The Vice President of the Senate announced that the President of the Senate is out of the country. Mr. Ndale Young was appointed temporary Senator during her absence.

The Vice President declared six Independent seats as vacant and announced the appointment of six Senators – Mr. Anthony Vieira, Ms. Amrita Deonarine, Ms. Charrise Seepersad, Mr. Deoroop Teemal, Mrs. Hazel Thompson-Ahye and Mrs. Maria Dillon-Remy.

Newly appointed Senators took the oath of allegiance. Temporary Senator, Mr. Ndale Young, also took the oath.

One Bill, The Miscellaneous Provisions (Heritage Petroleum, Paria Fuel Trading and Guaracara Refining Vesting) Bill, 2018, was brought from the House of Representatives and read a first time in the Senate in the name of the Minister in the Ministry of Finance.

The Vice President relayed correspondence from the Speaker of the House on the appointment of Mr. Rushton Paray to the JSC on Human Rights, Equality and Diversity in lieu of Mr. Barry Padarath.

49 Papers were laid. See Order Paper for details.

Three Reports were presented. See Order Paper for details.

Three urgent questions were posed. See Order Paper for details.

Seven questions qualified for oral answer.

Two bills were introduced in the name of the Attorney General.

The Leader of Government Business moved a motion on the appointment of Sen. Paul Richards to the Joint Select Committee on Social Services and Public Administration, in lieu of former Senator, Dr. Dhanayshar Mahabir. The motion was approved.

The Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Sen. the Hon. Allyson West, moved the second reading of The Miscellaneous Provisions (Heritage Petroleum, Paria Fuel Trading and Guaracara Refining Vesting) Bill, 2018. Debate began on the Bill. Following the debate, the Bill was committed to the Whole Senate for consideration clause by clause. No amendments were made. The Bill was read a third time and passed.

Sen. Obika raised a matter on the adjournment regarding rising youth unemployment and its implications for economic development and social peace. The Minister of Labour and Small Enterprise Development responded.
Sen. Wade Mark raised a matter on the retrenchment of TSTT workers. The Minister of Public Utilities responded.

The Sitting concluded at 12:39 a.m. on Wednesday November 21, 2018. The Senate adjourned to Tuesday November 27, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.