Leave of absence was granted to Sen. the Hon. Dominic Smith and Sen. Michael S. V. de la Bastide, SC, who are out of the country. Mr. Ashworth Jack and Ms. Zola Phillips were appointed temporary senators in their place.

Sen. the Hon. Wade Mark [President of the Senate]

Temporary senators Jack and Phillips took the oath of allegiance.

Sen. Ashworth Jack [Government Senator (Temporary)]

Sen. Zola Phillips [Independent Senator (Temporary) ]

The Finance (Supplementation and Variation of Appropriation) (Financial Year 2026) Bill, 2026 was brought from the House of Representatives in the name of the Minister of Finance. The Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Sen. the Hon. Kennedy Swaratsingh moved that the next stage of the bill be taken later in the proceedings. The motion was approved.

Sen. the Hon. Dr. Kennedy Swaratsingh [Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development and Minister in the Ministry of Finance]

The Miscellaneous Provisions (Heritage Petroleum, Paria Fuel Trading and Guaracara Refining Vesting) (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was introduced in the name of the Minister of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development, who moved that the next stage of the bill be taken later in the proceedings. The motion was approved.

Sen. the Hon. Leroy Baptiste [Minister of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development]

The Minister of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development, Sen. the Hon. Leroy Baptiste moved the second reading of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Heritage Petroleum, Paria Fuel Trading and Guaracara Refining Vesting) (Amendment) Bill, 2026. Three senators contributed to the debate before the wind up by the Minister of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development. The bill was committed to a Committee of the Whole for consideration clause by clause. The bill was approved with amendments. With 21 votes for, no votes against and 9 abstentions, the bill was read a third time and passed.

Sen. the Hon. Leroy Baptiste [Minister of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development]

Sen. Faris Al-Rawi SC [Opposition Senator]

Sen. Courtney Mc Nish [Independent Senator]

Sen. the Hon. Darrell Allahar [Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister]

The Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Sen. the Hon. Dr. Kennedy Swaratsingh, moved the second reading of the Finance (Supplementation and Variation of Appropriation) (Financial Year 2026) Bill, 2026. Debate began on the bill. Seven senators contributed to the debate on the bill before the wind up by the Minister in the Ministry of Finance. The bill was read a third time and passed.

Sen. the Hon. Dr. Kennedy Swaratsingh [Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development and Minister in the Ministry of Finance]

Sen. Vishnu Dhanpaul [Opposition Senator]

Sen. Dr. Marlene Attzs [Independent Senator]

Sen. the Hon. Eli Zakour [Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation]

Sen. Melanie Roberts-Radgman [Opposition Senator]

Sen. Francis Lewis [Independent Senator]

Sen. Ashworth Jack [Government Senator (Temporary)]

Sen. Dr. Margaret Rose [Opposition Senator]

The Senate brought greetings to the nation on the upcoming observance of Labour Day.

The sitting concluded at 7:17 p.m.

Sen. the Hon. Leroy Baptiste [Minister of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development]

Sen. Foster Cummings [Opposition Senator]

Sen. Courtney Mc Nish [Independent Senator]

Sen. the Hon. Wade Mark [President of the Senate]