The President of the Senate granted leave of absence to Sen. the Hon. Dennis Moses. Ms. Ayanna Lewis was appointed to temporarily replace Sen. Moses during his absence.

The Finance (Variation of Appropriation)(Financial Year 2016) Bill, 2017 was read a first time in the Senate. The Minister of Finance sought and obtained leave of the Senate to have the next stage of the Bill be taken later in the proceedings.

12 Papers were laid. See the Order Paper and Supplemental Order Paper.

Four Urgent Questions have been approved. The questions are attached to the Order Paper. All questions were answered.

There were four Questions on Notice on the Order Paper.

The Minister of Finance moved the second reading of the Finance (Variation of Appropriation)(Financial Year 2016) Bill, 2017. Sen. Wade Mark was first to enter the debate, followed by Sen. David Small and the Minister of Trade and Industry. 11 Senators made contributions before the Minister rose to wind up the debate. The Bill was then read a second time. The Minister of Finance then moved that the Bill be read a third time and passed.

Sen. Mark moved as a Matter on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House, the failure of the National Carnival Commission to allow Pan Trinbago, the National Carnival Bands Association and the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organization the autonomy to manage their respective Carnival events for Carnival 2017. The Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts responded.

At the next sitting the Senate will deal with Private Business. The sitting ended at 6:54 p.m.