Caption: A view of the top of the Rotunda in the Red House. AZP News/Azlan Mohammed
Summary
- Independent senators returned to the Senate saying they are focused on their constitutional duty;
- Persad-Bissessar accused two unnamed Independent senators of seeking favours from a Government senator to secure their votes;
- The accusation followed the defeat of the ZOSO-related 2026 bill, after it failed to reach the required three-fifths majority;
- All nine Independent senators denied the allegation, and the Opposition demanded the prime minister identify those involved;
- Anthony Vieira and the Opposition tried to have the matter sent to the Privileges Committee, but Senate President Wade Mark rejected the motions
By Alicia Chamely
INDEPENDENT senators say they have no qualms about returning to their duties in the Senate, despite allegations levelled against them by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar last week.
On January 28, shortly after the Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) Special Security and Community Development 2026 Bill failed to secure the required three-fifths majority—after eight of the nine Independent senators voted against it—Persad-Bissessar posted a statement on her Facebook page under the heading, “My Government will not buy votes.”
Persad-Bissessar accused two unnamed Independent senators of soliciting favours from a Government senator in exchange for their support. She said the request was rejected, but provided no specifics and did not name the two Independent senators or the Government senator who was approached.
All nine Independent senators have denied the allegations, and the Opposition has called on the prime minister to name the individuals involved.
On Tuesday, at the first sitting of the Senate since the prime minister’s allegations, Independent senators entered the Red House largely unfazed, saying they were appointed to serve the people of Trinidad and Tobago and intended to continue doing so.
Speaking to the media on her way in, Independent Senator Marlene Attz said, “Nine of us were appointed to serve the people of Trinidad and Tobago, and if you look at the Constitution, the Constitution is very clear that we’re supposed to do that—and the oath that we took is to do so without fear or favour.”
“And I think that resonates with all of us, and we’re here today to do the work of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. I think that’s the most important thing in our minds right now,” she added.
@azpnews.com Independent Senator Anthony Vieira says he plans to file a motion of privileges against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Video: Alicia Chamely #independentsenator #anthonyvieira #allegations #misconduct #parliament
Attz said she was unaware of the Opposition’s call for the prime minister to name the Independent senators accused.
Asked whether the Government should say who was involved, Attz was noncommittal. “I really don’t want to be part of a group of persons who breathe life into something that I really don’t think is anything that should be ventilated,” she said.
Independent Senator Sophie Chote, SC, echoed Attz’s sentiments. Rushing into the Red House, she said, “I have no difficulty returning to the Senate. I have considerable respect for the People’s House, which is the Red House.”
Independent Senator Courtney Mc Nish—the only Independent senator to abstain from the vote—also said the Prime Minister’s statements would not interfere with his duty to the country.
@azpnews.com Independent Senator Marlene Attz discusses going back into Senate after the Prime Minister leveled allegations of misconduct at the Independent Bench. Video: Alicia Chamely @marleneattzs #marleneattz #independentsenator #misconduct #allegations #parliament
Mc Nish, who acknowledged that “politics has a morality of its own,” questioned why the United National Congress (UNC) would attack the Independent bench, particularly when it needed Independent support to pass the bill.
“I don’t understand that strategy. If you want our support—because you will want our support—I can’t understand how you could be attacking us and still want to be supported. To me, it’s not logical, but we will see what happens. I’m here to serve the country,” he said.
Mc Nish also questioned why the Government senator who was allegedly approached did not report the matter to the Senate before the vote.
“My question would be, if a Minister was approached and he rejected the request, why did he not report them? Why did it come out after the vote?” he said.
The most defiant in his return was outspoken Independent Senator Anthony Vieira, who said he would refer the Prime Minister to the Privileges Committee.
Vieira said his bid to file a motion was intended to clear his name and that of the Independent bench.
“It was a comment made on the Independent senators, and as an Independent senator, I have to clear my name,” he said.
Both Vieira and the Opposition filed motions seeking to refer the Prime Minister to the Privileges Committee, but these were later denied by Senate President Wade Mark.
