The Vice-President of the Senate announced that the seat of Senator Terance Baynes was declared vacant. Mrs. Christlyn Moore took the oath of a Senator. Mrs. Sherry Anne Rollocks-Hackett was appointed to temporarily replace the President of the Senate, who is Acting as President of the Republic. The Vice-President also read a short letter from former Senator Baynes.

Tribute was paid in the Senate to former Senator Mohammed Faisal Rahman, who passed away on September 17, 2012. The Senate then observed a minute of silence.

The Vice-President of the Senate informed the Senate of the first United Nations International Day of the Girl Child, which was observed on September 27, 2012.

The Bill was read a first time in the Senate. The Minister of Finance moved that the next stage of the Bill be taken later in the proceedings.

27 Papers were laid. See the Order Paper.

The Minister of Finance moved the second reading of the Appropriation (Financial Year – 2013) Bill, 2012 (budget for fiscal 2013). Sen. Dr. Lester Henry was the first to enter the debate, followed by Sen. Subhas Ramkhelawan, the Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs, Sen. Shamfa Cudjoe and Sen. Corinne Baptiste-McKnight. Nine Senators made contributions before debate was suspended.

At the next sitting, the Senate will continue debate on the budget for fiscal 2013. The sitting ended at 8:35 p.m.