pARLIAMENT FAcTs

WADE M AR k

Longest Serving Senator

mr. Wade mark started his political career in 1974 as a member of the United labour front Political Party. in 1988, he was elected chairman of the People’s Popular movement.

in november 1990, he was appointed to the Senate of the Parliament of the republic of Trinidad and Tobago under the United national Congress. When the United national Congress won the general election of 1995, he then served as minister of Public administration and information, and leader of government business in the Senate.

during the period January 2001 to october 2007, mr. mark was appointed to serve as the tenth Vice-President of the Senate during the Sixth republican Parliament. following the results of the general elections in 2002, he was appointed the leader of opposition business in the Senate, a position that he maintained in consecutive Parliaments until may 2010.

apart from his extensive experience as both a government Senator and an opposition Senator, mr. Wade mark served ardently on various Parliamentary Committees. He has been the Chairman of the Public Accounts (Enterprises) Committee and various Joint Select Committees including the Joint Select Committee on the equal opportunity bill.

mr. mark was elected Speaker of the house on friday June 18, 2010.

on September 23rd, 2015 he was sworn in as an opposition Senator in the eleventh Parliament.

PATRIC k M ANNING , MP

Longest Serving Member of the House of Representatives

mr. Patrick manning was the Parliamentary representative for San fernando east from 1971–2015, having successfully defended his seat for ten consecutive general elections.

he began his Parliamentary career as a Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Petroleum and mines between 1971 and 1973.

later, he assumed the position of Parliamentary Secretary to the then Prime minister, dr. eric Williams in 1973. between 1973 and 1978 he continued to serve as a Parliamentary Secretary in various ministries such as Planning and development, industry and Commerce and the ministry of Works, Transport and Communication.

from 1978 to 1979, he was assigned as a minister in the ministry of Finance (Maintenance and Tobago), and between 1979 and 1981 he was appointed minister in the ministry of finance (Public Service Portfolio) and Minister in the Ministry of the Prime Minister (Information Division).

mr. manning’s portfolio also includes experience as a minister in both the ministry of information as well as that of energy and energy industries. in 1987, he became the political leader of the People’s national movement. mr. manning has also sat in the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago as leader of the opposition from 1995 to 2001.

in 2001, he was appointed Prime minister by the President. following the 2002 and 2007 general elections he again assumed office as the Prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, for the period 2007-2010.

at the end of the Tenth Parliament mr. manning had served as an mP for forty-four (44) years. He stepped down from active politics in 2015. mr. manning passed away on July 2, 2016 at the age of 69.

A NAND RAM lOGAN, SC

Youngest person ever to hold the Office of Attorney General anand ramlogan, SC was appointed a Senator and attorney general on Wednesday may 26, 2010, becoming the youngest person, at age 37, ever to hold the office of attorney-general in the republic of Trinidad and Tobago. he served in that post until June 17, 2015. mr. ramlogan hails from the rustic village of benlomond, in Williamsville. he attended the reform Presbyterian School thereafter pursuing his secondary education at aSJa boys College and Pleasantville Senior Comprehensive. he pursued his bachelor of laws degree at the University of the West indies, Cave hill campus in barbados where he topped the law faculty and won several prizes for outstanding academic performance. mr. ramlogan was awarded several post-graduate scholarships and read for his llm in corporate and commercial law at the Centre for Commercial law studies, Queen Mary & Westfield College; University of London. He also simultaneously pursued a post-graduate diploma in law at the University of Westminster. his post-graduate studies were pursued courtesy the british Chevening Scholarship and the British Foreign Office Scholarship programme. mr. ramlogan returned to Trinidad and Tobago and started a private practice under the tutelage of lynette maharaj, SC and subsequently Sir fenton ramsahoye, QC. at age 22, he was one of the youngest barristers from the Commonwealth to address her majesty’s Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. mr. ramlogan has a distinguished record in public service and has served on many committees and statutory bodies such as the law reform commission, the Civil aviation authority, the Commission of enquiry into the administration of Justice and the Vision 2020 plan for Constitutional reform.

Cl ER k O f THE H O u SE

This officer is accountable for providing strategic guidance, oversight and leadership for the effective stewardship of the resources and assets of the national Parliament. He/she directs the development and provision of all administrative, logistical, and support functions necessary for the Parliament to operate smoothly, including procedural services, legislative services, information technology, parliamentary communications, publications and broadcasting as well as corporate resources.

Essentially, the Clerk of the House directs the operations of the Office of the Parliament and contributes to the short and long-term achievement of the parliamentary mission and the enhancement of services to the Parliament as an arm of State and to mPs in three business lines (i.e., the Chamber; Committees; and Constituency). The officer is also relied upon to safeguard the fairness and impartiality of procedural information, counsel and administrative support given to the Speaker, President of the Senate and all other house members and Senators.

Cl ER k O f THE S ENATE

as deputy head of department, the Clerk of the Senate assists in the provision of constitutional support for the work of the Parliament, particularly the Senate and parliamentary committees.

He/she assists in directing the operations of the Office of the Parliament and contributes to the short and long-term achievement of the parliamentary mission. The Clerk of the Senate ensures the fairness and impartiality of procedural information, counsel and administrative support given to the President of the Senate, leader of government Business in the Senate and all other Senators. This officer also specifically directs the development and provision of all administrative, logistical, and support functions in the areas of procedural and legislative services (Senate), Committee Services, Library Services and Hansard Services.