As expected, assembly members from both the People’s National Movement and the Progressive Democratic Patriots, voted once again along party lines as they met this morning to select a President Officer for the Tobago House of Assembly.
This has resulted in yet another deadlock.
The 12 Assemblymen—six People’s National Movement (PNM) and six Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP)—were sworn in by President Paula-Mae Weekes on January 28th.
In the first attempt to elect a Presiding Officer, the PNM proposed Ingrid Melville and PDP Julien Skeete, for the post of Presiding Officer. That January 28 vote was deadlocked.
Today, Mondaym February 1st, when the assemblymen met to begin the process again, all 12 members supported their respective choice for presiding officer.
After two rounds of voting by secret ballots and two public, the Assembly’s Clerk, Merna McLeod, asked if the Assemblymen would agree to take a break.
Dennis asked that the leaders of the two major parties hold a weekly meeting on the way forward.
The PNM is now set to propose a new candidate for presiding officer when the assembly meets at 1.30pm on Thursday.
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