10th Parliament opens June 14

The Tenth Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago will be officially opened on Monday June 14 with the traditional "throne speech" by President George Maxwell Richards to both houses of Parliament.

It will be an historic occasion in the country's politics. For the first time a woman will be sitting as Prime Minister and for the first time since 1987 Patrick Manning will be on the opposition benches only the the MP for San Fernando East.

The Leader of the Opposition will be Diego martin West MP, De Keith Rowley, who was selected Thursday the handle the PNM's affairs in Parliament until a new leader is chosen on June 27.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar will present her full cabinet Friday. All members will take the oath of office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where Persad-Bissessar and Attorney General Anand Ramlogan took their oats on Wednesday.

The government appoints 16 Senators, the President names 9 and there will be six opposition Senators, who will be selected by Rowley.

Ramlogan is entering cabinet through the Senate as is the new Minister of National Security, Brigadier John Sandy.

The Prime Minister will name her 16 Senators and a President of the Senate, who will act as President of the country when President Richards is absent.