Senate · 24 September 2026
Special Operations Bill: 15–15, then 16–15
All 15 Government senators voted for the Bill at third reading; the six Opposition and nine Independent senators voted against. Senate President Wade Mark cast his vote for the Ayes. Parliament's Bill record states the result as 16 for, 15 against.
Senate · 28 September 2026
Procurement amendment: 15–15, then 16–15
The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property (Amendment) Bill divided 15 Government senators for and 15 Opposition and Independent senators against. The President again voted with the Ayes. Parliament records 16 for, 15 against.
Standing Orders 2 and 54(2)
The power and the guide
Standing Order 54(2) provides that the President does not ordinarily vote but, where the votes are equally divided, “shall have and exercise a casting vote”. It does not state which way the vote must be cast. Standing Order 2 directs the President to the Senate's established practice and previous rulings and, where the Standing Orders are silent, to the usage and practice of the UK House of Commons so far as applicable.
Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago
Not a complete code
Parliament states that its Standing Orders do not form a complete procedural code and that custom, precedent and rulings also govern procedure. Its glossary defines a casting vote as the deciding vote in a tie and says the presiding officer “traditionally votes so as to maintain the status quo”.
Erskine May
Three principles and the Denison ruling
Where possible, the chair votes to permit further discussion; where no further discussion is possible, a final decision should not be taken without a majority; on an amendment, the casting vote should leave the Bill in its existing form. In 1861 Speaker Denison voted against the Church Rates Abolition Bill at a tied third reading, reasoning in substance that a change in the law should be made by a majority of the House. Erskine May is persuasive Westminster authority, not Trinidad and Tobago statute.
Senate · April 2022
Erskine May expressly applied
After a tied division the then Senate President referred to SO 54(2), cited the three Erskine May principles and voted to preserve the existing position.
Senate · May 2023
“In accordance with established practice”
Opposition Senator Wade Mark's amendments to a motion on parliamentary autonomy tied 15–15. The official record states the President exercised the casting vote against the amendments “in accordance with established practice”. The original motion was defeated 12–18.
Senate · 23 June 2025
“I vote to secure the status quo”
Three 15–15 divisions on amendments to the Children's Life Fund legislation. President Mark said “I secure and favour the status quo” and, on another, “I vote to secure the status quo.” The amendments failed. These concerned amendments, not third reading.
Senate · September 2026
“No settled practice”
At the tied final vote on the Special Operations Bill, President Mark said his research showed “no settled practice in this Parliament” on the status quo and casting vote, said he would make that research available and voted with the Ayes. He later declined to expand publicly, saying his explanation belonged in the parliamentary record.
Public debate · September 2026
Legal discretion and convention
Hamid Ghany argues no written rule directs the vote and that local history prevents the status-quo principle being treated as unbroken. Darrell Allahar argues an elected Government should not always need an Independent senator's support or abstention. Claudius Francis considered the action lawful under the written rules but a departure from established convention. These are attributed views, not rulings.
House of Representatives · 2017
The precedent dispute
Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George used casting votes in 2017, including three on 8 September. On 15 March 2017 she said during a tied division that she had to vote in favour of the status quo. She and former Speaker Nizam Mohammed say her votes concerned whether proceedings continued, amendments were considered or the House adjourned, not final passage of legislation.
Parliament biography
Senate President since May 2025
Parliament records Mark's decades as a UNC senator, minister and Leader of Opposition Business before his election as Senate President in May 2025, and records his Executive MBA. No authoritative evidence located for this article establishes that the qualification was revoked.
Extracts are summarised from the document of record, which is linked above. Where a passage is disputed, this newsroom will publish the correction alongside the extract.