Sittings
18th Sitting of the Senate
5th Session - 11th Republican Parliament
Leave of absence was granted to Sen. the Hon. Franklin Khan, Sen. Robert Le Hunte and Sen. Anita Haynes, who are all out of the country. Mr. Augustus Thomas, Mr. Ndale Young and Mr. Wayne Sturge were appointed temporary Senators in their absence.
Temporary Senators Augustus, Young and Sturge took the oath of allegiance.
Ten papers were laid. See the Order Paper.
Five reports were presented.
Three urgent questions were posed and answered.
Nine questions qualified for oral answer. Seven questions were answered. Question #87 and #101 were deferred for two weeks.
The Miscellaneous Provisions (Registrar General, Registration of Deeds, Conveyancing and Law of Property, Real Property, Stamp Duty and Registration of Title to Land) Bill, 2020 was introduced in the name of the Attorney General.
Acting Leader of Government Business, Sen. the Hon. Clarence Rambharat, moved motions that the SSC on the Evidence (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and the JSC on the Cannabis Control Bill, 2019 be granted extensions to April 30, 2020 in order for the Committees to complete their work and submit a final report. Both motions were approved.
Debate continued on the Interception of Communications (Amendment) Bill, 2020. Following the debate, the Bill was committed to a Committee of the Whole to consider the bill clause by clause. With 22 votes for, 6 votes against and 1 abstention, the Bill was read a third time and passed, with amendments.
Sen. Charisse Seepersad raised a matter on the adjournment, namely the need for the Government to immediately address the long waiting period for the delivery of passports. The Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs responded.
Sen. Anthony Vieira raised a matter on the need for the Government to address the persistent presence and continued increase in the number of street dwellers and the threat they pose to themselves and the public. Acting Leader of Government Business, Sen. the Hon. Clarence Rambharat, responded.
The Sitting concluded at 10:35 p.m. The Senate adjourned to Tuesday March 10, 2020 at 1:30 p.m.