Political scientist Dr. Maukesh Basdeo says Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s proposal to constitutionally guarantee Tobago at least two seats in the Senate could reshape the composition of the Upper House, particularly the Independent Bench.
Dr. Basdeo noted that while the move would strengthen Tobago’s voice in national decision-making, it may also alter the current balance within the Senate, requiring adjustments to the allocation of Independent Senators.
“That power that forms the basis of the nine Senators that comprise the Independent bench, that is where the Prime Minister is proposing the Constitutional change should actually occur whereby Tobago would be guaranteed that two of the Senatorial appointments that the President would make would come from the THA or would come from persons representing the interests in Tobago.”
The political scientist pointed to government’s stated plan to give Tobago greater autonomy, noting that the two Senate seats for Tobago corrects a long standing constitutional issue.
“The decision to allocate two of those so-called Independent Senators appointment and designate it primarily to come from Tobago is seen as a significant step on the part of this administration to sort of resolve, as some would say is an anomaly that has been in the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago and the Upper House’s structure since 1962.”
At present, while Tobago has two constitutionally guaranteed elected seats in the Lower House, it currently has no corresponding constitutional guarantee for Senate representation.