Leave of absence was granted to Sen. Daniel Dookie, who is out of the country and to Sen. Nigel De Freitas, who is ill. Mr. Ndale Young and Mr. Augustus Thomas were appointed temporary Senators in their place.

Temporary Senators Ndale Young and Augustus Thomas took the oath of allegiance.

One Bill was brought from the House of Representatives.

Sixteen Papers were laid. See Order Papers for details.

Five Reports were presented.

Two urgent questions were posed.

Twenty questions qualified for oral answer. Questions #15, #36, #39, #40 and #101 were deferred for two weeks. See Order Paper.

Opposition Senator Anita Haynes made a request for leave to move the adjournment of the House on a definite matter of urgent public importance namely the failure of the Government to adequately inform the nation of the public health crisis affecting Trinidad and Tobago, that is, the H1N1 Virus. The President of the Senate was not satisfied that this matter qualified under this Standing Order.

The Leader of Government Business moved motions that 5 month extensions be granted to the JSC on the Cybercrime Bill, 2017 and the JSC on the Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Control Bill, 2016 in order for the Committees to complete its work and submit final Reports by May 31, 2019. These motions were approved.

The Minister of Planning and Development, Hon. Camille Robinson-Regis, MP, moved the second reading of The Planning and Facilitation of Development (Amendment) Bill, 2018. Debate began on the Bill. Following the debate, the Bill was referred to a Committee of the Whole Senate for consideration clause by clause. The Bill was read a third time and passed, without amendments.

Sen. Wade Mark raised a matter on the adjournment namely the failure of the Government to explain the delay in the full implementation of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act. The Minister of Finance responded.
Sen. Mark raised a second matter regarding the need for the Government to address issues raised in the September 2018 United Nations Human Rights Council Report on the deprivation of liberty of a citizen in the care of the st. Ann’s Psychiatric Hospital. The Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries responded.

The Sitting concluded at 10:59 p.m. The Senate adjourned to Monday January 21, 2019 at 1:30 p.m.