Senate drama: Mark breaks 15-15 deadlock to pass SOB

SENATE President Wade Mark used his casting vote early Thursday morning to break a 15-15 deadlock and secure passage of the Government’s Special Operations Bill, 2026. The Bill received the support of all 15 Government senators, while all six Opposition senators and nine Independent senators voted against it, leaving the Senate evenly divided.

Mark then intervened, saying he had researched his authority to exercise a casting vote and was satisfied that he could break the deadlock. “There is no settled practice in this Parliament based on my research on this issue of the status quo re casting vote,” Mark told senators. The revised Special Operations Bill had already been passed by the House of Representatives following a marathon sitting on September 18. Thursday morning’s vote means the legislation has now cleared both Houses of Parliament.

The declaration prompted immediate objections from the Opposition benches, with Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi repeatedly attempting to raise a Standing Order. Mark, however, ruled that the vote had already been taken and declined to entertain further discussion. PNM MP Colm Imbert subsequently criticized Mark’s decision on social media, arguing that the use of a casting vote to break the deadlock was contrary to parliamentary practice.