The Speaker granted leave of absence to the Member for Port-of-Spain North/St. Ann’s West, the Member for Chaguanas East and the Member for Oropouche East from today’s Sitting.

Five papers were laid. See Order Paper and Supplemental Order Paper for details.

One Report was presented. See the Supplemental Order Paper.

Two Urgent Questions approved for oral answer were answered. The Questions have been appended to the Order Paper.

The Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister made a statement on the issue of violence and abuse of children in children’s homes.

The Minister of Public Utilities made a statement on the Report on the island-wide power outage in Trinidad, which was laid in the House earlier in the Sitting.

The Leader of the House moved that the Joint Select Committee on the Representation of the People be allowed an extension to September 2, 2022 to complete its work and submit its final report. The House agreed.

Debate resumed on a motion to adopt the Report of the JSC on the Cannabis Control Bill, 2020. The Member for Fyzabad was first to enter the debate, followed by the Minister of Sport and Community Development, The Member for Pointe-a-Pierre and the Member for Moruga/Tableland. The Acting Attorney General then rose to wind up the debate. The Report was then adopted.

The Bill was then read a second time, considered in Committee of the Whole and approved with amendments. The Bill was then read a third time and passed.

At the next Sitting, debate is expected on the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill. Before adjourning, Members extended greetings to the Muslim community on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.