45 words
Thank you, Mr. Chair man. Clause 15(4) allows the Minister to exempt the legal person from the requirements under subclause (1) of clause 15. Could the Honourable Premier provide a little colour as to what situations that might be exercised? Thank you, Mr. Chair man.
18 Jul 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
20 words
Yes, thank you , Madam Deputy Speaker. My questions are with respect to the Statement on the beneficial ownership registry.
18 Jul 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
66 words
M y first question is with respect to that , given the additional duties being taken on by the Registrar of Companies, and I happen to know that in the past they have been quite strapped for resources, people and money. Can the Premier please advise what specific additional resources will be provided to the Registrar so they can successfully …
18 Jul 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
6 words
Point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker?
18 Jul 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
18 words
Additional questions . But as a clarifying comment , I believe I have talked about — [Inaudible interjection]
18 Jul 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
9 words
—in the past , or at times — [Crosstalk]
18 Jul 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
26 words
And that has been based on actual conversations with members of the ROC. So, with respect to the Premier, he is inadvertently mistaken, Madam Deputy Speaker.
18 Jul 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
9 words
Yes. Ah, n o, I have a second question.
18 Jul 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
64 words
I note in the Statement that they are tabling the Bill now to come when we resume in September and they are anticipating potential floor amendments during the second reading. W hile I appreciate that that is to undertake consultation, which we certainly would support , my question is , Why must the Bill be tabled today? It would certainly …
18 Jul 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
36 words
It would certainly be preferable that the Bill was tabled in its full and final form so that we could all appreciate the full details and particulars of the Bill to be prepared for the debate.
18 Jul 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
27 words
So, I repeat my question: What is the purpose of tabling the B ill today rather than when it has all the full and final details ?
18 Jul 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
35 words
Yes, it is supplemental . But, in fact, the Statement does not state why it must be tabled today versus on our first day back in September. And so, again, the Premier is inadvertently mistaken.
18 Jul 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
9 words
Just because he says something doesn't make it correct.
18 Jul 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
13 words
But I do have a third question, Madam— [Inaudible interjections and laughter ]
18 Jul 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
6 words
—Madam Deputy Speaker. [Inaudible interjections] [Gavel]
18 Jul 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
54 words
The Statement does allude to there may be provisions that will allow members or companies on the register to have certain information suppressed. Perhaps the Premier could outline for us what are the conditions, what kinds of information or what kinds of situations or applications of those provisions , would be ? Thank you.
18 Jul 2025 House of Assembly
Official Hansard Report - House of Assembly
10 words
I do have a clarifying question , because of course—