Sittings
14th Sitting of the Senate
2nd Session - 9th Republican Parliament
At the next sitting of the Senate, debate is expected to begin on the Integrity in Public Life (Amendment) Bill, 2009.
The Vice-President announced that the President of the Senate was acting as President of the Republic, and that Sen. Michael Annisette was out of the country. Mr. Noel Gayle and Ms. Althea Rocke were appointed to temporarily replace the President of the Senate and Sen. Michael Annisette respectively.
The Bill, which was passed in the House of Representatives on May 4, 2009, was read a first time in the Senate. The Bill is in the name of the Attorney General. The Leader of Government Business moved that the next stage of the Bill be taken at a sitting of the Senate on Tuesday May 12, 2009. Leave was granted following a division of 20 for and 8 against.
Three Papers were laid, two in the name of the Minister of Trade and Industry and the Minister in the Ministry of Finance, and one in the name of the Minister of Social Development. See the Order Paper and Supplemental Order Paper for details.
Seven Questions qualify for oral answer. One Question was answered. See the Order Paper.
24 Questions qualify for written answer. See the Order Paper.
Two Bills were introduced, the Supreme Court of Judicature (Amendment) Bill, 2009 and the Family Court Bill, 2009. Both Bills are in the name of the Attorney General.
The Minister of Public Utilities moved the second reading of the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2009. Sen. Wade Mark was first to enter the debate, followed by Sen. Basharat Ali. Some seven Senators made interventions before debate was suspended.
Before adjourning, there were two matters raised on the Motion for the Adjournment of the Senate. First, Sen. Dr. Adesh Nanan raised the matter of the failure of the Minister of education to take steps to avoid the overloading of the Primary School Curriculum. The Minister of Education responded.
Sen. Mark then raised the issue of the current status of the Heritage and Stabilization Fund. The Minister in the Ministry of Finance responded.