Le Hunte takes oath again

Public Utilities Minister Robert Le Hunte will take his oath as a senator for the first time, when the Senate sits at Tower D of the Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Centre on Thursday from 2 pm. Le Hunte was appointed to the post on August 31. He was first appointed on August 24 but his appointment was subsequently revoked after questions arose as to whether he had Ghanaian citizenship. On August 31, Le Hunte took full responsibility for the “communications glitch” which caused the initial confusion. He apologised to Rowley and the nation. Le Hunte replaces W Michael Coppin in the Senate.

During the mid-year recess, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar hinted at possible changes to the Opposition's bench in the Senate. The Opposition's current senatorial line-up consists of Wade Mark, Daniel Solomon, Khadijah Ameen, Gerald Ramdeen, Wayne Sturge and Rodger Samuel. However Opposition officials were unable to confirm whether any of these people would be changed.

The main item of business for the Senate will be the start of debate on the Indictable Offences (Pre-Trial Procedure) Bill 2017 by Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi. Mark has questions on the Order Paper for Finance Minister Colm Imbert, Education Minister Anthony Garcia and Rural Development and Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein to answer.