By Sue-Ann Wayow
ALL eyes will be on Parliament this afternoon (Friday, May 23, 2025) as the first session of the thirteenth Republican Parliament begins.
The first session, which will begin at 1:30 pm, will be held at the Red House in Port of Spain, with a ceremonial opening.
According to the Parliament, a ceremonial opening means that the president, the highest office holder in the land, will be in attendance to address the members of both the Lower and Upper Houses assembled together.
This means that President Christine Kangaloo will address the House of Representatives and the Senate together.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar will lead her government into Parliament while Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles will lead her Opposition members.
Parliament has issued an itinerary for the proceedings:
- The House of Representatives and the Senate will meet separately in their respective chambers
- The Parliament Channel’s coverage will begin at 1.15 pm.
- At precisely 1.30 pm the clerk in each chamber will read the proclamation
- The National Anthem will be played in each chamber
- The President of the Senate and Speaker of the House will be elected and take the oath/affirmation in their respective chambers
- The Vice-President of the Senate and Deputy Speaker of the House will be elected and take the oath/affirmation in their respective chambers
- Each member in turn will take the oath/affirmation as a Member of Parliament/Senator in their respective Chambers
- The presiding officer in each chamber will announce that the President wishes to address both Houses of Parliament and suspend the sitting
- The presiding officers will proceed to Abercromby Street to await the arrival of the President.
- Members of the Senate will make their way to the House of Representatives
- The President will arrive and inspect the Guard of Honour assembled on Abercromby Street
- The President will enter the Parliament building and shortly thereafter proceed to the House Chamber
- The President will address the members of both Houses of Parliament assembled together
- At the conclusion of her address, The President will depart the Chamber, proceed to Abercromby Street, accompanied by the Presiding Officers, to dismiss the Guard of Honour, then return to the Diplomatic Reception lounge
- The Presiding Officers will return to their respective Chambers and conclude business.
- Guests will assemble in the Rotunda for a reception
- The President, escorted by the presiding officers, will join invited guests in the Rotunda
- There will be a short programme with a few remarks followed by entertainment
Prime Minister’s Questions and Urgent Questions are on the agenda items on the first order paper issued for the House of Representatives.
Urgent Questions and Questions on Notice are some of the agenda items on Senate’s order paper.
Speaking on Thursday at her post Cabinet press briefing at the Red House, Persad-Bissessar said citizens may be surprised by who the House Speaker and Senate President may be.
She said, “They are good people. We’ve worked together and we have selected some of the best minds in our country and persons who have people’s interests at heart and they will serve well.”
The public also does not yet know who the opposition senators will be.
The prime minister commented on the appointments of two new Cabinet members who were appointed hours before the meeting at the President’s House.
They were attorney Darrell Allahar and former opposition senator David Nakhid.
“I think they will make very good representatives in the Parliament,” Persad-Bissessar said.
There was a lot of work in the Office of the Prime Minister where Minister Darrell Allahar was appointed to, she added and Nakhid who as appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs will assist line Minister Phillip Watts.
And next week, the public should know who the new appointees of state boards were, having being given approval by Cabinet, Persad-Bissessar said.
