senate

Sittings

5th Sitting of the Senate

4th Session - 12th Republican Parliament

Tuesday 7 November, 2023
1:30 PM
Announcements By The President/Vice-President
Leave of absence

Leave of absence was granted to Sen. the Hon. Paula Gopee-Scoon, Sen. the Hon. Richie Sookhai, Sen. the Hon. Hassel Bacchus, Sen. the Hon. Renuka Sagramsingh-Sooklal and Sen. Wade Mark, who are all out of the country. Ms. Yokymma Bethelmy, Mr. Ndale Young, Mr. Michael Seales, Mr. Harvey Borris and Dr. Tim Gopeesingh were appointed temporary senators in their place.

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

Temporary Senators Bethelmy, Young, Seales, Borris and Gopeesingh took the oath of allegiance.

Sen. Yokymma Bethelmy [Government Senator (Temporary)]
Sen. Ndale Young [Government Senator (Temporary)]
Sen. Michael Seales [Government Senator (Temporary)]
Sen. Harvey Borris [Government Senator (Temporary)]
Sen. Dr. Tim Gopeesingh [Opposition Senator (Temporary)]
Announcements By The President/Vice-President
Establishment and Appointments to Joint Select Committee

The President of the Senate informed of correspondence received from the Speaker of the House on the establishment of a Joint Select Committee to consider and report on the Representation of the People (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2020 and the appointment of six members to the Committee.

Papers
Five Papers

Five papers were laid. See the Order Paper.

Sen. the Hon. Allyson West [Minister of Public Administration]
Sen. the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne [Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs]
Presentation Of Reports From Select Committees
Two Reports

Two reports were presented. See the Order Paper.

Sen. Laurel Lezama-Lee Sing [Government Senator]
Questions To Ministers: Oral Answer
One urgent question

One urgent question was posed and answered.

Sen. Jearlean John [Opposition Senator]
Hon. Marvin Gonzales, MP [Minister of Public Utilities]
Questions To Ministers: Oral Answer
Nine Questions on Notice

Nine Questions qualified for oral answer. See the Order Paper.

Sen. Jearlean John [Opposition Senator]
Hon. Colm Imbert, MP [Minister of Finance]
Sen. Damian Lyder [Opposition Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Rohan Sinanan [Minister of Works and Transport]
Sen. Dr. Paul Richards [Independent Senator]
Hon. Fitzgerald Hinds, MP [Minister of National Security]
Motions Relating To The Business Or Sittings Of The House And Moved By A Minister Or Parliamentary Secretary
Appointment of Committee Members to JSC

The Leader of Government Business moved a Motion asking the Senate to approve the appointment of six Senators to the Joint Select Committee on the Representation of the People (Amendment)(No.2) Bill, 2020. The Senate agreed.

Sen. the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne [Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs]
Private Business: Motions
Annul the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property (Exemption)(Financing Services) Order, 2023

Senator Jayanti Lutchmedial moved a Private Motion by Senator Wade Mark asking for the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property (Exemption)(Financing Services) Order, 2023 to be annulled. The Minister of Finance was first to join the debate. There were four more contributions to the debate before the wind up by Sen. Lutchmedial. With  11 votes for, 17 votes against and no abstentions, the motion was not approved.

Sen. Jayanti Lutchmedial-Ramdial [Opposition Senator]
Hon. Colm Imbert, MP [Minister of Finance]
Sen. Dr. Tim Gopeesingh [Opposition Senator (Temporary)]
Sen. Sunity Maharaj [Independent Senator]
Sen. Dr. Maria Dillon-Remy [Independent Senator]
Matter On The Adjournment
One Matter

Sen Anthony Vieira raised a matter on the adjournment regarding assistance for nationals in the Middle East who are at risk by the  escalating conflict between Gaza and Israel. The Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Sen. the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne, responded.

Sen. Anthony Vieira SC [Independent Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne [Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs]
Adjournment
The Senate adjourned to a date to be fixed

The Senate brought greetings to the Hindu community on the upcoming celebration of Divali. The Sitting concluded at 5:25 p.m.

Sen. the Hon. Avinash Singh [Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries]
Sen. Dr. Tim Gopeesingh [Opposition Senator (Temporary)]
Sen. Dr. Sharda Patasar [Independent Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Nigel de Freitas [President of the Senate]