The President granted leave to Sen. the Hon. Larry Howai and Sen. Dr. Lester Bernard. Rev. Barbara Gray-Burke was appointed to temporarily replace Sen. Howai during his absence from Trinidad and Tobago.

The President of the Senate, in a thorough statement in which he cited references from several Commonwealth Parliaments, ruled on a matter raised by Sen. Hinds at a previous sitting against the Minister of National Security. The President ruled that no prima facie case had been made out and that there was nothing to refer to the Committee of Privileges.

The Securities Bill, 2012, which was passed unanimously in the House of Representatives on December 17, 2012 will be read a first time in the Senate. The Minister of of Trade, Industry and Investment and Minister in the Ministry of Finance and the Economy will then move that the next stage of the Bill be taken later in the proceedings.

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

Four Reports were presented. See the Order Paper.

14 Questions qualify for oral answer. Seven were answered and the rest deferred for two weeks. See the Order Paper.

Seven Questions qualified for written response. See the Appendix to the Order Paper.

One Bill, the Exchequer and Audit (Amendment) Bill, 2012, was read a first time. The Bill is in the name of the Minister of Finance and the Economy.

The Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment and Minister in the Ministry of Finance and the Economy moved the second reading of the Securities Bill, 2012. Sen. Dr. Lester Henry was first to contribute to the Bill, followed by Sen. Subhas Ramkhelawan, Sen. Helen Drayton, Sen. Dr. Rolph Balgobin and Sen. Elton Prescott, SC. Nine members made contributions before the Minister rose to conclude the debate. The Bill was considered in Committee and passed without amendment. It was then read a third time and passed. A division was taken at third reading, the result of which was 22 Senators voting for, none against and seven abstentions.

Before adjourning, several Senators extended Christmas greetings to the people of Trinidad and Tobago. The sitting ended at 8:28 p.m.