The President granted leave to Sen. the Hon. Anand Ramlogan and Sen. Dr. Rolph Balgobin. Dr. Andy Ali and Mr. Nicholas Galt were appointed to temporarily replace Senators Ramlogan and Balgobin during their absence.

The President read communication from the Speaker of the House identifying the members of the House of Representatives appointed to the Joint Select Committee on the Anti-Gang Bill, 2010 and the Bail (Amendment) Bill, 2010.

The President of the Senate allowed the Managing Director of Vidara Enterprises Limited the right of reply to a statement made by the Leader of Government Business in the Senate.

Six Papers were laid. See the Order Paper and Supplemental Order Paper.

Three Questions qualify for Oral Answer. Two Questions were answered. See the Order Paper

One Question qualifies for written response. See the Order Paper.

One Bill, The Statutory Authorities (Amendment) Bill, 2010, was introduced in the name of the Minister of Public Administration.

The Leader of Government Business moved a Motion to appoint Senators to the Joint Select Committee on the Anti-Gang Bill, 2010 and the Bail (Amendment) Bill, 2010.

Debate resumed (from 16 November 2010) on the Firearms (Amendment) Bill, 2010. Sen. Fitzgerald Hinds was first to contribute, followed by Sen. Corinne Baptiste-McKnight, the Minister of Public Administration, Sen. Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, Sen. Subhas Ramkhelawan and the Minister in the Ministry of National Security. Debate on the Bill was then suspended.

Sen. Pennelope Beckles-Robinson raised as a Matter on the Motion for the Adjournment of the Senate, “the negative impact on the country’s economy and the regional integration process, following the comments by the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in relation to the request for assistance by Caribbean countries after the passage of Hurricane Tomas”. The Minister of Foreign Affairs responded.

Before adjourning, the Leader of Government Business, The Leader of Opposition Business, Sen. Basharat Ali and the President of the Senate extended Christmas greetings to the national community. The sitting ended at 6:16 p.m.