The Clerk of the House will read the Proclamation declaring the first Session of the 11th Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago open. The National Anthem will then be played.

The House will proceed with the process of electing a Speaker. Once elected, the Speaker will be robed and will return the Chamber to preside over the proceedings.

The House will then proceed to elect a Deputy Speaker, who will take the oath.

All members of the House will in turn take the required oath.

The Speaker will indicate that His Excellency wishes to address the members of both Houses assembled together. The sitting will then be suspended and the Speaker will proceed to Wrightson Road, accompanied by the President of the Senate, to await the arrival of Their Excellencies. Members of the Senate and the Judiciary will enter the Chamber to await His Excellency.

Leave of Absence was granted to the Honourable Stuart Young, MP for Port of Spain North/St. Anns West for Sittings during the period March 8-14, 2016 and to Mr. Fazal Karim, MP for Chaguanas East for today’s Sitting.

The Member for Tabaquite (Dr. Surujrattan Rambachan, MP) moved a motion asking the House to annul the Value Added Tax (Amendment to Schedule 2) Order 2016. Minister of Finance, Hon. Colm Imbert, MP was the first to enter the debate, followed by the Member for Caroni Central and the Attorney General. The Member for Tabaquite then rose to conclude. At the ensuing vote, the Motion was not approved.

The Sitting ended at 5:15 p.m. The House adjourned to March 11 2016 at 1:30 p.m.