Leave of absence was granted to Sen. the Hon. Franklin Khan, Sen. the Hon. Allyson West and Sen. Hazel Thompson-Ahye who are out of the country and to Sen. Taharqa Obika, who is ill. Mr. Ndale Young, Mr. Augustus Thomas, Mr. John Heath and Ms. Karunaa Bisramsingh were appointed temporary Senators in their absence.

Temporary Senators Mr. Ndale Young, Mr. Augustus Thomas, Mr. John Heath and Ms. Karunaa Bisramsingh took the oath of allegiance.

The President informed of correspondence received from the Speaker of the House on the referral of the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2019 to an existing Joint Select Committee.

The Non-Profit Organisations Bill, 2019 was brought from the House of Representatives in the name of the Attorney General.

Fourteen papers were laid. See Order Paper for details.

Three Reports will be presented.

Three urgent questions were posed.

Twelve questions qualified for oral answer. Questions #173, #174 and #175 were deferred for two weeks.

The Acting Leader of Government Business moved motions that the JSC – The National Statistical Institute of Trinidad and Tobago Bill, 2018 and the JSC – The Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters Bill, 2018 and the Tax Information Exchange Agreements Bill, 2018 be allowed extensions to complete their work and submit final reports by May 31, 2019. These motions were carried.

The Acting Leader of Government Business moved that the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2019 be referred to the JSC on The Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters Bill, 2018 and the Tax Information Exchange Agreements Bill, 2018. This motion was approved.

The Attorney General moved the second reading of the Evidence (Amendment) Bill, 2019. Debate began on the Bill.

Sen. Wade Mark raised a matter on the adjournment regarding the commitments made by the Prime Minister upon signing the St. Ann’s declaration at the special meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government on December 3-4, 2018. Sen. the Hon. Dennis Moses responded.
Sen. Wade Mark raised another matter regarding the need for the Government through the Central Bank to ensure that the interest of policy holders are protected during their negotiations re CLICO’s insurance portfolio. Hon. Colm Imbert, MP, responded.

The Sitting concluded at 7:52 p.m. The Senate adjourned to Tuesday April 9, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.