Leave of absence was granted to Mr. Keith Scotland, S.C., MP, Member for Port of Spain South, Mrs. Camille Robinson-Regis, MP, Member for Trincity/Maloney and Hon. Davendranath Tancoo, MP, Member for Fyzabad from today’s Sitting of the House.

Hon. Jagdeo Singh [Speaker of the House]

The Speaker of the House, Hon. Jagdeo Singh, MP, informed of correspondence from the President of the Senate regarding senate appointments to Joint Select Committees.

Hon. Jagdeo Singh [Speaker of the House]

Twenty-two (22) papers were laid. See Order Paper for details.

Hon. Barry Padarath, MP [Minister of Public Utilities and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister]

Hon. Roger Alexander, MP [Minister of Homeland Security]

Two urgent questions were posed and answered. See Order Paper.

Mr. Symon de Nobriga, MP [Opposition Member]

Hon. Khadijah Ameen, MP [Minister of Rural Development and Local Government]

The following four bills were introduced in the House of Representatives:

1. The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (By the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs)
2. The Miscellaneous Provisions (FATF Compliance) Bill, 2025 (By the Minister of Finance)
3. The Counter-Proliferation Financing Bill, 2025 (By the Minister of Finance)
4. The Virtual Assets and Virtual Assets Service Providers Bill, 2025 (By the Minister of Finance)

Motions were moved for the next stage of these bills to be taken later in the proceedings. All motions were approved.

Hon. Barry Padarath, MP [Minister of Public Utilities and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister]

The Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Hon. Phillip Watts, MP, moved the second reading of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The Member for Diego Martin North/East was first to enter the debate, followed by the Minister of Justice, the Member for Diego Martin West, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. The Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs then arose to wind up the debate on the bill. The bill was then committed to a Committee of the Whole for consideration clause by clause. Amendments were made and approved. With 27 votes for, 10 votes against and no abstentions, the bill was read a third time and passed.

Hon. Phillip Watts, MP [Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs]

Mr. Colm Imbert, MP [Opposition Member]

Hon. Devesh Maharaj, MP [Minister of Justice and Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General]

Mr. Hans Des Vignes, MP [Opposition Member]

Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC, MP [Prime Minister]

Hon. Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, MP [Leader of the Opposition]

The Prime Minister, Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP, made a statement on the matter regarding employees of the National Insurance Board (NIB).

Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC, MP [Prime Minister]

The Leader of the House moved that the debate on the consolidated FATF bills be done at the next Sitting of the House. This was agreed upon.

The Sitting concluded at 6:29 p.m.