Wade Mark Humbled By Nation’s Highest Award For Public Service

President of the Senate Wade Mark says he is deeply moved and humbled after receiving the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the country’s highest national award, following a political and parliamentary career spanning more than three decades.

Mark was among the recipients of the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago at the 2026 Republic Day National Awards Ceremony. Chief Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh and former government minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan were also awarded the ORTT.

The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is the nation’s highest national honour and is awarded for distinguished and outstanding service to the country. Introduced in 2008 as the replacement for the Trinity Cross, the ORTT is conferred in gold and no more than five may be awarded in any one year.

Reflecting on the honour, Mark said he was grateful and humbled by the recognition and dedicated the award to working-class, ordinary and grassroots citizens across Trinidad and Tobago.

He said his life had been devoted to issues including justice, equality, equity, unity and greater diversity, while crediting his years in the trade union movement with helping to shape his approach to public service.

Mark’s involvement in politics stretches back decades. According to Parliament records, he first entered Parliament as an Opposition Senator in 1990 and went on to become one of the longest-serving senators in the country’s history, serving in the Upper House across several Republican Parliaments.

His parliamentary career has seen him occupy positions on both the Government and Opposition benches.

Mark served as Minister of Public Administration and Information during the fifth Republican Parliament and later as Vice-President of the Senate. He also served for extended periods as Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, from 2002 to 2010 and again from 2015 to 2025.

In June 2010, Mark was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, serving in that position until 2015. During his tenure, he also held leadership responsibilities within the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, including serving as Regional Chairman for the Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic Region.

He returned to the Senate as an Opposition Senator in 2015 and continued serving through the 12th Republican Parliament.

Following the 2025 general election, Mark was elected President of the Senate on May 23, 2025, placing him at the head of the Upper House of Parliament.

As Senate President, Mark presides over sittings of the Upper House, interprets its Standing Orders and regulates parliamentary business in areas not specifically covered by those rules. The office also carries significant constitutional responsibility, as the Senate President can temporarily perform the functions of President of the Republic when required.

Mark exercised that responsibility in August 2026 when he was sworn in as Acting President of Trinidad and Tobago.

His public career also extends beyond Parliament.

From 1983 to 2000, Mark served as Education and Research Officer for the Bank and General Workers Union, where his responsibilities included worker education programmes. He was also editor of the union’s Labour Insight newsletter, a trustee of the Trinidad and Tobago Labour Congress and an Assistant Secretary of the National Trade Union Centre.

Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Politics from The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, which he obtained in 1979, as well as an Executive Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business.

His work has also included writing on the history and development of Trinidad and Tobago’s trade union movement and preparing papers dealing with globalisation, regional integration and workers’ rights.

After decades in trade unionism, politics and Parliament, Mark said his objective throughout the different stages of his career has remained focused on improving the quality of life and standard of living of ordinary citizens.

The 2026 ORTT places him among recipients of Trinidad and Tobago’s highest national distinction, an award reserved for distinguished and outstanding service to the nation.