The Offices of the Presiding Officers

Mission

To provide professional research and secretarial services to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives

The Offices of Presiding Officers conduct research, plan workshops/seminars and manage the day-to-day parliamentary affairs of the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Contact: Mrs. Claire Thomas-Bailey (Senate)
Phone: 623-1670
Mrs. Linda Wilson (House of Representatives)
Phone: 623-1434

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Office of the Clerk of the House

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.

Contact: Mrs. Jacqui Sampson-Meiguel
Clerk of the House
e-mail: jsampson@ttparliament.org
Phone: (868) 623-2565

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Office of the Clerk of the Senate

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 the 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.

Contact: Mrs. Nataki Atiba-Dilchan
Clerk of the Senate
e-mail: natiba@ttparliament.org
Phone: (868) 623-8366

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The Clerk of Committees

Mission

To provide procedural advice and Secretariat services to Select Committees of Parliament.

The Office of the Clerk of Committees is responsible for facilitating the operation of the Special Select Committees and Joint Select Committees.

Some of the duties performed by this Office are:

• Advising Committee members on the relevant procedures and practice of Committees
• Administrative support
• Management of the Committees' business
• Research

A Parliamentary Clerk II who acts as Secretary to the Committees heads the Office of the Clerk of Committees. The Officer may also function as Table Clerk in the House of Representatives or the Senate.

Contact: Mrs. Jacqueline Phillip-Stoute - Procedural Clerk
e-mail: jpstoute@ttparliament.org
Phone: (868) 624-7275 (Ext. 2277)

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The Public Accounts Committees

Mission

To provide professional advice to Members of the Public Accounts Committee and the Public Accounts (Enterprises) Committee and to function as the Secretariat for these committees.

The Office of the Public Accounts Committees is responsible for administering the affairs of the Public Accounts Committee and the Public Accounts (Enterprises) Committee and providing services in the following areas:

• Advising Committee members on the relevant procedures and practice of the Committees
• Administrative support
• Management of the Committees' business
• Research

The Office of the Public Accounts Committees is headed by a Parliamentary Clerk II who acts as Secretary to the Public Accounts and Public Accounts (Enterprises) Committees. The Officer may also function as Table Clerk in the Senate.

Contact: Mr. Ralph Deonarine - Procedural Clerk
e-mail: rdeonarine@ttparliament.org
Phone: (868) 624-7275 (Ext. 2373)

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Legal Department

Mission

The Legal Department provides legal services to Parliamentarians, Parliamentary Committees and to all departments of the Office of the Parliament in furtherance of the organization's strategic objectives.

Contact: Ms. Annika Fritz, Senior Legal Officer
Phone: (868) 624-7275

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Internal Audit

Mission

To provide independent, objective assurance and consulting services designed to add value and improve the Parliament's operations. It helps the Parliament accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluating and improving the effectiveness of risk management control and governance processes.

The Internal Audit ensures that Parliament's network of risk management, control and governance processes as designed and represented by management are adequate and functioning in a manner to enable:

• Compliance with laws, regulations, contracts, policies, plans and procedures
• The reliability and integrity of information
• The safeguarding of assets
• The economical and efficient use of resources
• The accomplishment of established objectives and goals for operations or programmes.

An Auditor I heads the Division.

Contact: Auditor I
Phone: (868) 624-7275

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Office of The Leader of The Opposition

Mission

To provide the Leader of the Opposition with professional research assistance and advanced secretarial support in the execution of his official duties.

The post of Leader of the Opposition is a Parliamentary Office created by the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Thus, it must be provided with essential support services and resources vital to its existence. The Office of the Parliament facilitates this process. All staff members are political appointments.

Contact:
Phone: (868) 623-8662
email: opposition@ttparliament.org

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The Office of the Marshal of the Parliament

Mission

To provide a safe and clean environment in which the Parliament may carry out its functions and to provide exceptional services equal to the clients' expectations.

The office of the Marshal of the Parliament is responsible for leading and directing the safety and security of the Parliament, its precincts and staff, management of the Parliamentary Security Department, ceremonial functions connected with the sittings of the Houses and protocol duties in relation to the Presiding Officers and Parliamentary dignitaries. Supervision of the Mail Room and Courier Services, Food and Beverage Services and the Support Staff also falls within the purview of the Marshal’s office.

Contact: Mr. Brian Caesar - Marshal of the Parliament
e-mail: bcaesar@ttparliament.org
Phone: (868) 624-7275 (Ext. 2351)

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Hansard

Mission

To provide Members and the Parliament with an accurate, high-quality, cost-effective, timely and excellent report of the parliamentary proceedings of both Houses of Parliament and Committees.

The Editor of the Official Report directs the operations of Hansard. This officer is responsible for the production of verbatim reports of both Houses of Parliament and Committees and also the editorial aspects of these reports.

The Hansard is the Official Report of debates in both Houses of Parliament. Personnel, referred to as CAT Reporters, utilising computer-aided technology in transcription produce verbatim transcripts. This is a process whereby Reporters use computer software installed on the computers to translate the verbatim notes taken in the Chamber into English.

Reporters are also utilized at Commissions of Enquiries.

The publication of the Official Report lies with an external body, the Government Printer, as provided for by the laws of Trinidad and Tobago.

Contact: Ms. Kathleen Mohammed - Editor of the Official Report
e-mail: kmohammed@ttparliament.org
Phone: (868) 623-4494 (Ext. 2240)

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The Parliament Library

Mission

To continuously provide knowledgeable, timely, non-partisan and high-quality information resource services to all Members of Parliament, their research staff, all officers of the Parliament and their staff.

The Librarian is responsible for:

• Ensuring that books, journals and other printed materials are available to Members of Parliament in support of their legislative functions;
• Responding efficiently to requests from Members, officers of both Houses and other authorized users, for documents that are considered necessary for the performance of Parliamentary duties
• Maintaining a definitive collection of sessional papers and other documents related to the business of proceedings of the Senate and House of Representatives and their Committees.

The Library maintains specialized databases of general material related to parliamentary procedure, Parliamentary Questions and Motions, Hansard Debates, Periodicals and Newspaper Articles.

The Library also offers services in the following areas to members of Parliament, staff and the general public, in some instances:

• Information
• Reference and Research
• Loans
• Bibliographical
• Technical
• Library Services
• Publications

contact: Mrs. Gomatee Lakhram, Librarian III
e-mail: glakhram@ttparliament.org
Phone: (868) 624-7275 (ext. 2248)

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Human Resource Management

The Human Resource Management Unit carries out the processes of recruitment and selection, performance appraisal and training and development for the staff of the Office of the Parliament. It is also charged with functions relating to health and safety and welfare, staff compensation/benefits and industrial relations matters.

Contact: Ms. Lydia Jacobs, Director, Human Resource (Ag.)
e-mail: hru@ttparliament.org
Phone: (868) 624-7275 (Ext. 2231)

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Administrative Services

Mission

To provide and maintain efficient and functional administrative support systems and services for the Parliament.

The procurement of all supplies, furniture and equipment essential to the proper functioning of the Parliament and its offices is the domain of the Administrative Services Division. It also administers all aspects of the management of constituency offices of members of the House of Representatives.

Contact: Ms. Pamela Ramlogan
Ag. Administrative Officer IV
Phone: (868) 624-7275 (Ext. 2233)

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Financial Services

Mission

To offer effective financial and accounting services to the Parliament and Parliamentary Institutions and to ensure that the financial functions are conducted in compliance with the Exchequer and Audit Act and Financial Regulations and Instructions.

The Accounting Division is charged with the responsibility of assisting the Accounting Officer (Clerk of the House) with the financial management of the Parliament. It also prepares the annual estimates for submission to the Ministry of Finance, prepares salaries and allowances for all Members of Parliament who do not hold ministerial portfolios, employees of the Office of the Parliament, constituency staff and other employees of parliamentary institutions. The Division also ensures that goods and services contracted by the Office of the Parliament are paid for promptly.

Contact: Ms. Lenore Shah
Accounting Executive (Ag.)
Phone: (868) 624-7275 (Ext. 2315)

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Records Management

Mission

To provide and maintain a modern records management and record retrieval system for the Parliamentary Services Bureau

The Records Management Division updates and maintains the Records Management System and retrieves information on request.

Contact: Records Manager
Phone: (868) 624-7275 (Ext. 2243)

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Pension and Leave Unit

The Pension and Leave Unit is a small but critically important unit within the Human Resources Department charged with the responsibility of ensuring that

• Members of Parliament,
• Employees and their dependents; and
• Constituency Staff

receive their retirement benefits accurately and promptly.

Contact: Mr. David Ali (Pension and Leave Supervisor)
email: dali@ttparliament.org
Phone: (868) 624-7275 (ext. 2361)

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Information Systems Support

Mission

To ensure that all systems are up to date and deliver effective functionality

The Information Systems Support Unit is managed by the Information Systems Manager. The unit determines the platforms and technology necessary to facilitate the Information Systems strategy. It is responsible for the administration, management and maintenance of the Information Systems infrastructure and related technologies of the Parliament Department, The Office of the Leader of the Opposition and the forty-one (41) Constituency Offices.

The Information Systems Support Unit also maintains the audio system for the Parliamentary Chamber and Committee rooms, and in more recent times the IT based systems used for the broadcasting of Parliamentary proceedings.

Contact: Mr. Garreth Ferguson, Information Systems Manager
e-mail: gferguson@ttparliament.org
Phone: (868) 624-7275 (ext. 2259)

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Corporate Communications Department

The Corporate Communication Department (CCD) plays a critical role in connecting people and providing services.  Apart from the primary objective of CCD which is to provide high quality professional services to Members of Parliament, members of staff are required to establish and maintain effective channels of communication with every stakeholder group:  from employees, to policy makers, community members and special interest groups (e.g. the media). 

The dynamic role and scope of CCD includes conducting tours, development of public outreach programs, television productions, and the preparation of publications and educational material.  The Parliament’s Television and Radio Services, which also fall under this Unit televises Chamber and Committee proceedings on the Parliament Channel 11 and on FM 105.5. Proceedings can also be viewed via the Parliament’s webpage at www.ttparliament.org

Contact: Ms. Suzanne Salandy - Director, Corporate Communications
email: ssalandy@ttparliament.org
Phone: (868) 624-7275 (ext. 2358)

Contact: Ms. Candace Dubarry - Production Manager
e-mail: cdubarry@ttparliament.org
Phone: (868) 624-7275 (ext. 2366)

Contact: Mr. Jason Elcock - Corporate Communications Manager
e-mail: jelcock@ttparliament.org
Phone: (868) 624-7275 (Ext. 2302)