The office of President is quasi-ceremonial in nature. While the President is the Head of State, the Prime Minister is the Head of Government. The Constitution grants the President legal authority to carry out various functions; however, in most circumstances these must be exercised within specific limits and often in accordance with the advice of, or after consultation with, other authorities such as the Cabinet, the Prime Minister or the Chief Justice.
Some functions of the President are based on convention and custom, for example, the President as patron of various organizations.

Qualifications for President
To be eligible for nomination as President, a candidate must be:
• A citizen of Trinidad and Tobago.
• 35 years or older.
• Ordinarily resident in Trinidad and Tobago for at least ten years preceding nomination.

Election of a President
The President is elected by a body called an Electoral College. An Electoral College consists of all the members of the Senate and all the members of the House of Representatives assembled, with the Speaker as Chair. Ten Senators, the Speaker and twelve other members of the House of Representatives constitute a quorum of the Electoral College. The vote is conducted by secret ballot.

Functions of the President

The Constitutional Power to Appoint
The Constitution grants the President the power to appoint persons to certain offices. The President’s selection of these office holders to be appointed to these posts generally fall into three distinct categories:

  • Sole Discretion
    The President has the authority to identify and select individuals she deems suitable and qualified for certain positions without being required to consult with any other authority. The stipulations by which the President must abide are those outlined in the law for example citizenship, qualifications and experience. Appointments made in the President’s sole discretion such as Independent Senators.
  • Consultation
    The President must consult with or ask the opinion of certain authorities before appointing individuals to certain offices. This process involves notifying these authorities of her selection and enquiring about any objections. However, the President is not obligated to adhere to or accommodate any objections raised by those she consults. Appointments made by consultation include the Ombudsman, the Auditor General, and members of certain Service Commissions.
  • Advice
    The President appoints individuals on the advice of specific officeholders. This means that the President is legally required to appoint the recommended persons once they have met the necessary qualifications. Appointments made by advice include Judges appointed by the President on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, Ministers of Government appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, Opposition Senators appointed on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition and others appointments based on the advice of Cabinet.

Role in the Legislative Process
According to Section 39 of the Constitution, “There shall be a Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago which shall consist of the President, the Senate and the House of Representatives.” However, the President attends Parliament only on invitation of the Speaker, for example at the opening of the first session of a new Parliament. The President:

  • Proclaims the commencement and dissolution of sessions of Parliament the latter being on the advice of the Prime Minister.
  • Must assent to all Bills passed by both houses of Parliament before they can become law. When a Bill is assented to, it becomes an Act.
  • Appoints 16 Senators on the advice of the Prime Minister, 6 on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition and 9 entirely in her own discretion. The nine senators appointed in the discretion of the President are known as Independent Senators.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The Armed Forces refer to the four arms of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force which comprise the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment/Army, the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, the Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard and the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Reserves.
As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the President is assigned an Aide-de-Camp and Household staff from the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. The President has many responsibilities as Commander-in-Chief including the approval of all promotions for Commissioned Officers as well as the deployment of troops outside of Trinidad and Tobago.

Diplomatic Duties
The President receives the Letters of Credence of incoming Ambassadors/High Commissioners in a Presentation of Credentials ceremony. The presentation of credentials by an Ambassador/High Commissioner is a very important event as it grants them diplomatic accreditation and authorises them to act on behalf of their Head of State.

Conferral of National Awards
The President confers National Awards on citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and other individuals for distinguished or meritorious service or for gallantry. The National Awards Committee makes recommendation on awardees to the Prime Minister who in turn advises the President.

Patronage and Advocacy
The President is the patron of many local organisations. A patron is a person chosen, named or honoured as a special guardian or supporter of an institution or cause and uses their influence to support, encourage and/or aid that organisation or movement. The President also seeks to champion various projects during their term in office.

Detailed overview of the President’s constitutional powers and responsibilities

Many, but not all, of the roles and functions of the President are enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Below are some of the main functions of the President:

    • Head of State
    • Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces: TT Defence Force (TT Regiment, TT Coast Guard, TT Air Guard, TT Defence Force Reserves)
    • Executive authority of Trinidad and Tobago is vested in the President
    • Custodian of all state land and handles leases, after consultation with the Office of the Solicitor General
    • Appointment of the Prime Minister
    • Appointment of the Leader of the Opposition
    • Makes the following appointments, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister:
      • Attorney General
      • Ministers (and allocation of their portfolios)
      • Parliamentary Secretaries (and allocation of their portfolios)
    • Appointment of Senators
      • 16 in accordance with the advice of Prime Minister
      • 6 in accordance with the advice of Leader of the Opposition
      • 9 in his own discretion
    • Assent to Bills passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate before they can become law. When the bill is assented to, it becomes an act.
    • Proclaim certain pieces of legislation
    • Power of pardon, stay of execution, reduced form of punishment, remittance of full/part of sentence expressed through the Mercy Committee or the Advisory Committee on Pardon
    • Proclaim/issue proclamation on commencement of sessions of Parliament
    • Proclaim state of public emergency
    • Hosts National Awards Function annually as Chancellor of the Order. Recommendations made by the Prime Minister. National Awards Committee chaired by the Chief Justice.
    • Issue/make Orders
    • Receives Ambassador/High Commissioner-delegates for Presentation of Credentials
    • Appointment of High Commissioners/Ambassadors, in accordance with the advice of the PM. Credentials are signed by H.E. to go to the corresponding receiving Head of State
    • Prorogues/dissolves Parliament in accordance with advice of Prime Minister
    • Appointments of Commissions of Enquiry, in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister
    • The Prime Minister shall keep the President fully informed concerning the general conduct of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and shall furnish the President with such information as he may request with respect to any particular matter relating to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. (Section 83 of the Constitution)
    • Is kept abreast by the Chief of Defence Staff as Commander-in-Chief
    • (Informal) Patron to many organizations e.g. Chief Scout
    • In the absence of the President, or if the office of President is vacant, the President of the Senate acts temporarily as President. Where the President of the Senate is unable to act, the Speaker of the House acts as President
    • Makes the following appointments, after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition:
      • Chief Justice
      • Ombudsman
      • Members of the Elections and Boundaries Commission
      • Members of the Environmental Commission
      • Auditor General
      • Members of the Integrity Commission
      • Members of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC)
      • Members of the Law Reform Commission
      • Members of the Police Service Commission (subject to affirmative resolution by the Parliament)
      • Members of the Public Service Commission
      • Members of the Salaries Review Commission
      • Members of the Teaching Service Commission
      • Members of the Equal Opportunity Commission
      • Members of the Public Service Appeal Board
      • Law Reform Commission
      • Environmental Commission
      • Police Service Commission (subject to affirmative resolution by the Parliament)
    • Makes the following appointment, after consultation with the Chief Justice:
      • President of the Industrial Court
    • Makes the following appointments, in accordance with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission:
      • Justices of the Appeal and Puisne Judges
    • Appointment of the Advisory Committee on the power of pardon
    • Appointment of Tribunals
    • Appointment of Statutory and other boards, such as:
      • Statutory Authorities Appeal Board
      • National Insurance Appeals Tribunal
      • Registration, Recognition and Certification Board
      • Mediation Board