The President of the Senate granted Leave of Absence to Sen. the Hon. Conrad Enill, Sen. the Hon. Hazel Manning, Sen. Dr. Adesh Nanan and Sen. Prof. Ramesh Deosaran. Mr. Joel Primus, Mr. Noel Gayle, Mr. Ved Seereeram and Mrs. Parvatee Anmolsingh-Mahabir were appointed to temporarily replace Senators Enill, Manning, Nanan and Deosaran respectively.

The Minister of Trade and Industry and Minister in the Minister of Finance laid seven papers. See the Order Paper.

Two Questions qualify for oral answer. Both were deferred. See the Order Paper.

11 Questions qualify for written answer. See the Order Paper.

Sen. Wade Mark raised a matter of Privilege alleging that the Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs willfully mislead the Senate in 2008 in giving reasons for not responding to a Question posed by Senator Mark, based on a subsequent statement made by the Minister in the House of Representatives on December 4, 2009. The President indicated that he would give a ruling on the matter in the following week.

The Minister of Trade and Industry and Minister in the Ministry of Finance moved the Second Reading of the Securities Bill, 2009 which was passed in the House of Representatives on 10 July 2009. Sen. Wade Mark was the first to enter the debate, followed by Sen. Subhas Ramkhelawan and Sen. Ved Seereeram, making his maiden contribution. Debate on the Bill was then suspended.

The Attorney General moved a motion asking the Senate to agree with House of Representatives amendments to the Evidence (Amendment) Bill, 2009. Further amendments were proposed and adopted.

At its next sitting, debate is expected to continue on the Securities Bill, 2009 and, time permitting, the Integrity in Public Life (Amendment) Bill, 2009.