After two marathon sittings of parliament to elect a Speaker of the House of Representatives, the PNM government has written to President Arthur Robinson asking him for a prorogation (a suspension of legislative session) of parliament. The Friday session closed of at 1.30 am on Saturday Morning. The session resumed at 1.30 pm on Saturday which also did not bring a resolution.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning also informed the country that apart from requesting the prorogation of the Parliament the Government would not be taking the matter to the high courts.

Basdeo Panday said that given that Patrick Manning could not command any majority in the Government his only alternative now is to call an election and return to the polls.