The President granted leave of absence to Sen. the Hon. Devant Maharaj and Sen. the Hon. Dr. Bhoendradatt Tewarie. The President of the Senate then read a letter from the President of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago appointing Archbishop Barbara Burke and Mr. Nazeemool Mohammed as temporary Senators. They then took the Oath of Allegiance as temporary Senators for today’s sitting.

Nine Papers were laid in the Senate. See the Order Paper and Supplemental Order Paper

Questions no. 65, 66 and 67 were answered. See the Order Paper and Supplemental Order Paper.

The Minister of Finance and the Economy moved that the Special Select Committee be allowed an extension of 4 weeks to complete its work on the Securities (Amendment) Bill, 2013 and submit a final report to the Senate.

The Minister of Finance and the Economy moved the second reading of the Finance Bill, 2014. Senator Dr. Lester Henry was the first to enter the debate followed by Sen. Subhas Ramkhelawan. Sen. the Hon. Kevin Ramnarine then stood up to contribute followed by Sen. Faris Al-Rawi, Sen. Helen Drayton, Sen. the Hon. Vasant Bharath, Sen. Diane Baldeo-Chadeesingh, Sen. Dr. Victor Wheeler, the Vice-President of the Senate, Sen. Avinash Singh, Sen. Dr. Dhanayshar Mahabir, Sen. Shamfa Cudjoe, Sen. Anthony Vieira, Sen. David Small, Sen. Camille Robinson-Regis and Sen. Dr. Rolph Balgobin. The Minister of Finance and the Economy then rose to conclude. The Bill was then read a second time and committed to a committee of the Senate to be considered clause by clause.The Bill was then read a third time and passed.

The Senate adjourned to Tuesday April 15th 2014 at 10:00 a.m. where they will consider the Nurses and Midwives amendment bill.