senate

Sittings

8th Sitting of the Senate

2nd Session - 9th Republican Parliament

Tuesday 3 March, 2009
1:30 PM
Announcements By The President/Vice-President
Leave of Absence

The President granted leave of absence to Sen. the Hon. Dr. Lenny Saith, Sen. Wesley George, Sen. Subhas Ramkhelawan and Sen. Helen Drayton. They were temporarily replaced by Mr. Noel Gayle, Ms. Anwarie Ramkissoon, Dr. Rolph Balgobin and Prof. David Picou respectively.

Announcements By The President/Vice-President
Appointment of Joint Select Committee - Referral of Electronic Transactions Bill to Committee

The President read communication from the Speaker of the House about the resolution of the House of Representatives to appoint members to the Joint Select Committee on the Data Protection Bill, 2009. The President also read communication from the Speaker about the resolution of the House of Representatives to refer the Electronic Transactions Bill, 2009 to the same Joint Select Committee for consideration.

Papers
Six Papers

Six Papers, two in the name of the Minister of Local Government, three in the name of the Minister in the Ministry of Finance, and one in the name of the Minister of Health, were laid. See the Order Paper for details.

Questions To Ministers: Oral Answer
11 Questions

11 Questions qualified for oral answer. Four Questions were answered and the rest 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

Sen. Wade Mark resumed his contribution (from February 17, 2009) on the Emergency Ambulance Services and Emergency Medical Personnel Bill, 2009, followed by Sen. Dana Seetahal, SC and Sen. George Hadeed, who made his maiden contribution. In all, some five Senators made contributions today (14 in all over the course of three days) before the Minister rose to wind up the debate. The Leader of Government Business moved a Motion to adjourn the Senate during the Minister’s wind up.

Matter On The Adjournment
Plight of Small Vendors

There were two matter raised on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House by Senator Mark. First was the matter of “the uprooting of hundreds of mall vendors located at various Priority Route outlets by the Ministry of Community Development and Gender Affairs.” The Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs responded.

Matter On The Adjournment
Implementation of Recommendations of Special Select Committee Report

The second matter was “the delay in the implementation of recommendations of a Special Select Committee appointed to consider and report on a Bill entitled, An Act for the incorporation of the National Carnival Bands Association of Trinidad and Tobago and matters included thereto.” The Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs responded.

Adjournment
The Senate adjourns to Tuesday March 10, 2009 at 1:30 p.m.

At its next sitting the House will consider Private Business. The sitting ended at 5:57 p.m.