Leave of absence was granted to Sen. Dr. Sharda Patasar and Sen. Jayanti Lutchmedial. Mr. Josh Drayton and Dr. Tim Gopeesingh were appointed temporary senators in their absence.

Mr. Josh Drayton and Dr. Tim Gopeesingh took the oath of allegiance.

Seven Papers were laid. See the Order Paper.

Eight Reports from Committees were presented. See the Order Paper.

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

There are nine Questions on Notice listed for oral answer on the Order Paper. Questions #31 was withdrawn and question #50 was deferred for two weeks.

The Miscellaneous Provisions (Trustees, Exchequer and Audit Act, the Minister of Finance (Incorporation) Act, Proceeds of Crime, Income Tax, Companies, Partnerships, Securities, Tax Information Exchange Agreements, the Non-Profit Organisations and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters) Bill, 2023 was introduced in the name of the Minister of Finance, who moved that the next stage of the Bill be taken later in the proceedings. The Senate agreed.

The Minister of Finance moved the second reading of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Trustees, Exchequer and Audit Act, the Minister of Finance (Incorporation) Act, Proceeds of Crime, Income Tax, Companies, Partnerships, Securities, Tax Information Exchange Agreements, the Non-Profit Organisations and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters) Bill, 2023. Debate began on the bill. Nine members made contributions before the Minister of Finance rose to wind up. The Bill was then referred to a Committee of the Whole to be considered clause by clause, and was approved with amendments. It was then read a third time and passed. At third reading, a division was taken, the result of which was 22 for, none against and eight abstentions.

Sen. Dr. Paul Richards raised as a matter on the Motion for the Adjournment of the Senate, the need for the Minister of Finance to engage the Central Bank with a view to re-evaluating the anti-fraud and customer protection services in commercial banks in the country. The Minister of Finance, Hon. Colm Imbert, MP responded.

Sen. Wade Mark raised a matter on the failure of the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago to enforce the terms of the Cable and Wireless acquisition agreement to have Liberty LatinAmerica divest its 49% shareholding in the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago after 8 years. The Minister of Digital Transformation, Sen. the Hon. Hassel Bacchus, responded.

At the next sitting debate is expected on Private Members Business – Motion 1 on today’s Order Paper.

The Sitting concluded at 5:30 p.m.