Vanessa Cutting-Thomas
Vanessa Cutting-Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Presiding Officer of the Tobago House of Assembly | |
| In office April 2016 – January 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Kelvin Charles |
| Succeeded by | Denise Tsoiafatt Angus |
| In office December 2019 – September 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Denise Tsoiafatt Angus |
| Succeeded by | Oswald Williams |
Vanessa Cutting-Thomas is a Tobagonian politician who formerly served as Presiding Officer of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA). She served as a clerk to the Tobago House of Assembly before becoming Presiding Officer from April 2017 to January 2017, and again from December 2019 to September 2020. Cutting-Thomas is a member of the People's National Movement party.
Political career
Before her appointment as the Presiding Officer of the Tobago House of Assembly, Cutting-Thomas served as a clerk to the THA from 2009 to 2013 under the Assembly Legislature Secretariat.[1][2]
From April 28, 2016 to January 26, 2017, Cutting-Thomas was the Presiding Officer of the Tobago House of Assembly. She replaced previous Presiding Officer Kelvin Charles, who had resigned.[1]
In December 2019, she was re-appointed as presiding officer, succeeding Denise Tsoiafatt Angus, who had held the position for two and a half years.[1][3] She was nominated for the position by Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles, who she had replaced in her first term in the position.[3] As Presiding Officer, she earned a salary of $20,890.[4]
In May 2020, Cutting-Thomas administered the oath of office to new Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis, a move which faced legal opposition from then-Minority Leader Watson Duke. The position had opened up when Kelvin Charles vacated the role, leaving Cutting-Thomas to call a special sitting and the elected assembly would vote on who would replace him.[5][6][7]
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cutting-Thomas swore in Tracy Davidson-Celestine as a councillor in the Tobago House of Assembly and assigned her the portfolio of Secretary in the Division of Health, Wellness, and Family Development.[8]
In October 2020, she was succeeded by Oswald Williams after stepping down from the role the month before.[9]
Cutting-Thomas is a member of the People's National Movement party.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Thompson-Forbes, Casandra (19 December 2019). "Former Clerk of THA gets second chance as Presiding Officer". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- ↑ "Organizational Structure and Management" (PDF). Trinidad and Tobago Parliament. 2012.
- 1 2 "THA elects new Presiding Officer". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
- ↑ Connelly, Corey (8 May 2020). "Kelvin Charles's costly resignation". Martin George & Company. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ Connelly, Corey (18 May 2020). "Hochoy: President was not needed". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "Dennis is new Chief Secretary". Trinidad & Tobago Guardian. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ McEchnine, Camille (30 April 2020). "Charles resigns as Chief Secretary". Trinidad & Tobago Guardian. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ Connelly, Corey (13 March 2020). "TRACY MAKES COVID19 PRIORITY". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ "New THA Presiding Officer appointed". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2026.