senate

Sittings

3rd Sitting of the Senate

2nd Session - 10th Republican Parliament

Friday 16 September, 2011
10:00 AM
Announcements By The President/Vice-President
Leave of Absence

The Vice-President granted leave of absence to Sen. Faris Al-Rawi. Mr. Mariano Browne was appointed to temporarily replace Sen. Al-Rawi during his absence.

Bills Brought From The House Of Representatives
Two Bills

The Purchase of Certain Rights and Validation Bill, 2011 and the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill, 2011 were read a first time in the Senate. The Minister sought and obtained leave to have the next stage of both bills taken later in the proceedings.

Papers
One Paper

The Leader of Government Business in the Senate laid one Paper, which was in the name of the Minister of Local Government.

Government Business: Bills Second Reading
Two Bills

The Minister of Finance moved the second reading of the Purchase of Certain Rights and Validation Bill, 2011. In so doing, he sought and obtained leave of the Senate to debate the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill, 2011 as well, since both bills are related. Sen. Dr. Lester Henry was first to enter the debate, followed by Sen. Subhas Ramkhelawan, Sen. David Abdulah and Sen. Mariano Browne. Some 21 Senators made contributions before the Minister rose to conclude. The Minister moved that the Purchase of Certain Rights and Validation Bill not be referred to Committee. Leave was granted and the Bill read a third time and passed. The Central Bank (Amendment) Bill was considered in Committee and passed without amendments. At third reading a division was taken, the result of which was 23 for, 6 against, no abstentions. The Bill was then read a third time and passed.

Adjournment
The Senate adjourned to a date to be fixed

The Senate adjourned to a date to be fixed. Before adjourning the Vice-President informed the Senate that this would likely be the last sitting of the Senate in the Red House until the building was rehabilitated for the use of the Parliament, and that sittings would be suspended for at least two weeks to allow for the move of the Parliament to its temporary home at Tower D of the Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Center. The sitting ended at 12:44 a.m. on September 17, 2011.