Leave of Absence was granted to Sen. Wade Mark who is out of the country. Ms. Christlyn Moore was appointed a temporary Senator in Sen. Mark’s absence.

Temporary Senator Christlyn Moore took her oath of allegiance.

Tribute was paid to former Senator Carol Cuffy-Dowlat who passed away on April 14, 2017. A minute of silence was observed.

The Fire Service (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was brought from the House of Representatives.

Seventeen Papers were laid in the names of the Minister of National Security, Minister of Tourism, Minister of Finance, Attorney General, Prime Minister, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, Minister of Planning and Development, Minister of Education and the Vice-President of the Senate. See Order Paper for details.

Four Reports will be presented. See Order Paper for details.

Three urgent questions were posed. See Order Paper for details.

Six questions qualified for oral answer. Question #36 was deferred to the next Sitting. See Order Paper for details.

Sen. Gerald Ramdeen 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 Ministry of Public Utilities to ensure that citizens throughout the country receive a proper supply of water. The President of the Senate was satisfied that this matter qualified for debate.

Debate continued on the Private Motion moved by Sen. Wayne Sturge calling on the Government to deal with the unacceptable crime level in Trinidad and Tobago. Debate will resume on this motion at another Sitting.

Having been approved for debate earlier in the Sitting, debate commenced on this matter from 6:00 p.m. and concluded at 6:58 p.m.

Sen. Sophia Chote, S.C. raised as a matter on the adjournment the lack of provision of school meals via the School Feeding Programme during the week before and after Carnival 2017. The Minister of Education responded.

The Sitting concluded at 7:18 p.m. The Senate adjourned to Tuesday May 2, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.