The President of the Senate granted leave of absence to Sen. Nicole Dyer-Griffith. Mr. Rabindra Moonan was appointed to temporarily replace Sen. Dyer-Griffith during her absence from Trinidad and Tobago.

The President of the Senate welcomed students from the Bishop Anstey High School East, who were in attendance at today’s sitting.

The Minister of Transport laid nine Papers. See Order Paper for details.

The Minister of Justice moved the second reading of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Bill, 2011, which was passed in the House of Representatives on Friday November 18, 2011. Sen. Fitzgerald Hinds was first to enter the debate, followed by Sen. Dr. Victor Wheeler, Sen. David Abdulah, Sen. Faris Al-Rawi and Sen. Elton Prescott, SC. Nine Senators participated in the debate before the Minister of Justice rose to conclude. The Bill was considered in Committee and passed with amendments. It was then read a third time and passed with the requisite special majority. The result of the division which taken at third reading was 29 for, none against, no abstentions.

At the next sitting debate is expected to begin on the Legal Aid and Advice (Amendment) Bill, 2011.