By FRANCIS JOSEPH
Coming soon!
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC announced that legislation will be coming soon to amend the constitution for two Tobago persons to be among the nine Independent Senators appointed by the President.
Persad-Bissessar made the announcement at the formal opening of the east Terminal Building of the ANR International Airport in Tobago on Tuesday afternoon.
This announcement drew sustained applause from the guests at the opening.
The Prime Minister did not say when the legislation would be brought, but she promised that when it comes, she hopes it will be passed. She said the appointment of two Tobago Senators to the Senate would add to the two Tobago Members of Parliament in the House of Representatives. This, she said, would give equality to the representation on behalf of the people of Tobago.
sitting of the House of Representatives in Port-of-Spain
At present, there is no specific constitutional or official requirement that any of the nine Independent Senators in the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago must be from Tobago, and official records do not designate a specific quota or count of independent senators originating from the island.
The nine Independent Senators are appointed at the sole discretion of the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago under Section 40(2)(c) of the Constitution.
The President selects them from outstanding individuals representing economic, social, or community organizations and other major fields of endeavor across the nation rather than by geographic regional quotas.
In her address, Persad-Bissessar reminded the audience that it was ANR Robinson, as Prime Minister under the NAR Government, who appointed her an Alderman in the Siparia County Council – paving the way for her to get involved in politics and ultimately, the Prime Minister.
A sample of the people at the $1.2 billion airport opening, revealed 100 percent approval for that proposed legislation.
Several Members of Cabinet attended. The Prime Minister apologized for the absence of the others as they were in the Senate debating the Municipal Corporations Bill 2026.
In attendance was former Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, who “opened” the same airport in March 2025 – days before he stepped down from office. But that was a practical opening. It took the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and NIDCO more than a year to complete the project for Tuesday’s opening – days before the Tobago Carnival.
The formal opening of the terminal building was one of several for the Prime Minister in Tobago on Tuesday.
