Leave of absence was granted to Dr. Fuad Khan, MP for Barataria / San Juan.

The House paid tribute to Mr. Ashraf Ali, former MP for St. Augustine during the 3rd Independent Parliament from 1971-1976, who passed away on January 14, 2020. A minute of silence was observed.

Six papers were laid. See Order Paper for details.

One report was presented.

Seven questions were posed to the Prime Minister by Opposition members.

Three urgent questions were posed.

Eight questions qualified for oral answer. Question #17 was deferred. Questions #18, #19 and #23 were not asked.

Dr. Tim Gopeesingh, MP, made a request for leave to move the adjournment of the House on a definite matter of urgent public importance namely the threat that Trinidad and Tobago faces in wake of the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus. The Speaker of the House was not satisfied that this matter qualified under Standing Order 17.
Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, S.C., MP, also raised a matter namely the failure of the Government to provide a tangible solution to deal with high levels of serious crime in Trinidad and Tobago. The Speaker of the House was not satisfied that this matter qualified under Standing Order 17.

The Prime Minister, Hon. Keith Rowley, MP, made a statement highlighting information pertinent to the Red House Restoration Project.

The Finance (Variation of Appropriation) (Financial Year 2019) Bill, 2020 was introduced. The Minister of Finance, Hon. Colm Imbert, MP, moved that the next stage of the Bill be taken later in the proceedings. The motion was carried.

The Minister of Finance, Hon. Colm Imbert, MP, moved a motion for the House to adopt the Report of the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives for the Fifth Session (2019/2020), Eleventh Parliament on the consideration of proposals for the Variation of Appropriation for the fiscal year 2019. Debate began on the motion. The motion was approved.

The Minister of Finance moved the second reading of the Finance (Variation of Appropriation) (Financial Year 2019) Finance Bill, 2020. No one entered the debate. The Bill was read a third time and passed.

The Sitting concluded at 6:44 p.m. The House adjourned to Friday January 31, 2020 at 1:30 p.m.