senate

Sittings

3rd Sitting of the Senate

5th Session - 12th Republican Parliament

Monday 21 October, 2024
1:30 PM
Announcements By The President/Vice-President
Appointment of Senator

The seat of Ms. Laurel Lezama Lee-Sing was declared vacant.

Mr. Ancil Dennis was appointed a Government Senator.

Sen. the Hon. Nigel de Freitas [President of the Senate]
Announcements By The President/Vice-President
Leave of absence

Leave of absence was granted to Sen. the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne, who is out of the country. Mr. Vyash Nandlal was appointed temporary Senator in his place.

Sen. the Hon. Nigel de Freitas [President of the Senate]
Oath Of Allegiance Of A New Member
New Senators

Temporary Senator, Mr. Vyash Nandlal and Goverment Senator Mr. Ancil Dennis, took the oath of allegiance.

Sen. Vyash Nandlal [Government Senator (Temporary)]
Sen. Ancil Dennis [Government Senator]
Announcements By The President/Vice-President
Tribute to Hamlet Joseph and Cynthia Alfred

The Senate paid tribute to former Senator Hamlet Joseph, who passed away on September 12, 2024, and to former Senator Cynthia Alfred, who passed away on October 15, 2024. A minute of silence was observed.

Sen. the Hon. Hassel Bacchus [Minister of Digital Transformation]
Sen. Wade Mark [Opposition Senator]
Sen. Sunity Maharaj [Independent Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Nigel de Freitas [President of the Senate]
Sen. Ancil Dennis [Government Senator]
Sen. Jearlean John [Opposition Senator]
Sen. Dr. Maria Dillon-Remy [Independent Senator]
Announcements By The President/Vice-President
Establishment of JSC and Appointments

The President of the Senate, Sen. the Hon. Nigel de Freitas, shared correspondence received from the Speaker of the House regarding appointments to Joint Select Committees and the establishment of a Joint Select Committee.

Sen. the Hon. Nigel de Freitas [President of the Senate]
Bills Brought From The House Of Representatives
Two Bills

The Civil Division Bill, 2024 was read a first time in the Senate, in the name of the Attorney General. The Appropriation (Financial Year 2025) Bill, 2024, which was passed in the House of Representatives on October 17, 2024, was read a first time by the Minister of Finance, who moved that the next stage be taken later in the proceedings. The motion was approved.

Hon. Colm Imbert, MP [Minister of Finance]
Papers
30 Papers

30 Papers were laid. See the Order Paper and Supplemental Order Paper.

Sen. the Hon. Donna Cox [Minister of Social Development and Family Services]
Sen. Dr. Muhammad Yunus Ibrahim [Vice-President of the Senate]
Sen. Dr. Sharda Patasar [Independent Senator]
Sen. Helon Francis [Independent Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Paula Gopee-Scoon [Minister of Trade and Industry]
Presentation Of Reports From Select Committees
Five Reports from Committees

Five Reports from Committees were presented. See the Order Paper.

Sen. Jearlean John [Opposition Senator]
Sen. Wade Mark [Opposition Senator]
Government Business: Bills Second Reading
The Appropriation (Financial Year 2025) Bill, 2024

The Minister of Finance, Hon. Colm Imbert, MP moved the second reading of the Appropriation (Financial Year 2025) Bill, 2024. Ten senators made their contributions to the debate before the adjournment of the Sitting.

Hon. Colm Imbert, MP [Minister of Finance]
Sen. Wade Mark [Opposition Senator]
Sen. Sunity Maharaj [Independent Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Rohan Sinanan [Minister of Works and Transport]
Sen. Deoroop Teemal [Independent Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Hassel Bacchus [Minister of Digital Transformation]
Sen. Damian Lyder [Opposition Senator]
Sen. Dr. Sharda Patasar [Independent Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Reginald Armour SC [Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs]
Sen. Dr. Paul Richards [Independent Senator]
Sen. Vyash Nandlal [Government Senator (Temporary)]
Adjournment
The Senate adjourned to Tuesday October 22, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

The Sitting concluded at 9:05 p.m.