The Clerk read the Proclamation by Her Excellency the President declaring the 5th Session of the 11th Parliament open.

Leave of absence was granted to Ms. Marlene Mc Donald, MP for Port of Spain South and Mr. Rudranath Indarsingh, MP for Couva South from today’s Sitting of the House.

The Attorney General lodged a petition on behalf of the Chief State Solicitor requesting the use of the Hansard in court proceedings. The petition was approved.

The Leader of the House moved motions that the Miscellaneous Provisions (Local Government Reform) Bill, 2019, the Private Security Industries Bill, 2019, the Cybercrime Bill, 2017, the Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Control Bill, 2016, the Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters Bill, 2018, the Tax Information Exchange Agreements Bill, 2018 and the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2019, the Constitution (Amendment) (Tobago Self-Government) Bill, 2018 and the National Statistical Institute of Trinidad and Tobago Bill, 2018 be referred to Joint Select Committees, which will adopt the work of the respective Joint Select Committees in the 4th Session and report to the House by December 31, 2019. Appointments were made for each Committee. These motions were approved.

The Sitting concluded at 1:57 p.m. The House adjourned to Monday October 7, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. At that time, the Budget for Fiscal 2020 will be presented.

Leave of absence was granted to Hon. Cherrie-Ann Crichlow-Cockburn, MP for Lopinot / Bon Air West, Ms. Marlene McDonald, MP for Port of Spain South and Mr. Ganga Singh, MP for Chaguanas West from today’s Sitting of the House.

The Speaker of the House made a statement on Parliament’s COVID-19 Response. She further laid guidelines for the debate.

The Miscellaneous Provisions (2019 Novel Coronavirus [2019-nCoV]) Bill, 2020 was introduced in the name of the Attorney General. The Attorney General moved that the next stage of the Bill be taken later in the proceedings. This was approved.

Hon. Faris Al-Rawi, MP, moved the second reading of The Miscellaneous Provisions (2019 Novel Coronavirus [2019-nCoV]) Bill, 2020. Following the contribution of two Opposition Members, the Attorney General wound up the debate on the Bill. The Bill was then committed to a Committee of the Whole for consideration. Amendments were made. With 37 votes for, 0 votes against and 0 abstentions, the Bill was read a third time and passed.

The Sitting concluded at 12:23 p.m. The House adjourned to a date to be fixed.
View Part 1 of this Sitting: https://youtu.be/qT53E5x7GX0
View Part 2 of this Sitting: https://youtu.be/9Ou4TRg2bMQ