Sittings
23rd Sitting of the Senate
2nd Session - 9th Republican Parliament
The President granted leave of absence to Sen. the Hon. John Jeremie (out of country). Mr. Noel Gayle was appointed to temporarily replace Sen. Jeremie during his absence from Trinidad and Tobago.
The President informed the Senate of his decision to recuse himself from the proceedings of the Committee of Privileges whenever the Committee considers a matter referred to it concerning Senator Wade Mark. Mr. George Hadeed was appointed to chair the Committee of Privileges in place of the President of the Senate during those occasions where this matter is considered.
The President read a letter from the Speaker of the House informing the Senate of a decision of the House of Representatives to appoint a Joint Select Committee to consider the Local Government Bill, 2009.
Two Bills, the President’s Emoluments (Amendment) Bill, 2009 and the Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2009 were read a first time in the Senate, having been passed in the House of Representatives. The Minister of Local Government moved that the next stage of the Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2009 be taken at a sitting of the Senate on Wednesday July 8, 2009. Leave was granted.
Seven Papers were laid, four by the Minister of Trade and Industry and Minister in the Ministry of Finance, two by the Minister of Local Government and one by the Minister of Energy and Energy Industries. See the Supplemental Order Paper.
The First Report of the Public Accounts (Enterprises) Committee for the 2007/2008 Session of the Ninth Parliament was laid by Sen. Wade Mark.
Six Questions qualify for oral answer. Four Questions were answered and the other two deferred. See the Order Paper.
18 Questions qualify for written answer. See the Order Paper.
The Leader of Government Business moved that the Senate appoint members to the Joint Select Committee on the Local Government Bill, 2009.
The Minister of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources moved a Motion to acquire land for a public purpose (Construction of Mason Hall Secondary School). Six Senators made interventions before the Minister rose to conclude the debate. The Motion was approved.
The Minister of Trade and Industry moved the second reading of the Metrology (Amendment) Bill, 2009. Five Senators made contributions before the Minister rose to conclude debate. The Bill was considered in Committee and passed with amendments. It was then read a third time and passed.
There were two matters raised on the Motion for the Adjournment of the Senate by Senator Mark. First was the matter of the deteriorating crime situation in the country and government’s failure to provide adequate security measures to protect the citizens. The Minister of National Security responded.
The second matter raised by Senator Mark was the failure of the Minister of National Security to take steps to effect payments of gratuity and meal allowances entitled to the members of the Transit Police. The Minister of National Security responded.
At its next sitting debate is expected to begin on the Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2009. The sitting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.