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Parliament name Parliament More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Representatives Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 2011 - LEADERSHIP President Wade Mark (M)  Notes Elected on 18 June 2010. Secretary General Jacqueline Sampson (F)  COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 42 / 42 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 12 (28.57%) Mode of designation directly elected 41 other 1 Notes Other: the Speaker may be designated from outside parliament and becomes a member of parliament by virtue of holding the office of Speaker. Term 5 years Last renewal dates 24 May 2010 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address House of Representatives Parliament - The Red House Abercromby Street P.O. Box 878 - PORT-OF-SPAIN (Export mailing lists) Phone (1868) 623 2565 Fax (1868) 625 4672 E-mail jsampson@ttparliament.org Website http://www.ttparliament.org/

Parliament name Parliament Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Representatives Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 1 January 1900 Mode of designation directly elected 41 other 1 Constituencies 41 single-member constituencies. Voting system Majority: Single member plurality systems ("first past the post") Vacancies arising within the first four years of Parliament's term are filled through by-elections held within 90 days. Voting is not compulsory. Voter requirements - age: 18 years - Trinidad and Tobago citizens - residence in country for at least one year and in home district and for at least two months prior to poll - disqualifications: insanity, electoral offence, sentence of death or imprisonment exceeding 12 months CANDIDATES Eligibility - age: 18 years - Trinidad and Tobago citizenship - residence in country for at least two years immediately before nomination or on election date - ineligibility: allegiance to a foreign State, undischarged bankruptcy, insanity, sentence of death or imprisonment exceeding 12 months, conviction for election-connected offence Incompatibilities - certain public offices and posts connected with administration of elections - the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House may not be a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary Candidacy requirements - nomination by six or more registered electors of the constituency (district) - deposit of TT$ 5000.00, which is reimbursed if the candidate polls at least one-eighth of the vote in his/her district

Parliament name Parliament Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Representatives Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 24 May 2010 Timing and scope of renewal Elections were held for all the seats in the House of Representatives following the early dissolution of this body on 9 April 2010. Elections to the House of Representatives had previously taken place on 5 November 2007. Prime Minister Patrick Manning asked President George Maxwell Richards to dissolve Parliament on 8 April 2010, one day before parliament was scheduled to examine a motion of no-confidence in the Prime Minister. The motion had been filed in March by the Leader of the opposition United National Congress-Alliance (UNC), Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar. She had accused the government of a lack of oversight over corruption scandals involving a government urban development corporation. She criticized the Prime Minister's decision to dissolve Parliament as an act of cowardice. The elections to the House of Representatives were subsequently set for 24 May, two and a half years earlier than they were constitutionally due. In the previous elections held in November 2007, Prime Minister Manning's People's National Movement (PNM) won 26 of the 41 seats at stake, giving him a second consecutive term. The UNC took the remaining 15 seats. The Congress of the People (COP), a breakaway party from the UNC, failed to win any parliamentary representation. The PNM had governed the country for all but 11 years since the party was founded in 1956. Trinidad and Tobago is one of the world's leading exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG), but the economy was severely damaged by the global economic crisis in 2009. The country's gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 3.2 per cent in 2009, the country's first annual GDP decline in 16 years. Prior to the 2010 elections, the UNC accused the PNM of corruption and mismanagement of the country's energy wealth. The UNC argued that the PNM government had wasted energy revenues on giant building projects and two international summits instead of providing better services and more jobs for citizens. Prior to the 2010 elections, and for the first time since the country gained independence from Great Britain in 1962, an opposition coalition - The People's Partnership - was formed in a bid to oust the ruling party. On 22 April 2010, five opposition parties (see note 1) - including the UNC and the COP - signed a unity pact. Of the country's 1.2 million inhabitants, around 40 per cent are of Indian descent and 37.5 per cent of African origin, while 20.5 per cent of the population are described as "mixed". These communities traditionally vote along ethnic lines. The PNM draws support from Trinidadians of African descent, while the UNC has the backing of the Indian community. Mrs. Persad-Bissessar (of Indian ethnicity) pledged to cut across ethnic lines. Prime Minister Manning's PNM ran on its record, citing poverty reduction and a better education system. It argued that the government had successfully brought billions of dollars in investment to the country's petrochemical industries. According to the government, the percentage of students enrolled in higher education increased fivefold from 9 per cent in 2001 to 45 per cent in 2010. The Prime Minister promised to construct 18 new modern police stations across the nation to improve security. However, the PNM was reportedly losing ground due to the economic slow-down, spiralling crime and a spate of corruption scandals. The People's Partnership promised change. It accused the PNM government of massive corruption, failure to provide medical facilities and general mismanagement of the nation. COP leader and former Central Bank Governor Winston Dookeran said that the People's Partnership would work for safety and security, economic development, justice and the well-being of citizens, and introduce a new face of governance. After boisterous campaign rallies, the polling took place in calm. In all, 69.45 per cent of the 1 million registered voters turned out at the polls. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) declared that the elections had been free, fair and transparent. However, it recommended that the Election and Boundaries Commission use bigger polling stations to avoid congestion and provide facilities for persons with disabilities. The final results gave 29 seats to the People's Partnership. The PNM took the remaining 12 seats. In all, 12 women were elected. On 26 May, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar took the oath of the office as Prime Minister in a ceremony administered by President George Maxwell Richards, thereby becoming the first woman to assume the premiership in Trinidad and Tobago. The Senate, an appointed chamber that is up for renewal in June 2010 (see note 2), comprised eight women among its 31 members. On 18 June, the newly elected House of Representatives held its first session and elected former senator Mr. Wade Mark as its new Speaker. On the same day, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar appointed Mr. Timothy Hamel-Smith, an attorney-at-law, as Senate President. Note 1: The People's Partnership coalition comprised the following parties: - United National Congress (UNC) - Congress of the People (COP) - Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) - Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) - National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) Note 2: 16 senators are nominated by the largest party in the House of Representatives while six are nominated by the opposition party. The President nominates nine independent senators. STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 24 May 2010 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 1'040'127 722'322 (69.45%) Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes People's Partnership People's National Movement (PNM) Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats Number of women People's Partnership 29 6 People's National Movement (PNM) 12 6 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 30 12 28.57% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Parliament (28.05.2010) Note: The 'Distribution of seats' above refers to the 41 directly elected members. The 'Distribution of seats according to sex' refers to all 42 members of the House of Representatives (41 directly elected members and the Speaker). Mr. Wade Mark, who was not one of the directly elected members, became a member of the House by virtue of his election as Speaker.

Parliament name Parliament Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Representatives Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title Speaker of the House of Representatives Term - duration: 5 years renewable (term of legislature); re-elected on 13 october 1998 - reasons for interruption of the term: loss of parliamentary mandate, appointment as Minister or Under-Secretary of State (if elected among MPs), dissolution, loss of citizenship, exclusion, resignation, death, dissolution (if elected among non-MPs) Appointment - elected by the members of the House - election is held at the start of the first sitting of the newly elected House - before taking the oath Eligibility - any member of the House (except Ministers and Under-Secretaries of State) or any non-elected MP may be a candidate Voting system - formal vote by public ballot if there are several candidates - simple majority - the Clerk proposes a vote by roll call of the candidates proposed and seconded; the first to receive the necessary majority being elected Speaker Procedures / results - the Clerk presides over the House during the voting - the Clerk supervises the voting - the Clerk announces the results immediately - the results can be challenged STATUS Status - ranks 5th after Head of State, Prime minister, Chief Justice and President of the Senate - the President of the Senate has precedence over the Speaker of the House of Representatives - represents the House with the public authorities - is de facto President of a Committee - represents the House in international bodies - in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions Board Material facilities - allowance - official residence - official car - secretariat - additional assistants - domestic staff FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions - establishes and modifies the agenda - examines the admissibility of bills and amendments - can appoint committees and their presidents Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the House - is responsible for discipline within the House: if necessary, takes disciplinary measures and lifts such measures - establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak - establishes the order in which amendments are taken up Special powers - takes part in establishing the budget of the House - supervises the services of the House - is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments - is responsible for security and in this capacity can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber Speaking and voting rights, other functions - has casting vote

Parliament name Parliament Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Representatives Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate NATURE Nature of the mandate Free representation Start of the mandate · When the results are declared Validation of mandates · Validation by the High Court only in case of challenge (S. 52 (1) (a) of the Constitution of 29 March 1976, as amended up to 5 August 1995) · Procedure (S. 106 to 129 of the Representation of the People Act) End of the mandate · On the day when the legal term of the House ends - or on the day of early dissolution (S. 49 (1) of the Constitution; for dissolution, see Art. 68 of the Constitution) Can MPs resign? Yes · Yes, of their own free will (S. 49 (2) (a) of the Constitution) · Procedure (S. 49 (2) (a) of the Constitution): resignation by writing under his hand to the Speaker · Authority competent to accept the resignation: the Speaker Can MPs lose their mandate ? Yes (a) Loss of mandate for not attending sittings of Parliament (S. 49 (2) (b) of the Constitution, SO 84 (2) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives; see also Participation in the work of Parliament) (b) Loss of mandate for loss of eligibility (S. 49 (2) (c) and (d), (3) to (6) in connection with S. 47 and 48 of the Constitution) (c) Loss of mandate through resignation from or expulsion by the party (S. 49 (2) (e), and S. 49A of the Constitution) STATUS OF MEMBERS Rank in hierarchy Indemnities, facilities and services · Diplomatic passport for the Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition, and Parliamentary Secretaries; official passports for the others · Basic salary: TTD 5,250 per month (TTD 8,000 for the Speaker, and the Leader of the Opposition, TTD 7,500 for the Parliamentary Secretary, TTD 5,700 for the Deputy Speaker) · No exemption from tax · Pension scheme · Other facilities: (a) Secretariat/assistants (b) Official housing (c) Official car (d) Postal and telephone services (e) Travel and transport (f) Others Obligation to declare personal assets Yes Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability · The concept does exist (S. 55 (1) and (2) of the Constitution, S. 3 of the House of Representatives (Powers and Privileges) Act). · Parliamentary non-accountability is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament. · Derogations: offence or insult (SO 36 (4) to (5), 43 (3), and (9) to (11) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives, see Discipline) Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability · The concept does exist (S. 4 of the House of Representatives (Powers and Privileges) Act). · It applies only to civil proceedings, covers only civil debts with the exception of a debt the contraction of which constitutes a criminal offence, and protects MPs only from arrest. · No derogations are foreseen. · Protection is provided only whilst going to, attending at, or returning from a sitting of the House or a committee · Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) cannot be lifted. EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE Training · There is a training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs. It consists of occasional in-house seminars, tour studies and attachments organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and training and briefing of new MPs by the Clerk of the House. · Handbook of parliamentary procedure: - Standing Orders of the House of Representatives Participation in the work of the Parliament · It is not compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings or committee meetings (but see SO 84 (1) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives). · Penalties foreseen in case of not attending sittings of Parliament (S. 49 (2) (b) of the Constitution, SO 84 (2) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives): loss of mandate Discipline · The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in SO 36 (4) and (5), 42 (1), and 43 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives. · Disciplinary measures foreseen: - Direction to discontinue the speech (SO 43 (1) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) - Decision not to hear a Member (SO 43 (2) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) - Order to withdraw words and to apologise (SO 43 (3) (b) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) - Order to withdraw for the remainder of the day's sitting (SO 43 (3), and (9) to (11) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) - Naming, eventually with suspension and loss of remuneration (SO 43 (4) to (11), and (13) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) - Adjournment of the House, suspension of the sitting (SO 43 (12) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) - Other measures (SO 43 (14) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) · Specific cases: - Offence or insult (SO 36 (4) to (5), 43 (3), and (9) to (11) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives): order to withdraw words and to apologise, order to withdraw for the remainder of the day's sitting · Competent body to judge such cases (SO 42 (1) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives): - Direction to discontinue the speech, order to withdraw words and to apologise, order to withdraw for the remainder of the day's sitting, naming, adjournment of the House, suspension of the sitting, offence or insult: the Speaker - Decision not to hear a Member, suspension and loss of remuneration, other measures: the House of Representatives The Speaker is competent to enforce the rules of order (see SO 43 (10) and (11) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives). · Procedure: - Direction to discontinue the speech (SO 43 (1) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) - Decision not to hear a Member (SO 43 (2) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) - Order to withdraw words and to apologise, order to withdraw for the remainder of the day's sitting, offence or insult (SO 36 (4) to (5), and 43 (3), and (9) to (11) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) - Naming, eventually with suspension and loss of remuneration (SO 43 (4) to (11), and (13) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) - Adjournment of the House, suspension of the sitting (SO 43 (12) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) - Other measures (SO 43 (14) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives) Code (rules) of conduct · This concept does exist in the country's juridical system (Code of Ethics for Parliamentarians including Ministers, see its S. 1 to 13). There is one other relevant provision (S. 13 of the House of Representatives (Powers and Privileges) Act). · Penalties foreseen for violation of the rules of conduct: - None for violation of the Code of Ethics (but see Green Paper on Integrity in Public Life of December 1995) - Fine of ten thousand dollars and forfeiture of amount or value of bribe (S. 13 (2) of the House of Representatives (Powers and Privileges) Act; prohibition to receive bribe) · Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties: the Attorney General (S. 14 of the House of Representatives (Powers and Privileges) Act; prohibition to receive bribe) · Procedure (S. 14 of the House of Representatives (Powers and Privileges) Act; prohibition to receive bribe). In this case, MPs have (no) means of recourse. Relations between MPs and pressure group · There are no legal provisions in this field.

This page was last updated on 25 July 2011
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