senate

Sittings

20th Sitting of the Senate

4th Session - 12th Republican Parliament

Friday 17 May, 2024
1:30 PM
Announcements By The President/Vice-President
Clerk of the Senate

The President of the Senate, Sen. the Hon. Nigel de Freitas, expressed thanks to former Clerk of the Senate, Ms. Keiba Jacob Mottley, for her service and welcomed new Clerk of the Senate (Ag.), Ms. Chantal La Roche.

Sen. the Hon. Nigel de Freitas [President of the Senate]
Announcements By The President/Vice-President
Leave of absence

Leave of absence was granted to Sen. the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne, Sen. the Hon. Rohan Sinanan and Sen. Wade Mark, who are out of the country and to Sen. Hazel Thompson-Ahye, who is ill. Mr. Ndale Young, Mr. Michael Seales and Mr. Francis Lewis were appointed temporary Senators.

Oath Of Allegiance Of A New Member
Temporary Senators

Temporary Senators Ndale Young, Michael Seales and Francis Lewis took the oath of allegiance.

Sen. Ndale Young [Government Senator (Temporary)]
Sen. Michael Seales [Government Senator (Temporary)]
Sen. Francis Lewis [Independent Senator (Temporary)]
Bills Brought From The House Of Representatives
The Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) (Amendment) Bill, 2024

The Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was brought from the House of Representatives in the name of the Attorney General, who moved that the next stage of the bill be taken later in the proceedings. The motion was carried.

Sen. the Hon. Reginald Armour SC [Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs]
Papers
Nine Papers

Nine papers were laid. See Order Paper.

Sen. the Hon. Randall Mitchell [Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts]
Presentation Of Reports From Select Committees
Three Reports

Three reports were presented. See Order Paper.

Sen. Jearlean John [Opposition Senator]
Questions To Ministers: Oral Answer
Three Questions on Notice

Three questions qualified for oral answer. See Order Paper. All questions were answered.

Sen. Anil Roberts [Opposition Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Donna Cox [Minister of Social Development and Family Services]
Hon. Stuart Young SC, MP [Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister]
Hon. Marvin Gonzales, MP [Minister of Public Utilities]
Government Business: Bills Second Reading
The Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) (Amendment) Bill, 2024

The Attorney General, Sen. the Hon. Reginald Armour, S.C., moved the second reading of The Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Four members made contributions before the Attorney General rose to wind up. The Bill was considered by a Committee of the Whole and approved without amendment. The Bill was then read a third time and passed.

Sen. the Hon. Reginald Armour SC [Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs]
Sen. Jayanti Lutchmedial-Ramdial [Opposition Senator]
Sen. Sunity Maharaj [Independent Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Randall Mitchell [Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts]
Sen. Anthony Vieira SC [Independent Senator]
Government Business: Bills Second Reading
The Miscellaneous Provisions (Administration of Justice) Bill, 2023

The Attorney General, Sen. the Hon. Reginald Armour, S.C., moved the second reading of The Miscellaneous Provisions (Administration of Justice) Bill, 2023. Seven senators added their voice to the debate before the wind up by the Attorney General. The bill was then committed to a Committee of the whole Senate for consideration clause by clause. No amendments were made. The bill was read a third time and passed.

Sen. the Hon. Reginald Armour SC [Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs]
Sen. Jayanti Lutchmedial-Ramdial [Opposition Senator]
Sen. Dr. Maria Dillon-Remy [Independent Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Hassel Bacchus [Minister of Digital Transformation]
Sen. Deoroop Teemal [Independent Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Renuka Sagramsingh-Sooklal [Minister in the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs]
Sen. Anthony Vieira SC [Independent Senator]
Sen. Sunity Maharaj [Independent Senator]
Matter On The Adjournment
One Matter

Independent Senator, Sen. Anthony Vieira, S.C., raised a matter on the adjournment namely the need for amendments to the Copyright Act to expand the term of copyright protection for authors, the producers of sound recordings, and the moral rights of authors and performers. The Attorney General, Sen. the Hon. Reginald Armour, S.C., responded.

Sen. Anthony Vieira SC [Independent Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Reginald Armour SC [Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs]
Adjournment
The Senate adjourned to a date to be fixed

The Sitting concluded at 6:03 p.m.