No clear front runner for next T&T president

The search is a still on for T&T’s next president. With the electoral college scheduled to meet on February 15 to elect a new president, several names were being bandied about. Among them are Speaker Wade Mark, former head of BPTT Robert Riley, political analyst Dr Hamid Ghany, Senate President Timothy Hamel-Smith and Chief Justice Ivor Archie, all of whom have been generating mixed views on social media. Another name making the rounds is Justice Amrika Tiwary-Reddy.

Up to last week, sources said Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar did not have a confirmed name of the person to replace outgoing President Richards. T&T’s president is elected by an electoral college voting by secret ballot. Ten senators, the speaker and 12 other members of the House of Representatives constitute a quorum of the electoral college.

In accordance with section 26:04 of the Constitution, the election for president shall be held no more than 60 days nor less than 30 days before the expiration of the term of that office. The election for president must be held no sooner than January 17 and no later than February 18.