Sen. the Hon. Fazal Karim, Sen. the Hon. Vasant Bharath, Sen. Elton Prescott, S.C.; and Sen. David Small are out of the country and were granted leave of absence by the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate then read a letter from the President of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago appointing Arch. Barbara Gray-Burke, Mr. Wayne Sturge, Dr. Aysha Edwards and Dr. Kriyaan Singh as temporary Senators. They then took the Oath of Allegiance as temporary Senators for today’s siting.

Fifteen (15) Papers were laid. See the Order Paper.

Eight Questions qualify for oral answer. See the Order Paper

The Minister of Finance and the Economy moved a Motion asking the Senate to confirm the Excise Duty (Compressed Natural Gas) Order, 2013. Sen. Faris Al-Rawi was the first to join the debate followed by Sen. Subhas Ramkhelawan, Sen. Dr. Dhanayshar Mahabir, the Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs, Sen. Dr. Rolph Balgobin, Sen. Fitzgerald Hinds and Sen. Anthony Vieira. Senator Larry Howai then rose to conclude. The Motion was then passed.

The Minister of Finance and the Economy is expected to move the motion authorizing him to borrow such further sum or sums in Trinidad and Tobago, not exceeding in the aggregate, fifteen thousand million Trinidad and Tobago dollars. The Motion was passed by a division of 15 For, 9 Against and 2 Abstentions

The Minister of Finance and the Economy moved the motion to borrow such further sum or sums in Trinidad and Tobago, not exceeding in the aggregate, thirty thousand million Trinidad and Tobago dollars for the purposes of facilitating the conduct of open market operations by the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago. The Motion was passed by a division of 15 For, 2 Abstentions and 9 Against

At the next sitting, debate is expected on a Motion to approve the Tobacco Conrol Regulations, 2013.