Leave of Absence was granted to Sen. the Hon. Dennis Moses, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs and Sen. Daniel Solomon. Mr. Rohan Sinanan and Mr. Wayne Munro were appointed on a temporary basis to replace Senators Moses and Solomon in their absence.

Temporary Senators, Mr. Rohan Sinanan and Mr. Wayne Munro took their oaths of allegiance.

The Finance Bill 2016 was brought from the House of Representatives and read for a first time in the Senate.

Fifteen (15) Papers were laid in the names of the Vice- President of the Senate, Minister of Finance, Minister of National Security, Minister of Labour and Small Enterprise Development, Attorney General, Minister of Works and Transport and Minister of Social Development and Family Services. See the Order Paper and Supplemental Order Paper for details.

Three questions qualified for oral answer. All questions were answered. See the Order Paper for details.

The Minister of Finance moved the second reading of the Finance Bill, 2015.

Senator Wade Mark raised as a matter on the adjournment of the Senate, the issue of the worsening of the foreign exchange crisis. Senator Mark advanced that the Minister of Finance should work towards new policy direction to address this urgent issue. Senator Mark also raised the need for the Government to pay attention to the provision of Foreign Exchange to address the health care needs of citizens who might require Foreign Exchange in order to undertake urgent health care matters abroad. The Minister of Finance responded.

Senator Wade Mark raised as a matter on the adjournment, the issue of the rising homicide rates in society. He questioned the plans of the Government to curb crime and violence. He called on the Minister of National Security to take action immediately on the crime situation. The Minister of National Security responded.

The 8th Sitting of the Senate concluded at 3:17 a.m. on Saturday January 16th 2016. The 9th Sitting of the Senate is scheduled for Thursday January 21st 2016. At the 9th Sitting, the Senate will address the motion of the selection process and qualification criteria for the Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police.