senate

Sittings

11th Sitting of the Senate

5th Session - 11th Republican Parliament

Friday 13 December, 2019
10:00 AM
Announcements By The President/Vice-President
Leave of absence

The Vice-President advised that the President of the Senate, Sen. the Hon. Christine Kangaloo, is currently out of the country. Leave of absence was granted to Sen. the Hon. Franklin Khan and Sen. Saddam Hosein, who are ill. Mr. Ndale Young, Mr. Augustus Thomas and Mr. Rishi Tripathi were appointed temporary Senators in their absence.

Announcements By The President/Vice-President
Establishment of JSC

The Vice-President of the Senate shared correspondence received from the Speaker of the House of Representatives informing of the establishment of a Joint Select Committee on the Cannabis Control Bill, 2019.

Bills Brought From The House Of Representatives
The Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill, 2019

The Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was brought from the House of Representatives in the name of the Attorney General. Hon. Faris Al-Rawi, MP, moved that the next stage of the Bill be taken later in the proceedings. The motion was carried.

Papers
Four Papers

Four papers were laid. See Order Paper for details.

Presentation Of Reports From Select Committees
Two Reports

Two reports were presented.

Questions To Ministers: Oral Answer
Three urgent questions

Three urgent questions were posed.

Questions To Ministers: Oral Answer
Three Questions on Notice

Three questions qualified for oral answer. All questions were answered.

Oath Of Allegiance Of A New Member
Temporary Senators

Temporary Senators, Mr. Ndale Young, Mr. Augustus Thomas and Mr. Rishi Tripathi took the oath of allegiance.

Requests For Leave To Move The Adjournment Of The House On Definite Matters Of Urgent Public Importance
Two requests

Sen. Wade Mark 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 render adequate aid to citizens affected by severe flooding which occurred between December 11-12, 2019. The Vice-President of the Senate was not satisfied that this matter qualified under this Standing Order.
Sen. Mark made a second request for leave to discuss the matter of the extreme inconvenience currently being endured by the national community as a result of the demonetization of $100 currency note and replacement with other tender. The Vice-President of the Senate was not satisfied that this matter as presented qualified under this Standing Order.

Motions Relating To The Business Or Sittings Of The House And Moved By A Minister Or Parliamentary Secretary
Establishment of JSC

The Acting Leader of Government Business moved a motion that the Senate concur with the House of Representatives in the establishment of the Joint Select Committee on The Cannabis Control Bill, 2019. The motion was approved.

Motions Relating To The Business Or Sittings Of The House And Moved By A Minister Or Parliamentary Secretary
Extension to JSCs

The Acting Leader of Government Business, Sen. the Hon. Clarence Rambharat, moved two motions that the JSC on the National Statistical Institute of Trinidad and Tobago Bill, 2018 and the JSC on the Cybercrime Bill, 2019 be granted extensions in order for the Committees to complete their work and provide a final report by March 31, 2020. The motions were approved.

Government Business: Bills Second Reading
The Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill, 2019

The Attorney General, Hon. Faris Al-Rawi, MP moved the second reading of The Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill, 2019. (This bill was passed in the House of Representatives on Wednesday December 11, 2019.) Debate began on the Bill. Following the debate, the Bill was committed to a Committee of the Whole for consideration clause by clause. Amendments were made and approved. With 27 votes for, 0 votes against and 1 abstention, the Bill was read a third time and passed.

Matter On The Adjournment
Two Matters

Sen. Wade Mark raised a matter on the adjournment namely the unsatisfactory working conditions experienced by employees of the Port of Spain City Corporation. The Minister of Rural Development and Local Government, Sen. the Hon. Kazim Hosein, responded.
Sen. Mark raised a second matter regarding the need for the Government to provide the Senate with some explanation on the decision to engage ScotiaBank to conduct an auction of several non-operational assets of Petrotrin. The Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Sen. the Hon. Allyson West, responded.

Adjournment
The Senate adjourned to Wednesday December 18, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.

The Sitting concluded at 11:00 p.m. The Senate adjourned to Wednesday December 18, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.