Leave of Absence was granted to Sen. the Hon. Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, Sen. Dr. Lester Henry, Sen. Gerald Hadeed, Sen. Paul Richards and Sen. H.R. Ian Roach. Mr. Rohan Sinanan, Mr. Ronald Huggins, Mr. Wayne Munro, Mr. Clive Dottin and Mr. Albert Sydney were appointed to temporarily replace Senators Baptiste-Primus, Henry, Hadeed, Richards and Roach respectively in their absence.

Temporary Senators, Mr. Rohan Sinanan, Mr. Ronald Huggins, Mr. Wayne Munro, Mr. Clive Dottin and Mr. Albert Sydney took their oaths of allegiance.

All benches paid tribute to former Independent Senator, Clive Spencer who passed away on June 2, 2016. A minute of silence was observed.

Seventeen (17) Papers were laid in the names of the Minister of Finance, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs and the Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts. See Order Paper and Supplemental Order Paper for details.

Three Urgent Questions were posed and answered. See Order Paper for details.

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

Senator Wade Mark made a request to move the adjournment of the House on a definite matter of urgent public importance namely the decision of the Government to withdraw $2.5 Billion from the Heritage and Stabilization Fund. The President of the Senate was not satisfied that this matter qualified under Standing Order 16.

Opposition Senator Wayne Sturge raised a matter under Standing Order 32 regarding statements made by the Prime Minister on Wednesday May 25, 2016 at a Post-Cabinet media briefing on the issue of the SSA. Sen Sturge moved that the Prime Minister made damaging reflections and imputations upon members of the Senate. Later in the proceedings, the President of the Senate ruled that a case had not been made, prima facie, which warranted this matter’s referral to the Committee of Privileges.

The Minister of Finance moved the second reading of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property (Amendment) Bill, 2015. Senator Wade Mark was first to enter the debate. Following the second reading of the Bill, the Bill was taken to the Committee of the whole to be considered clause by clause. The Bill was read a third time and passed without amendments. The progress of this Bill can be viewed here.

Senator Wade Mark raised a matter on the adjournment namely the increases in bank fees and related charges by the commercial banks and the negative impact of such increases on the national community. The Minister of Finance responded.

The Sitting concluded at 12:29 a.m. on Wednesday June 8, 2016. The Senate adjourned to Tuesday June 14, 2016 at 1:30 p.m.