By FRANCIS JOSEPH
It took the casting vote by Wade Mark, President of the Senate, for the Special Operations Bill 2026 to be passed in the Senate early on Thursday morning.
When the vote was taken, 15 Government Senators voted in favour of the Bill. The six Opposition Senators and the nine Independent Senators voted against the Bill. So at that point, it was a 15-15 tie.
So what was next?
Mark, who gets the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ORTT) later on Thursday, told the Senate, “there is no settled practice in this Parliament based on my research on this issue of the status quo re the casting vote.”
He continued, “I have done the research on this matter. I will make it available at the appropriate time to my colleagues. The question is, I vote with the ayes.”
Mark then took his seat. Leader of the Opposition bench, Dr Amery Browne, attempted to raise Standing Order 54.
Mark then said, “The vote having been settled 16 in favour, 15 against, the vote has been taken, the bill has been passed.”
The opposition tried to raise Standing Order 54 but Mark called on the clerk to put an end to the proceedings. Mark said, “there will be no debate, there is no discussion, clerk please proceed.”
Mark then called on the Leader of the Senate, Darrell Allahar. But there was interruption from the Opposition. This caused Mark to issue a stern warning before proceedings finally got underway.
The Senate was then adjourned to Monday.
Nineteen Senators made contributions during this debate. It was piloted by Attorney General John Jeremie SC.
The others were Faris Al Rawi, Anthony Vieira, Michael de la Bastide, David Nakhid, Melanie Roberts-Radgman, Dr Desiree Murray, Dr Kennedy Swaratsingh, Sanjiv Boodhu, Candice Jones-Simmons, Dr Marlene Attzs, Darrell Allahar, Dr Margaret Rose, Sophia Chote SC, Francis Lewis, Wayne Sturge MP, Dr Amery Browne, Foster Cummings, Zola Phillips, with the AG winding up.
The Special Operations Bill was passed in the House of Representatives on September 19. During that debate, the AG piloted the bill. He was followed by 17 speakers from both sides of the House.
They were:
Keith Scotland, Wayne Sturge, Stuart Young, Dr Roodal Moonilal, Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Jearlean John, Kareem Marcelle, Roger Alexander, Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, Davendranath Tancoo, Christian Birchwood, Sean Sobers, Symon de Nobriga, Joel Sampson, Hans Des Vignes, Clyde Elder, with the AG winding up the debate.
The Bill was passed without amendments.
The forerunner to the Special Operations Bill was the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (Special Security and Community Development Measures) Bill, 2026.
It was passed in the House of representatives on January 17 – 27 for and 11 against.
With a special majority needed in the Senate, the Bill was defeated on January 27. Fifteen voted for that bill, 14 against with one abstention.
