senate

Sittings

8th Sitting of the Senate

5th Session - 12th Republican Parliament

Tuesday 21 January, 2025
1:30 PM
Announcements By The President/Vice-President
Leave of absence

Leave of absence was granted to Sen. the Hon. Paula Gopee-Scoon and Sen. David Nakhid, who are out of the country. Mr. Ndale Young and Mr. Dominic Smith 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 Young and Smith took the oath of allegiance.

Sen. Ndale Young [Government Senator (Temporary)]
Sen. Dominic Smith [Opposition Senator (Temporary)]
Announcements By The President/Vice-President
Appointments to Sessional Select Committee

The President of the Senate, Sen. the Hon. Nigel de Freitas, informed of appointments to the Sessional Select Committees of the Senate for the 5th Session.

Sen. the Hon. Nigel de Freitas [President of the Senate]
Announcements By The President/Vice-President
Tribute to Mr. Russell Griffith

The President of the Senate paid tribute to former Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Russell Griffith, who passed away on December 27, 2024. Mr. Griffith served as Clerk of the Senate for 12 years from 1975 to 1987. A minute of silence was observed.

Sen. the Hon. Nigel de Freitas [President of the Senate]
Bills Brought From The House Of Representatives
Two Bills

The National Emblems of Trinidad and Tobago (Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was brought from the House of Representatives in the name of the Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Sen. the Hon. Randall Mitchell, who moved that the next stage of the bill be taken later in the proceedings. The motion was carried.

The Tobago Island Government Bill, 2021 was brought from the House of Representatives in the name of the Minister of Housing and Urban Development.

Sen. the Hon. Randall Mitchell [Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts]
Papers
Thirty-two Papers

Thirty-two papers were laid. See Order Paper.

Sen. the Hon. Reginald Armour SC [Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs]
Sen. the Hon. Rohan Sinanan [Minister of Works and Transport]
Sen. Dr. Muhammad Yunus Ibrahim [Vice-President of the Senate]
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
Six Reports from Committees

Six reports were presented. See Order Paper.

Sen. Dr. Maria Dillon-Remy [Independent Senator]
Sen Laurence Hislop [Government Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Randall Mitchell [Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts]
Sen. Sunity Maharaj [Independent Senator]
Questions To Ministers: Oral Answer
Six Questions on Notice

Six questions qualified for oral answer. All questions were answered.

Sen. Wade Mark [Opposition Senator]
Hon. Fitzgerald Hinds, MP [Minister of National Security]
Sen. Anil Roberts [Opposition Senator]
Hon. Stephen Mc Clashie, MP [Minister of Labour]
Sen. the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne [Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs]
Sen. Hazel Thompson-Ahye [Independent Senator]
Sen. Prof. Gerard Hutchinson [Independent Senator]
Hon. Terrence Deyalsingh, MP [Minister of Health]
Statements By Ministers
Final Report re Shervon Peters vs the Attorney General

The Attorney General, Sen. the Hon. Reginald Armour, made a statement on the Final Report of the Investigative Team appointed by the Honourable Attorney General to inquire and report into the facts and circumstances surrounding CV 2020-01243 Shervon Peters and The Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago.

Sen. the Hon. Reginald Armour SC [Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs]
Government Business: Bills Second Reading
The National Emblems of Trinidad and Tobago (Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2025

The Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Sen. the Hon. Randall Mitchell, moved the second reading of The National Emblems of Trinidad and Tobago (Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Sixteen senators contributed to the debate before the wind up by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts. The bill was then committed to a Committee of the Whole for consideration clause by clause. No amendments were made. The bill was read a third time and passed.

Sen. the Hon. Randall Mitchell [Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts]
Sen. Wade Mark [Opposition Senator]
Sen. Dr. Paul Richards [Independent Senator]
Sen. Anthony Vieira SC [Independent Senator]
Sen Laurence Hislop [Government Senator]
Sen. Anil Roberts [Opposition Senator]
Sen. Hazel Thompson-Ahye [Independent Senator]
Sen. Dr. Sharda Patasar [Independent Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Donna Cox [Minister of Social Development and Family Services]
Sen. Dominic Smith [Opposition Senator (Temporary)]
Sen. Dr. Maria Dillon-Remy [Independent Senator]
Sen. Sunity Maharaj [Independent Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne [Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs]
Sen. Jayanti Lutchmedial-Ramdial [Opposition Senator]
Sen. Damian Lyder [Opposition Senator]
Sen. Helon Francis [Independent Senator]
Sen. Deoroop Teemal [Independent Senator]
Matter On The Adjournment
Two Matters

Independent Senator, Sen. Anthony Vieira, raised a matter on the adjournment regarding the scourge of domestic violence. The Attorney General, Sen. the Hon. Reginald Armour, S.C. responded.

Opposition Senator, Sen. Wade Mark, raised a matter on the adjournment regarding the growing monopolization of the pharmaceutical industry by a small clique and its negative impact on market dynamics and prices. The Leader of Government Business, Sen. the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne, responded.

Sen. Anthony Vieira SC [Independent Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Reginald Armour SC [Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs]
Sen. Wade Mark [Opposition Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne [Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs]
Adjournment
The Senate adjourned to Tuesday 28 January, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.

The Sitting concluded at 10:12 p.m.