President of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago

Last updated

President of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago
Coat of arms of Trinidad and Tobago.svg
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg
Incumbent
Nigel de Freitas
since 18 January 2023
Style The Honourable (formal)
Mr. President (informal)
AppointerMembers of the Senate
Term length During the life of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago (five years maximum)
Inaugural holderJ. Hamilton Maurice (1961-1971)
Formation29 December 1961
DeputyVice President of the Senate
Salary TT$29,590 (per month) (President)
TT$18,280 (per month) (Vice President) [1]
Website ttparliament.org

The President of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago is generally elected from the government benches. The president chairs debates in the chamber of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago and stands in for the country's president during periods of absence or illness (Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago, section 27). [2] A Vice-President of the Senate is also elected from among the senators. The current President of the Senate is Senator Nigel de Freitas. [3]

Contents

Presidents of the Senate

PresidentServedElectedNotes
J. Hamilton Maurice 1961–197129 December 1961 [4]
Wahid Ali 1971–198618 June 1971 [4]
Michael Williams 1987–199012 January 1987 [4]
Emmanuel Carter 1990–199512 March 1990 [4]
Ganace Ramdial 1995–200227 November 1995 [4]
Linda Baboolal 2002–20075 April 2002 [4]
Danny Montano 2007–201017 December 2007 [4]
Timothy Hamel-Smith 2010–201518 June 2010 [4]
Raziah Ahmed 20153 February 2015 [4]
Christine Kangaloo 2015-202323 September 2015 [4]
Nigel de Freitas 2023-18 January 2023 [4]

Vice-Presidents of the Senate

Vice-PresidentServedAppointedNotes
Lancelot Beckles 1961–197029 December 1961 [4]
A. Date Camps 1970–197121 May 1970 [4]
Canute E. Spencer 1971–197618 June 1971 [4]
J. Hamilton-Holder 1976–198124 September 1976 [4]
Emru Millette 1981–198627 November 1981 [4]
Carlyle Walters 1987–198812 January 1987 [4]
Leonard Bradshaw 1988–199112 April 1988 [4]
Ainsley Mark 1992–199513 January 1992 [4]
Philip Hamel-Smith 1995–200027 November 1995 [4]
Wade Mark 200112 January 2001 [4]
Christine Kangaloo 20025 April 2002 [4]
Rawle Titus 2002–200717 October 2002 [4]
George Hadeed 2007–201017 December 2007 [4]
Lyndira Oudit 2010–201318 June 2010 [4]
James Lambert 2013–201510 September 2013 [4]
Nigel De Freitas 2015–202223 September 2015 [4]
Muhammad Yunus Ibrahim 202222 March 2022 [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Trinidad and Tobago</span>

The politics of Trinidad and Tobago function within the framework of a unitary state regulated by a parliamentary democracy modelled on that of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, from which the country gained its independence in 1962. Under the 1976 republican Constitution, the monarch was replaced as head of state by a President chosen by an electoral college composed of the members of the bicameral Parliament, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

An electoral college is a set of electors who are selected to elect a candidate to particular offices. Often these represent different organizations, political parties or entities, with each organization, political party or entity represented by a particular number of electors or with votes weighted in a particular way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Member of parliament</span> Representative of the voters to a parliament

A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members often have a different title. The terms congressman/congresswoman or deputy are equivalent terms used in other jurisdictions. The term parliamentarian is also sometimes used for members of parliament, but this may also be used to refer to unelected government officials with specific roles in a parliament and other expert advisers on parliamentary procedure such as the Senate parliamentarian in the United States. The term is also used to the characteristic of performing the duties of a member of a legislature, for example: "The two party leaders often disagreed on issues, but both were excellent parliamentarians and cooperated to get many good things done."

President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate. It corresponds to the speaker in some other assemblies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">President of Trinidad and Tobago</span> Head of state

The president of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is the head of state of Trinidad and Tobago and the commander-in-chief of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. The office was established when the country became a republic in 1976, before which the head of state was the Queen of Trinidad and Tobago, Elizabeth II. The last governor-general, Sir Ellis Clarke, was sworn in as the first president on 1 August 1976 under a transitional arrangement. He was formally chosen as president by an electoral college consisting of members of both houses of Parliament on 24 September 1976, which is now celebrated as Republic Day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Trinidad and Tobago</span> Political elections for public offices in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago elects its House of Representatives on the national level. The head of government, the prime minister, is chosen from among the elected representatives on the basis of his or her command of the support of the majority of legislators. The Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has two chambers. The House of Representatives has 41 members, elected for a maximum five-year term in single-seat constituencies. The Senate has 31 members: 16 government senators appointed on the advice of the prime minister, six opposition senators appointed on the advice of the leader of the opposition and nine so-called independent senators appointed by the president to represent other sectors of civil society. The president is elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting of the members of both houses of Parliament. Other elected bodies include the local government bodies in Trinidad and the Tobago House of Assembly, which handles local government in the island of Tobago and is entrenched in the constitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">House of Representatives (Trinidad and Tobago)</span> Lower house of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago

The House of Representatives is the elected lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, along with the President and Senate of Trinidad and Tobago. The House of Representatives sits at the Red House. It has 41 members, each elected to represent single-seat constituencies. The Parliament is elected with a five-year term, but may be dissolved earlier by the President if so advised by the Prime Minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago</span> Legislature of Trinidad and Tobago

The Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago is the legislative branch of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. The Parliament is bicameral. Besides the President of Trinidad and Tobago, it is composed of the House of Representatives, which is composed of the Speaker of the House of Representatives in addition to 41 directly elected members serving a five-year term in single-seat constituencies, and the Senate which has 31 members appointed by the President: 16 Government Senators appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, 6 Opposition Senators appointed on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition and 9 Independent Senators appointed by the President to represent other sectors of civil society. It is at present the only parliament in the world with an incumbent female President, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Leader of the Opposition and made history by appointing the Caribbean's first and only transgender parliamentarian on 15 February 2022. As of 20 April 2021, there are only 24 female members, or 32.9% and eight members born in Tobago or 11.0%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senate (Trinidad and Tobago)</span>

The Senate of Trinidad and Tobago is the appointed upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, along with the President and House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago. The Senate currently sits at the Red House. The Senate has 31 members all appointed by the President: 16 Government Senators appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, 6 Opposition Senators appointed on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition and 9 Independent Senators appointed on the discretion of the President from outstanding persons who represent other sectors of civil society. The presiding officer, the President of the Senate, is elected from among the Senators who are not Ministers or Parliamentary Secretaries. A senator must be at least 25 years old and a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago. The current President of the Senate is Senator Nigel de Freitas. As of 20 April 2021, there are only 13 female senators, or 41.9% and 6 Tobagonian senators or 19.4%. The Senate made history on 15 February 2022 by appointing Jowelle de Souza as an acting opposition senator, thus making her the Caribbean's first and only transgender parliamentarian.

Raziah Ahmed is a former Senator of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Rowley</span> Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago since 2015

Keith Christopher Rowley is a Trinidadian and Tobagonian politician serving as the seventh prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, first elected into office on 9 September 2015 and again following the 2020 general election. He has led the People's National Movement (PNM) since May 2010 and was Leader of the Opposition from 2010 to 2015. He has also served as the Member of the House of Representatives for Diego Martin West since 1991. He is a volcanologist by profession, holding a doctorate in geology, specializing in geochemistry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen of Trinidad and Tobago</span> Head of state of Trinidad and Tobago from 1962 to 1976

Elizabeth II was Queen of Trinidad and Tobago from the independence of Trinidad and Tobago on 31 August 1962 until the country became a republic on 1 August 1976. Her constitutional role as head of state was delegated to a governor-general, who acted on the advice of government ministers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Trinidad and Tobago presidential election</span>

Indirect presidential elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 15 February 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Trinidad and Tobago presidential election</span>

Indirect presidential elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 19 January 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federal Parliament of the West Indies Federation</span>

The Federal Parliament of the West Indies Federation was the bicameral legislature in West Indies Federation from 1958 to 1962. It was formally made up of two houses, an appointed Senate and an elected House of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tobago Council of the People's National Movement</span> Political party in Trinidad and Tobago

The Tobago Council of the People's National Movement, also known as the Tobago Council of the PNM, PNM Tobago or PNM Tobago Council, is the longest-serving and oldest active political party in Tobago. The party is the autonomous branch of the Trinidad and Tobago People's National Movement operating in Tobago. While its political leader acts in the local capacity, they also serve as a deputy leader on a national level. The party's executives organize for both local and national election campaigns. There have been three PNM Chief Secretaries and administrations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christine Kangaloo</span> President of Trinidad and Tobago since 2023

Christine Carla Kangaloo is a Trinidadian politician, who is the president of Trinidad and Tobago since 2023. She was president of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago from 2015 until her resignation to run for president in 2023. She is the only person to serve as both President and Vice President of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago, the first woman to serve as Senate Vice President and third woman to serve as acting President of Trinidad and Tobago and Senate President. She became the second woman to serve as President of Trinidad and Tobago upon her assumption of office on 20 March 2023. Kangaloo has served as an Opposition Senator, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Minister of Legal Affairs and Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education in previous People's National Movement governments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Trinidad and Tobago presidential election</span>

Indirect presidential elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 20 January 2023.

Nigel de Freitas is a Trinidadian politician from People's National Movement. He is the current President of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago. He took office in January 2023.

References

  1. "Draft Estimates" (PDF). www.finance.gov.tt. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  2. Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago – Updated to 2003 Archived 2008-04-08 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Trinidad and Tobago Parliament".
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 "Presidents of the Senate (1961 – Present)". www.ttparliament.org. Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. 4 June 2023.