Four Papers are to be laid. One in the name of the Minister of National Security and three in the name of the Minister in the Ministry of Finance. See the Order Paper and Supplemental Order Paper for details.

Four questions were answered (44, 54, 57 and 63) by the Minister in the Ministry of Finance (Sen. the Hon. Mariano Browne), the Minister of Health (Sen. the Hon. Jerry Narace), the Minister of Public Utilities (Hon. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, MP) and the Minister of National Security (Sen. the Hon. Martin Joseph) respectively. See the Order Paper for details.

See the Order Paper for details.

The Minister of Legal Affairs (Hon. Peter Taylor, MP) apprised the House of issues related to rising food prices.

The Tobacco Control Bill, 2008 was introduced in the Senate in the name of the Minister of Health. The purpose of this Bill is to implement the requirements contained in the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which Trinidad and Tobago signed on 27th August, 2003 and ratified on 19th August, 2004 and which entered into force on 27th February, 2005. The Bill must be passed by a special (three-fifths) majority in both Houses. After the Bill is passed by both Houses, the resulting Act will require proclamation.

Debate resumed (from February 26, 2008) on the Motion. The Minister of National Security made his contribution, followed by Sen. Dana Seetahal, SC, Sen. Mohammed Faisal Rahman, Sen. Helen Drayton and Sen. Dr. Jennifer Kernahan. Debate was suspended during Sen. Kernahan’s contribution.

The President of the Senate granted leave to Sen. Wade Mark to raise two matters on the adjournment. The first was on the non-submission of audited financial statements for the University of Trinidad and Tobago. The Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education (Hon. Christine Kangaloo, MP) responded.

The second matter on the adjournment raised by Sen. Mark was on “Full disclosure on the pricing structure of petroleum products in Trinidad and Tobago.” The Minister of Energy and Energy Industries (Sen. the Hon. Conrad Enill) responded.

The Senate adjourned to Tuesday April 29, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. On that occasion the Senate proposes to deal with a Motion to appoint Senators to the two oversight Joint Select Committees (as was done in the House of Representatives on 14 March 2008). The Senate will then proceed to deal with the Immigration (Advance Passenger Information) Bill, 2008.