President granted Leave of Absence to Sen. Arnold Piggott,Sen. Michael Annisette and Sen. Corinne Baptiste-McKnight. Mr. Foster Cummings was appointed to temporarily replace Sen. Piggott. Mrs.Parvatee Anmolsingh-Mahabir was appointed to temporarily replace Sen. Baptiste-McKnight. Prof. David Picou was appointed to temporarily replace Sen. Annisette.

The Securities Bill, 2009, which was passed in the House of Representatives on Friday July 10, 2009, was read a first time in the Senate. The Bill is in the name of the Minister of Trade and Industry and Minister in the Ministry of Finance.

19 Questions qualify for Oral Answer. Three Questions were answered and the other sixteen deferred. See the Order Paper.

21 Questions qualify for written answer. See the Order Paper.

The Leader of Government Business announced the members of the Senate appointed to the Joint Select Committee on the Local Government Bill, 2009.

Debate resumed (from Tuesday June 30, 2009) on the Family Court Bill, 2009. The Attorney General rose to reply to the contributions made by 5 senators. The Attorney General will continue his response in the next sitting.

Sen. Wade Mark raised the matter of the status of the country’s revenues in view of declining income from the energy and the non-energy sectors.The Minister of Trade and Industry responded.

Sen. Wade Mark raised a second matter on the worsening economic crisis and government’s failure to be candid and open with the people in respect of its consequences.The Minister of Trade and Industry responded.

This sitting adjourned at 5:48 p.m.