senate

Sittings

7th Sitting of the Senate

2nd Session - 9th Republican Parliament

Tuesday 17 February, 2009
1:30 PM
Announcements By The President/Vice-President
Suspension of Sitting, Guests, Security Unit and Congratulations

The President of the Senate suspended the sitting pending the arrival of the Leader of Government Business and/or the Minister of Health, since all Cabinet Ministers were at the airport for the departure of the King and Queen of Spain. The President then noted the presence of Mrs. Ann Michelle Gift and Ms. Eula Armstrong, the Presiding Officer and Ag.Clerk of the Tobago House of Asssembly. He then informed Senators of the establishment of the Parliament Security Unit and thanked the staff of the Parliament for the work done in preparation for the address to Parliament by His Majesty Juan Carlos, the King of Spain.

Papers
Two Papers

Two Papers were laid. Both Papers were in the name of the Minister in the Ministry of Finance.

Questions To Ministers: Oral Answer
Four Questions

Four Questions qualify for oral answer. All four questions were deferred. See the Order Paper for details.

Questions To Ministers: Written Answer
Three Questions

Three Questions qualify for written answer. See the Order Paper for details.

Government Business: Bills Second Reading
The Emergency Ambulance Services and Emergency Medical Personnel Bill, 2009

Debate resumed (from February 10, 2009) on the Emergency Ambulance Services and Emergency Medical Personnel Bill, 2009, with the Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health (Sen. Wesley George) being the first to contribute, followed by Sen. Helen Drayton. In all some five Senators made contributions before debate was suspended.

Matter On The Adjournment
Governance Practices at T&TEC

Two matters were raised on the Motion for the adjournment of the House by Senator Wade Mark. The first matter was “the poor governance practices at the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission and its implications for proper accountability and transparency.” The Minister of Public Utilities responded.

Matter On The Adjournment
Alleged Financial Mismanagement in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The second matter raised by Sen. Mark was “the alleged reports of financial mismanagement and disregard of the financial regulations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” The Minister of Foreign Affairs responded.

Adjournment
The Senate adjourns to Tuesday March 3, 2009 at 1:30 p.m.

At its next sitting the Senate will continue debate on the Emergency Ambulance Services and Emergency Medical Personnel Bill, 2009. Before adjourning the Leader of Government Business moved a motion to establish a Joint Select Committee to consider the Data Protection Bill, 2009. The sitting ended at 6 p.m.