Former Senator Winston Moore passed away on February 21, 2016. Senators were invited to pay their respects to Senator Moore. A minute of silence was observed.

Thirteen Papers were laid in the names of the Minister of Finance, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and the Minister of Planning and Development. See Order Paper for details.

Senator Foster Cummings presented the first Report of the Joint Select Committee on Government Assurances.

Three urgent questions were posed on availability of drugs for treatment of cancer patients, measures to restore normalcy to Chaguanas North Secondary School and the withholding of CDAP services at pharmacies. See Order Paper for details.

Nine questions qualified for oral answer. Answer to question #26 was deferred for seven days. See the Order Paper for details.

One request for leave to move the adjournment of the Senate on definite matters of urgent public importance namely the implications for the public in terms of not being able to access Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP) drugs at two hundred and ninety pharmacies which have not received payments for services rendered. The President of the Senate was not satisfied that this matter qualified under this Standing Order.

Debate will continue on a Private Motion which was moved by Senator Wade Mark at the 6th Sitting of the Senate on Tuesday November 24, 2015, to ask Government to take stock of Agenda 2030, to commit to help implement this new framework through all acts of legislation and to request that the Government table a report on the implementation of the national strategy for the Sustainable Development Goals for a thorough review by Parliament. The motion was approved.

Senator Wade Mark raised as a matter on the adjournment dealing with the issue of the failure of the Government to address the critical staff shortage at the Comptroller of Accounts Pensions Division and its negative impact on the livelihoods of hundreds of pensioners and persons entitled to pensions and gratuity payments.

The Sitting concluded at 6:20 p.m. The Senate adjourned to a date to be fixed.