Leave of absence was granted to Independent Senators Sophia Chote, S.C. and Deoroop Teemal, who are ill. Ms. Zola Phillips and Mr. Josh Drayton were appointed temporary Senators in their place.

Temporary Senators Phillips and Drayton took the oath of allegiance.

Three papers were laid. See Order Paper for details.

Two urgent questions were posed and answered.

Four questions qualified for oral answer. Question #97 was deferred for two weeks.

Sen. Wade Mark raised a matter regarding the privileges of the Senate. The matter involved statements made by the Minister of National Security, Hon. Stuart Young, MP, in response to an urgent question posed in the Senate on May 13, 2020 regarding the Government’s awareness of the breach of the Rio Treaty. The President of the Senate reserved her ruling for later in the proceedings.

The Attorney General, Hon. Faris Al-Rawi, MP, moved the second reading of The Real Estate Agents Bill, 2020. Debate began on the Bill. Following the debate, the Bill was committed to a Committee of the Whole Senate for consideration clause by clause. Amendments were made. The Bill was read a third time and passed.

The President of the Senate ruled that no prima facie case had been made which warranted the matter regarding the breach of the Rio Treaty to be referred to the Committee of Privileges.

The Senate brought greetings to the Muslim community on the celebration of Eid-Ul-Fitr on May 24, 2020. The Sitting concluded at 6:12 p.m. The Senate adjourned to Tuesday May 26, 2020 at 1:30 p.m.