senate

Sittings

9th Sitting of the Senate

4th Session - 12th Republican Parliament

Tuesday 19 December, 2023
10:00 AM
Bills Brought From The House Of Representatives
The Finance Bill, 2023

The Finance Bill, 2023 was read a first time in the name of the Minister of Finance. The Leader of Government Business moved that the next stage of the Bill be taken later in the proceedings. The motion was approved.

Sen. the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne [Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs]
Papers
Four Papers

Four Papers were laid. See the Order Paper.

Sen. the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne [Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs]
Presentation Of Reports From Select Committees
One Report from Committees

One Report, The Tenth Report of the Joint Select Committee on Local Authorities, Service Commissions and Statutory Authorities (including the THA) on an Inquiry into the efficiency and effectiveness of the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Inspectorate, Third Session (2022/2023), Twelfth Parliament, was presented by the Minister in the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs.

Sen. the Hon. Renuka Sagramsingh-Sooklal [Minister in the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs]
Questions To Ministers: Oral Answer
One urgent question

One urgent question was posed and answered.

Sen. Wade Mark [Opposition Senator]
Hon. Colm Imbert, MP [Minister of Public Utilities]
Questions To Ministers: Oral Answer
Four Questions on Notice

Four questions qualified for oral answer. Question #11 was deferred for two weeks.

Sen. Wade Mark [Opposition Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Paula Gopee-Scoon [Minister of Trade and Industry]
Sen. the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne [Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs]
Sen. Damian Lyder [Opposition Senator]
Hon. Colm Imbert, MP [Minister of Public Utilities]
Introduction Of Bills
One Bill

The President of the Senate put the question that the St. Dominic’s Children’s Home (Incorporation) Bill, 2023 be read a first time.

Sen. the Hon. Nigel de Freitas [President of the Senate]
Government Business: Bills Second Reading
The Finance Bill, 2023

The Minister of Finance, Hon. Colm Imbert, MP, moved the second reading of the Finance Bill, 2023. Debate began on the bill. Thirteen senators contributed to the debate before the wind up by the Minister of Finance. The bill was read a third time and passed.

Hon. Colm Imbert, MP [Minister of Public Utilities]
Sen. Wade Mark [Opposition Senator]
Sen. Sunity Maharaj [Independent Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Reginald Armour SC [Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs]
Sen. Anil Roberts [Opposition Senator]
Sen. Deoroop Teemal [Independent Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Randall Mitchell [Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts]
Sen. Jayanti Lutchmedial-Ramdial [Opposition Senator]
Sen. Hazel Thompson-Ahye [Independent Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Allyson West [Minister of Public Administration]
Sen. Damian Lyder [Opposition Senator]
Sen. Dr. Paul Richards [Independent Senator]
Sen. Anthony Vieira SC [Independent Senator]
Sen. David Nakhid [Opposition Senator]
Matter On The Adjournment
Two Matters

Sen. Dr. Paul Richards raised a matter on the adjournment namely the need for the Minister of Works and Transport to explain the status of the ELDAMO service which has not been in operation for some time, affecting persons with disabilities. The Minister in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Sen. the Hon. Richie Sookhai, responded.

Sen. Wade Mark raised a matter regarding the need for the Government to confirm or deny any decision to privatize the assets of TSTT to a group of private investors. The Minister of Public Utilities, Hon. Marvin Gonzales, MP, responded.

Sen. Dr. Paul Richards [Independent Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Richie Sookhai [Minister in the Ministry of Works and Transport]
Sen. Wade Mark [Opposition Senator]
Hon. Marvin Gonzales, MP [Minister of National Security]
Adjournment
The Senate adjourned to a date to be fixed

The Senate brought greetings to the nation on the upcoming celebration of Christmas. The Sitting concluded at 5:35 p.m.

Sen. Laurel Lezama-Lee Sing [Government Senator]
Sen. Wade Mark [Opposition Senator]
Sen. Helon Francis [Independent Senator]
Sen. the Hon. Nigel de Freitas [President of the Senate]