Leave of Absence was granted to Senator Linus Rogers (out of the country) and Senator Dr. Carson Charles (illness). Mr. Joel Primus was sworn in to replace Sen. Linus Rogers.

This Bill was passed in the House of Representatives on Friday March 14, 2008, and was read a first time in the Senate.

Four Papers were laid, one in the name of the Minister in the Ministry of Finance (Sen. the Hon. Mariano Browne), one in the name of the Minister of Legal Affairs (Hon. Peter Taylor, MP), and two in the name of the Minister of Planning, Housing and the Environment (Sen. the Hon. Dr. Emily Gaynor Dick-Forde). See the Order Paper and Supplemental Order Paper for details.

The Leader of Government Business in the Senate (Sen. the Hon. Conrad Enill) presented the First Report of the House Committee of the Senate.

Three questions were answered (29, 30 and 40). The remaining 13 Questions were deferred. See the Order Paper for details.

The responses to Questions 38 and 39, both of which were addressed to the Minister of Finance (Hon. Karen Nunez-Teshiera, MP) were circulated. See the Order Paper for details of the questions.

The Leader of Government Business sought leave of the Senate to deal with Committee Business before Government Business. Leave was granted.

The Leader of Government Business (Sen. the Hon. Conrad Enill) moved the motion to adopt the Report, which dealt with the provision of laptop computers and high speed wireless Internet access to all Senators.
Senator Dr. Adesh Nanan and Sen. Dana Seetahal, SC made brief interventions before the Leader of Government Business concluded the debate. The Motion was approved.

Debate resumed on the Basel Convention (Regional Centre for Training and Technology Transfer) Bill, 2008 (from March 11, 2008). Sen. Dr. Jennifer Jones Kernahan resumed her contribution. She was followed by Sen. Gail Merhair, Sen. Mohammed Faisal Rahman, Sen. Corinne Baptiste-McKnight and Sen. Wade Mark. The Minister then concluded the debate. The Bill was considered in Committee and passed with amendments. It was then read a third time and passed.

Sen. Mark raised as a Matter on the Adjournment the Government’s decision to purchase a private jet. The Minister in the Ministry of Finance (Sen. the Hon. Mariano Browne) responded.

The Senate adjourned to Tuesday April 1, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. On that occasion the Senate will deal with Private Business.