Caption: Senate President Wade Mark. Photo: T&T Parliament

By Alicia Chamely

ATTEMPTS to harass, intimidate or pressure Senators to vote in a particular way will not be tolerated.

President of the Senate Wade Mark delivered this stern warning at the start of Monday’s fourth sitting of Senate held at the Red House, Port of Spain, ahead of the debate on the controversial Prime Minister’s Pension (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

Announcing he had received a correspondence that he felt necessary to address, Mark said, “When words or actions cross the line into harassment, intimidation, or attempts to shame Senators how they vote or pressure them to vote in a particular way – that is something entirely different — and it will not be tolerated.”

He continued, “Such actions strike at the very heart of parliamentary democracy and may constitute a serious breach of privilege. They will NOT be taken lightly. Every single member of this Senate possesses the inalienable right to speak and vote freely, guided by conscience and without undue influence.”

Mark referenced Section 55(1) of the Constitution, which he said protected the freedom of speech for all Senators, regardless of what side they represented.

He assured that as President of the Senate, he would not tolerate the inference into the freedoms of members of the Upper House.

Mark said, “Let this serve as a clear warning to all. This House, and certainly this Chair, will act firmly to protect the privileges, rights, and immunities of this Senate collectively and each Senator individually.”

He added, “That protection will be exercised to the full extent of the Senate’s authority and, if necessary, the appropriate avenues for redress will be pursued without hesitation.”

Although Mark did not name anyone, the United National Congress (UNC) came under fire on Sunday for what was seen as an attack on the freedoms of independent senators.

Speaking at the party’s first press conference since being elected to office, UNC Public Relations Officer Dr Kirk Meighoo referred to them as the “President’s Senators” and accused them of being politically aligned with the People’s National Movement (PNM) and their “ideology”.

Meighoo said, “Let us be clear, there are no independent senators, despite the way people talk about them, the constitution contains no such term. They are presidential senators, and, in this case, they have been appointed by President Christine Kangaloo, a long standing and deeply embedded figure within the People’s National Movement.”

He questioned whether they would side with the people or the PNM in Monday’s debate of the Prime Minister’s Pension (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

Meighoo urged the Senators to prove their independence and vote for the Bill to pass.

Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath and Legal Affairs Minister Saddam Hosein joined with Meighoo in his questioning of and criticisms of the independent senators. With Padarath urging the Independent Senators to “Independent Senators to remain independent” by “by voting with the government.”

Questioned as to whether he thought his statements regarding the Senators was “improper”, Meighoo said all he had done was “unveiled the fiction of their independence.”

Speaking to the media in response to UNC’s criticism of himself and his fellow independent senators, Senator Anthony Veira said, “If the government wants support from the independent bench, that’s easy—just give us cogent, compelling and persuasive arguments. Somehow, I think that might work better than trying to demean and belittle us or via veiled threats and attempts at intimidation.”

In a rapid response to Mark, Meighoo issued a statement via his Facebook page saying analysis and criticism is not a form of intimidation and he too had the right of political expression.

He stated, “Analysis and criticism is not intimidation. Furthermore, I am a Political Scientist. Analysing politics and the constitution is my profession. I stand by my every word.”

Meighoo continued, “I too have an inalienable right to freedom of political expression. I also have a right not to be intimidated or threatened in the course of doing my duty.”