The Speaker granted leave of absence to the Members for Port-of-Spain North/St. Ann’s West (15-19 September), Couva South (19-26 September), Oropouche East (today’s sitting) and Tabaquite (19-22 September).

One Paper was laid in the name of the Minister of Planning, Housing and the Environment by the Leader of the House. See the Order Paper for details.

The Third Report (2007/2008) Session of the Finance Committee of the House of Representatives was presented by the Minister of Finance.

22 Questions Qualify for Oral Answer. Three questions (160, 181 and 183) were answered, two by the leader of the House on behalf of the Ministers of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources and the Minister of Planning, Housing and the Environment, and one by the Minister of Public Utilities. The remaining questions were deferred for two weeks. See the Order Paper for details.

Five Questions qualify for written answer. See the Order Paper for details.

The Finance (Supplementary Appropriation) Bill, 2008 was introduced by the Minister of Finance, who moved that the next stage be taken later in the proceedings. Leave was granted.

Senate amendments to the Bail (Amendment) Bill were considered and approved. The Leader of the House moved the Motion (on behalf of the Attorney-General), and the Members for Princes Town South and Caroni East contributed to the debate.

The Minister of Finance moved a Motion asking the House to adopt the Third Report (2007/2008) Session of the Finance Committee of the House of Representatives. Six Members entered the debate before the Minister of Finance began her wind up. The Motion was approved.

Following debate on the Motion to adopt the Finance Committee Report, the Bill was taken through all its stages and passed.

The Member for Siparia moved a Private Motion in the name of the Member for Tabaquite which sought to terminate the suspension of the Member for Couva North. In so doing she asked that the Speaker recuse himself from presiding over the proceedings. The Speaker agreed and the Deputy Speaker took the chair. The Prime Minister made a brief contribution before the Member for Siparia began her wind up. The Leader of the House then invoked Standing Order 34(2) (Right of Reply) to conclude the debate. The question was put and the motion defeated by a margin of 10 for and 21 against.

At its next sitting the Minister of Finance will present the budget for fiscal 2009. The sitting ended at 10:56 p.m.