Leave of absence was granted to Mr. David Lee, MP for Pointe-a-Pierre, from today’s Sitting of the House.

Eighteen papers were laid. See Order Paper for details.

Four reports were presented.

Two urgent questions were posed.

One question qualified for oral answer. This question was deferred for one week.

The Attorney General, Hon. Faris Al-Rawi, MP, made a statement regarding statements made by the Leader of the Opposition to the nation at a press conference indicating that a list of amendments to the Constitution (Amendment) (Tobago Self-Government) Bill, 2020 was presented to the Committee of the Whole. The Attorney General denied that this was so.

The Attorney General, Hon. Faris Al-Rawi, MP, made a statement on the expenditure by the Office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Legal Affairs for the period September 2015 to June 2021.

The Leader of the House moved that the proceedings of the Cannabis Control Bill, 2020 be resumed in the next Session at the adoption of the report stage. This motion was approved. She further moved that the proceedings of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Local Government Reform) Bill, 2020 and the Shipping Bill, 2020 be resumed in the next Session. These were approved.

The Minister of Finance, Hon. Colm Imbert, MP, moved the second reading of The Finance Bill, 2021. Debate began on the bill. Following the wind up of the debate, the bill was committed to the Committee of the Whole for consideration clause by clause. Amendments were made and approved. The bill was read a third time and passed.

The Sitting concluded at 6:24 p.m.