Political scientist, Professor Hamid Ghany says the Prime Minister’s proposal to guarantee Tobago two seats in the Senate, would mark another shift in the country’s constitutional arrangements, with amendments needed to secure the island’s representation.
Political scientist, Professor Hamid Ghany says Government’s move to guarantee Tobago two seats in the Senate, would require constitutional amendments and represents a further evolution of the country’s system of Senate appointments.
“It will represent a further evolution of the independent bench in our history, moving from the Prime Minister determining independent senators between 1962 and 76 to the President determining Independent Senators since 1976, to the President now determining seven of the nine in Presidential discretion and two others with an input from Tobago. So that that that that’s how that would look. So it’s it’s it’s an evolutionary process.”
He explained that the Prime Minister’s proposal appears focused on securing dedicated representation for Tobago.
“I didn’t get the impression that the Prime Minister was advocating any powers for herself in terms of Senators. I think she was talking about the Independent mention, she clearly said so to have two Senators not tied politically to her or to the Leader of the Opposition, but tied to Tobago in some form or fashion.”
The reform, he said, could strengthen Tobago’s participation in national decision-making, with its implementation requiring constitutional amendments.
“As it is, Tobago does not have a guaranteed voice in the Senate, and that will be the game changer for them to have a guaranteed voice in the Senate and in the House of Representatives. And you know, there’s much more to be worked out in this, but I think that it is something that will change the evolution of the Independent Senator bench from what we’ve seen from independence to now.”
Professor Ghany explained that the final arrangement will determine how the two reserved seats are filled and how the proposal fits into wider discussions about Tobago’s constitutional status.