Leave of absence was granted to Mr. Ancil Antoine, MP for D’Abadie / O’Meara, from sittings of the House for the period March 24-31, 2019, to Hon. Major General (Retired) Edmund Dillon, MP for Point Fortin, for sittings during the period March 28 – April 1, 2019 and to Dr. Fuad Khan, MP for Barataria / San Juan and Mr. Rushton Paray, MP for Mayaro, from today’s Sitting.

The House paid tribute to former Member of Parliament, Andrew Casimire, who passed away on Thursday March 21, 2019. Mr. Casimire was the Member of Parliament for Toco / Manzanilla during the 4th Republican Parliament. The House observed a minute of silence.

Fourteen papers were laid. See Order Paper for details.

Two reports were presented.

Five urgent questions were posed.

Sixteen questions qualified for oral answer. Question #133 was deferred for two weeks.

The Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in the name of the Minister of Finance. Hon. Colm Imbert, MP, moved that the Bill 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 Leader of the House 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 Attorney General moved the second reading of The Non-Profit Organisations Bill, 2019. Debate began on the Bill. Following the debate, the Bill was committed to a Committee of the Whole for consideration clause by clause. No amendments were made. The Bill was read a third time and passed.

The House brought greetings to the nation on the observance on Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day on March 30. The Sitting concluded at 7:39 p.m. The House adjourned to Friday April 5, 2019 at 1:30 p.m.