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Offline Flex

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54 PERCENT BACK RUNOFF...Mori Caribbean poll
« on: August 05, 2014, 07:02:40 AM »
Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
By Gail Alexander (Guardian).


No more minority MPs

Government next week will debate legislation in Parliament to provide for a runoff poll in elections so that MPs can only take their seats in the Lower House if they obtain more than 50 per cent of the votes cast in their constituency. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced this planned legislation, which only requires a simple majority vote for passage,during yesterday’s opening of the first and last session of the current tenth Parliament. The session is the final one leading up to a general election, nine months off.

On the proposal to ensure all MPs are elected on a majority, the PM said: “This measure reaffirms democracy and ensures the balance of power is always tipped in favour of the people, not the government. “Over the years, we have seen so many candidates get elected to this House on the basis of winning less than 50 per cent of the votes cast.

“It would be unfair to future candidates who will be elected and who will now come under the revised constitutional provisions for being recalled by their constituents, that they should start their term of office as MPs on the basis of being minority winners. “That will only serve to strengthen any persons who may wish to use the revised recall process for ulterior motives.” She added: “It is necessary to protect against this by having all MPs elected on a majority basis.”

Persad-Bissessar also said legislation for a two-term limit for the Prime Minister, a right of recall of non-performing MPs and fixed dates for elections were coming soon. She said the moves were to ensure the People’s Partnership administration kept more of its 2010 manifesto promises Citing background work on the issue by the Constitution Commission, she said the bill to be laid was based on the recommendations and amendments to the Constitution set forth in the commission’s report and post-script report.

She said: “A Constitution Amendment Bill 2014 is to be introduced today, which will propose a term limit for the office of the Prime Minister, a recall provision and a runoff poll in elections for the House of Representatives. These measures require only a simple majority. “Further, I will in the near future, lay a bill to fix the dates of Parliaments so the dates for general elections will be known. Such a bill will require a special majority.”

On the second ballot runoff proposal, she said while Parliament was vested with the authority to provide for the manner by which MPs were to be elected, “I wish to change the way we elect our members to strengthen our democracy in a way that makes the power of the people supreme.” Persad-Bissessar added: “This means that where, on a first poll at an election that is not achieved, a second poll will within 15 days be held between the top two candidates.

“This will place greater emphasis on the quality of the candidates selected, as the question in the runoff will be, ‘Which of these two candidates will better serve me and my constituency?’” “In such a system,” the PM argued, “the voices of the minority would be respected even as effect is given to the will of the majority and every single vote would matter and count, as the possibility of voting a second time will breathe new life and meaning into the democratic process.”

In recent elections some MPs have won by slim margins. Persad-Bissessar added that the runoff is often viewed as a corollary of the right of recall, as an MP who was elected with less than 50 per cent of the votes cast was obviously immediately vulnerable to a recall. Such polls, she said, were “widely used in countries with substantial democratic traditions, including France, Switzerland, Argentina, Venezuela, the Philippines, Taiwan and South Korea.

Persad-Bissessar said Government was also seeking to expand the existing right of recall in the Constitution. She said it would create the ability to recall individual MPs after three years from the date of election. She added: “The right of recall is a term used to describe a process whereby the electorate can petition to trigger a vote between scheduled elections on the suitability of an existing elected representative to continue in office.

“This forms part of the systems of government at different levels in several countries, including Canada, the United States, Switzerland, Philippines and Venezuela. “Section 49 A, which is a right of recall, is only within the hands of the leader of a party. It was exercised in the case of St  Joseph recently. “What we’re seeking to do is to expand that right of recall to place the power in the hands of the people and the people of the country will be the ones to trigger recall of an MP.

“The right of recall, Mr Speaker, doesn’t yet exist at Westminster and so this is a very bold step. “It may well be that  T&T may lead the way for Westminster because we would be the first Westminster-style democracy that will be adopting the right of recall.

“In the Queen’s speech (on) June 4, 2014, she stated that her government will introduce legislation on the recall of MPs. So we shall be the first of the 52 Commonwealth countries.”

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Offline Sando prince

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2014, 07:56:00 AM »

Constitutional reform a distraction, says Rowley

By Anna Ramdass
 
 Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has said Government is moving in violation of the new Standing Orders to debate reform to the Constitution in an attempt to distract from the scandals plaguing the country, including LifeSport.

The new Standing Orders of the House came into effect yesterday at the first opening of the fifth session of the Tenth Parliament.
Standing Order 14 provides for a fixed recess which states, “Notwithstanding Standing Order 11 (Meeting Days) and subject to Standing Order 13 (Extraordinary Sitting), unless there are urgent or extraordinary reasons for so doing, no sitting of the House of Representatives shall be held from the first week in the month of July to the first week in the month of September in any year.”
Following the adjournment of the House yesterday, Leader of Government Business Dr Roodal Moonilal moved that the House meet next Monday at 10.30 a.m.  to debate the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill.

Rowley said this sitting was “illegal and improper” as it goes against the new Standing Orders.
However, when contacted, Moonilal said the House unanimously agreed to meet on Monday and neither Rowley nor any members of the Opposition raised any objection on the adjournment.
Speaking at a news conference yesterday, Rowley criticised the move to hold a sitting on Monday during a period usually carded for vacation for Parliamentarians.
He made it clear the Opposition has no objection with Parliament meeting to treat with the people’s business but was opposed to it being used by the Government for “political survival”.

Rowley said in his near three decades as a Parliamentarian, the House goes into recess in the month of August and politicians plan their vacation time with their families during this time.
A number of Opposition MPs were absent as House Speaker Wade Mark had granted leave of absence to Opposition MPs Colm Imbert, Donna Cox, Dr Amery Browne and Nileung Hypolite as well as Government MPs Jairam Seemungal and Lincoln Douglas.
Former prime minister and San Fernando West MP Patrick Manning was present and smiled and waved to his colleagues and Government members.

Rowley questioned why Government was rushing to bring reform of the Constitution when, “you on your way out through the door”.
He said the right of recall was a promise made since 2010 in the People’s Partnership manifesto.
“If we have the recall of Parliamentarians in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 how many of them would have been recalled so far? They didn’t want any recall during their term, they want to recall PNM (People’s National Movement) MPs because the PNM is going to win the next election and they want to create mayhem in this country pretending to recall MPs,” said Rowley.     
 
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Constitutional-reform-a-distraction-says-Rowley-269918201.html

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2014, 08:01:15 AM »
I wonder how many people think along these lines after hearing about the PM proposal. This is how people should be thinking



James said the Prime Minister failed to outline the problems the changes would fix.
“It is up to the Prime Minister to say what problem there was that the people were clamouring about that led to the changes—she did not do so in her statement,” he said.
Speaking on the proposal to limit the term of a prime minister to ten years and six months (two terms), Dr James said this would in no way improve the country’s democracy.
He said while it would be a dignified way for a prime minister to leave office, the only purpose it would serve is to make way for new talent.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/James-Proposed-changes--to-Constitution-no-big-deal-269917211.html

« Last Edit: August 05, 2014, 11:05:46 PM by Sando prince »

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #3 on: August 05, 2014, 10:45:50 PM »
Jack nah holding back  :D

Quote
“The Prime Minister did (run-off vote) that which is totally not in her manifesto, she did that to save herself for another term, hoping to wipe out all THIRD PARTIES like the ILP,” said Warner.

“MORE than that, she has followed the wishes to the hilt, the cabal’s wish has always been to Indianise and Hindu­nise the country, and the feeling is that this decision will divide the country along tribal lines, African PNM, Indian UNC and COP sorry out of their soul,” said Warner. He said there will be no room for a third force.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Proposal-aimed-at-destroying-ILP-says-Warner-270087841.html

Offline Tiresais

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2014, 02:02:12 AM »
Jack nah holding back  :D

Quote
“The Prime Minister did (run-off vote) that which is totally not in her manifesto, she did that to save herself for another term, hoping to wipe out all THIRD PARTIES like the ILP,” said Warner.

“MORE than that, she has followed the wishes to the hilt, the cabal’s wish has always been to Indianise and Hindu­nise the country, and the feeling is that this decision will divide the country along tribal lines, African PNM, Indian UNC and COP sorry out of their soul,” said Warner. He said there will be no room for a third force.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Proposal-aimed-at-destroying-ILP-says-Warner-270087841.html

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Offline AB.Trini

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #5 on: August 06, 2014, 10:17:45 AM »
I would like to believe that change  sometimes comes about in order to improve upon what is currently in existence . I am not oppose to challenging the status quo simply because that is the way it has been does not always make it the right way. If. Change could reduce flaws and foster efficiency then why not?
 Now having said this,  I put forth a challenge that structural changes is merely cosmetic and could be ineffective if the same human practice  continues. Therefore I am proposing that there be  some constitutional. Hangers implemented for  which ever party that is victorious in an election .

Prior to appointing elected officials to ministries  or individuals to a public office:

Said individuals must possess  and have demonstrated expertise , competences in the area to which they will be appointed
Said individuals if they do possess degrees must substantiate that these are indeed legitimate
SId individuals must be  without any matters pending in any court of law or free from any unethical practices that may contradict with public office
Said individuals must have a strategic plan and or shared vision to be shared with the public prior to being elected
Parties must ensure that nominations criteria in leu but not limited to people who has a desire to serve but to do so with the best of the public interest and not with a partisan political view
any said individual with a racial prejudicial and or discriminatory   bias should be  barred from public office

Yes changes to structure may have some impact but in mu opinion elected parties government ought to carefully examine the manner in which ministers are given appointments.

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2014, 12:44:08 PM »
Why not have a referendum for the people of T&T to decide what is best for our country?

Quote

St Lucia PM says term limits for heads of govt should be decided by the people


“I believe that’s a matter for the people to decide, and I share the view that the people of the country will decide whether they are tired of you or not,” Anthony said.

Anthony, a former law lecturer at the University of the WEST INDIES (UWI), was speaking against the decision of the coalition People’s Partnership government in TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO to introduce legislation to amend the country’s constitution providing for two-term limit for prime ministers and the right to recall legislators.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/St-Lucia-PM-says-term-limits-for-heads-of-govt-should-be-decided-by-the-people
« Last Edit: August 06, 2014, 01:12:19 PM by Sando prince »

Offline AB.Trini

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #7 on: August 06, 2014, 01:40:34 PM »
Why not have a referendum for the people of T&T to decide what is best for our country?

Quote

St Lucia PM says term limits for heads of govt should be decided by the people


“I believe that’s a matter for the people to decide, and I share the view that the people of the country will decide whether they are tired of you or not,” Anthony said.

Anthony, a former law lecturer at the University of the WEST INDIES (UWI), was speaking against the decision of the coalition People’s Partnership government in TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO to introduce legislation to amend the country’s constitution providing for two-term limit for prime ministers and the right to recall legislators.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/St-Lucia-PM-says-term-limits-for-heads-of-govt-should-be-decided-by-the-people

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Taking it back to the people makes more sense and has more merits- I eh know is like all of as sudden we leaders get real dunce but wait nah is like some blight hot the entire nation because when the people did chose lat election is like they chose with something other than ah brain

Offline zuluwarrior

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #8 on: August 06, 2014, 05:48:27 PM »
Citizens of Trinbago welcome to Guyana .
.
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Offline Brownsugar

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2014, 04:34:27 AM »
I want to sweep she out of office............
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Or yuh shoes burst off,
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Offline royal

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #10 on: August 07, 2014, 05:28:47 AM »
this is ridicules. has the present system cause any problems? how about de people right to recall a Prime Minister?

Offline Bourbon

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #11 on: August 07, 2014, 05:56:28 AM »
Think about it.

This government ever write one good law amendment?

Little of this was even discussed in the so called constitutional reform conversation.

How is the run-off going to help? This coming from a party that was pushing proportional representation. What happens to the government while they wait on this run off? Do they get sworn in and wait or would they be sworn in after all seats are confirmed? If the former...what about in instances where the result of this seat (or seats...considering the amount of marginals that exist) could change the total seats won by a party and thus change the winner? If the latter, how long could or would this process take? Is it 50% of the votes cast? Or 50% of the votes in a constituency? Would persons who didnt chose to vote the first time be allowed to vote this second time (because this would be related to the previous question of votes cast or votes available.) What happens in the case of a low voter turn out? What happens in instances of voter irregularities...where people's names suddenly appear on a list with no proof of their residency? How far in advance would or should the EBC allow for voter registration and confirmation before this is implemented?


Right to recall. In the previous instance where this was mentioned, a minority percentage of the voters on the list (something like 10-30%) would need to submit a petition to trigger this. What kind of brain would put a low percentage like that for something like this? There could be a troublesome group looking to trigger and undermine the MP and trigger this. If an MP is recalled under this...can he stand again for re-election given that a minority may be responsible for him being recalled? How often can this recall be applied? Wouldnt the potential frequency for this to happen add to the political instability? How will this petition be generated...and authenticated? What happens especially in the instance of marginal constituencies...where the margins of victory will be close....and soon after winning a seat (especially if you consider a run off) that could shift quickly in any short space of time?


Fixed date. I could work with this. Something like the first or second Monday in July. Gives a government enough time to formulate a budget in time for September I would suggest having both local government and parliamentary elections on the same ballot. In fact....maybe even voting for President, Prime Minister, Member of Parliament and Local Government representative. This however could be a bit draining on the resources for recounts and records, especially given how things can be with these changes.


Two term limit.....interesting. Far too often replacements are not groomed because they are deemed a threat. I could also work with this. I certainly hope this current PM doesnt get another term.


These changes are too drastic to be done in this manner. The parliament was due to be on recess around now...no time given to study the bills...people unavailable and many other technicalities that show that this isnt a move done for the sake of "We the People" but the "We" in the "We will Rise". This government's track record proves to me they cant be trusted..and their drafting of legislation is chronically (almost deliberately) poor (Anti-gang, Section 34 etc).


Just like section 34 was taken and proclaimed on its own..without the other aspects which would have kept things under control...this government has shown that they are willing to apply convenience to proclamation only when it suits them. What happened to the Tobago Self Governance bills? What about the Proportional Representation for Local Government? The Dangerous Dog Act proclaimed yet the Local Government bodies who have to implement the control measures dont have the equipment, systems or anything in place to enact these laws. The Anti Gang bill is another example. And now....in the face of a torrid election campaign...you coming with this?


I not accepting this. Certainly not from this government.
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Offline dtool

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #12 on: August 07, 2014, 06:15:14 AM »

Nice post Bourbon ......

Offline AB.Trini

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #13 on: August 07, 2014, 07:50:26 AM »
I would like to believe that change  sometimes comes about in order to improve upon what is currently in existence . I am not oppose to challenging the status quo simply because that is the way it has been does not always make it the right way. If. Change could reduce flaws and foster efficiency then why not?
 Now having said this,  I put forth a challenge that structural changes is merely cosmetic and could be ineffective if the same human practice  continues. Therefore I am proposing that there be  some constitutional. Hangers implemented for  which ever party that is victorious in an election .

Prior to appointing elected officials to ministries  or individuals to a public office:

Said individuals must possess  and have demonstrated expertise , competences in the area to which they will be appointed
Said individuals if they do possess degrees must substantiate that these are indeed legitimate
SId individuals must be  without any matters pending in any court of law or free from any unethical practices that may contradict with public office
Said individuals must have a strategic plan and or shared vision to be shared with the public prior to being elected
Parties must ensure that nominations criteria in leu but not limited to people who has a desire to serve but to do so with the best of the public interest and not with a partisan political view
any said individual with a racial prejudicial and or discriminatory   bias should be  barred from public office

Yes changes to structure may have some impact but in mu opinion elected parties government ought to carefully examine the manner in which ministers are given appointments.



Leh we do a recall of right now to test this

Offline Deeks

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #14 on: August 07, 2014, 12:31:20 PM »
Fixed date and 2 terms for PMs are cool with me. I think there should be a referendum on the PM term limits. And if they do set a referendum, add the privy council issue to that.

Offline weary1969

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #15 on: August 07, 2014, 06:49:40 PM »
I want to sweep she out of office............

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Offline 100% Barataria

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #16 on: August 08, 2014, 07:04:40 AM »
Fixed date and 2 terms for PMs are cool with me. I think there should be a referendum on the PM term limits. And if they do set a referendum, add the privy council issue to that.

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Offline Bourbon

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #17 on: August 08, 2014, 08:06:40 AM »
See?


Always something underhanded.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/AG-People-want-the-change-270418031.html

Quote
AG: People want the change
By \\\\\ Leah Sorias
Story Created: Aug 7, 2014 at 9:13 PM ECT
Story Updated: Aug 7, 2014 at 9:15 PM ECT
The Government’s proposals for constitutional reform are not a disguised assault on democracy, according to Attorney General Anand Ramlogan.
Speaking on yesterday’s Morning Edition on CCN TV6, Ramlogan said the proposed changes, particularly the second ballot run-off voting, were what the people wanted.
The Prime Minister has said the run-off poll is proposed so each MP will only be elected into office if he obtains more than 50 per cent of the votes cast in a constituency.
 “The run-off is important as a matter of arithmetic that you do not have a minority member of Parliament because that would make the person vulnerable to a recall,” Ramlogan said.
He said a run-off poll is not new as it exists in many countries with stable democracies, adding that there were public consultations with the population on this specific proposal.
Senior Counsel Martin Daly on Wednesday questioned whether discussions were held with the public on the run-off proposal.
“The fact that Mr Daly may not have been consulted and the fact that he did not attend the public consultations is not my problem or the Government’s fault, because they were free consultations and anybody could have attended,” Ramlogan said.


Oh...so....it was there....just people didnt attend the session to know. So...a member of the commission should have been there and known about it right?

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/STOP--THE--DEBATE-270420141.html?m=y&smobile=y&clmob=y&c=n

Quote
A member of the Constitution Reform Commission (CRC) yesterday called for a postponement of Monday’s debate on the Constitution Amendment Bill, 2014 and has ta­ken issue with certain statements by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan.

In a strongly worded statement to the Express, author, activist and retired University of the West Indies (UWI) lecturer Dr Merle Hodge des­cribed Government’s proposal for the controversial run-off ballot as “anti-democratic” and a contradiction of “the principle of proportional representation”.

On a point of accuracy, Hodge said the right of recall “did not crop up belatedly in the follow-up consul­tations as claimed by the AG” on yesterday’s Morning Edition on TV6.

“Recall was there from the beginning. It featured in the PP’s [People’s Partnership] manifesto (Page 15), in the main consultations around the country, and in the CRC’s report (Page 23).”

The run-off proposal, however, the most controversial aspect of the

bill, did not feature in the People’s Partnership mani­festo, in the main consultations around the country or in the CRC’s report, she said.

Hodge said the run-off ballot was a mechanism and not a principle, and the CRC agreed, in the first instance, to a set of principles.

“Not every detail regarding how to implement these principles would have been worked out by members of the CRC, nor would these details have come necessarily from members of the public who participated in the consultation process,” she said. “But the CRC signed off on the whole package—principles, as well as implementation methodology. Therefore, we have to take responsibility.

“That, for me, does not mean de­fending tooth and nail an idea that, on deeper thought, turns out to be anti-democratic and a source of worry to citizens. I can see now that the run-off mechanism directly contradicts the principle of proportional representation which is a central recommendation of the CRC (Chapter 5 of the CRC’s report).”

Hodge said ongoing public discussion on the bill proves time is need­ed for more and deeper scrutiny of Government’s proposals.

“As a member of the CRC, I bear no responsibility for the timetable that has been set for taking this bill

to Parliament,” she said. “As a citizen, I register here my dismay at what seems like an episode of legislative railroading set to happen next week. The country needs a decent period for discussion on the bill and for the return of parliamentarians who are predictably absent, this being a customary time of vacation.


Hodge said the fact there were consultations could not be used to defend the specific provisions in the bill.

“The consultations were sessions of listening to the views of citizens. That was a forum for the gathering of ideas, for hearing as many voices as possible in the time available, not for the thrashing out of any specific idea. There was absolutely no focused public discussion, in that forum, on the items selected for inclusion in the Constitution Amendment Bill, 2014. This needs to happen. I add my voice, as a citizen, to the call for postponement of the parliamentary debate.”

She said while the CRC’s report contains proposals that were “constructive and far-reaching in their potential to improve governance”, these were all located at the upper regions of the governance structure such as Parliament, prime minister, president and judiciary.

“Once again, the ordinary citizen has not been properly served in the constitution reform process. I have already made known to my colleagues on the CRC my disappointment at our failure to propose anything that increases the direct input of ordinary citizens into decision-making. We have proposed no structures or

mechanisms to achieve this. The only permanent structure that people have for channelling their views upwards to the political leadership, in the hope of influen­cing their decisions and their behaviour, is the media.

“Popular participation in the demo­cratic process has not been expanded one jot beyond periodically staining the tip of one of our fingers. ‘More power to the people’? I don’t think so,” she said.

She said as a member of the CRC, she took full responsibility for “the whole package (not just this selective bill) to which I gave my con­sent”, but added she has now benefited from the analyses presented by intelligent and aware citizens.



The simple fact remains that you cannot trust this Prime Minister or Attorney General to even bathe your goat..... ::)...far less of anything pertaining to matters of the constitution.

The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus ;with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.

Offline Bakes

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #18 on: August 08, 2014, 09:22:48 AM »
The fact is that they are always trying to sneak something in under cover of night, without proper time for notice and comment by the public, or proper parliamentary debate as necessary.  Same thing happened with the Anti-Gang Law, with Section 34 and I'm sure a couple other pieces of legislation which now escapes me.  Each time the proposed change to the law either directly benefited the PP or their supporters, or resulted in a greater harm to the public at-large.

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #19 on: August 08, 2014, 10:29:52 PM »
I wont be surprised if one or two of the COP MP's do not support this bill because of the proposal of the recall vote. This bill will kill COP and ILP future progression. In my opinion the COP leader Prakesh Ramadar sold out his party by heading the creation of this bill. Expect one or maybe two of the PP members from the COP party to vote against this bill in the spirit of their party survival. A lot of bacchanal to happen in the near future
« Last Edit: August 08, 2014, 11:00:02 PM by Sando prince »

Offline Bourbon

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #20 on: August 09, 2014, 05:31:18 PM »
I wont be surprised if one or two of the COP MP's do not support this bill because of the proposal of the recall vote. This bill will kill COP and ILP future progression. In my opinion the COP leader Prakesh Ramadar sold out his party by heading the creation of this bill. Expect one or maybe two of the PP members from the COP party to vote against this bill in the spirit of their party survival. A lot of bacchanal to happen in the near future

Douglas and Seepersad-Bachan maybe. Prakash battling for survival here...his OWN survival.
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Offline weary1969

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #21 on: August 09, 2014, 09:59:01 PM »
I wont be surprised if one or two of the COP MP's do not support this bill because of the proposal of the recall vote. This bill will kill COP and ILP future progression. In my opinion the COP leader Prakesh Ramadar sold out his party by heading the creation of this bill. Expect one or maybe two of the PP members from the COP party to vote against this bill in the spirit of their party survival. A lot of bacchanal to happen in the near future

Them eat ah food COP peeps. They know they dead this will just organize d funeral.
Today you're the dog, tomorrow you're the hydrant - so be good to others - it comes back!"

Offline Flex

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #22 on: August 10, 2014, 05:00:02 AM »
‘We weren’t paid to be silent on dishonesty’, says Constitution Reform commissioner
By Sheila Rampersad (Express)


Hodge defends against AG’s attack

Dr Merle Hodge yesterday fired a fierce blow at Attorney Gen­eral Anand Ramlogan, asking if Constitution Reform commis­sion­ers were “handsomely paid” to be silent on dishonesty, and describing his criticisms of her as “convoluted gossip”.

“Were we ‘handsomely paid’, Mr AG, for us to be silent on this kind of dishonesty?” Hodge questioned in a statement entitled Government Dis­honesty About Run-Off Proposal. “Very unfortunate comment, Mr AG, for it suggests that your Government pays professionals not for their work, but to buy their acquiescence. You must know that you will never be able to buy everybody.”

Hodge was one of five commis­sion­ers on the Constitution Reform Commission (CRC), chaired by Legal Affairs Minister Prakash Ramadhar. In a statement on Thursday on Govern­ment’s Constitution (Amend­ment) Bill 2014, she called for a postponement of tomorrow’s parliamentary debate and said the contentious run-off pro­posal was not in the People’s Part­­ner­ship manifesto, the main consul­tations around the country or in the commission’s final report.

Ramlogan responded the next day. He said he found her position strange since the commissioners were “handsomely paid” and linked her position on the bill to the defeat of the Winston Dookeran faction by the Rama­dhar faction in the Con­gress of the Peo­ple’s (COP) internal election.

In her second state­ment in three days, Hodge reiterated the run-off provision did not arise during consultations.

“The run-off provision did not come from the people, and it was never revealed to the people before Mon­day, August 4, 2014, one week before it was to be debated in the Parliament,” she said. “It is therefore dishonest to claim that the people were consulted on this provision, espe­cially as the Government is turn­ing a deaf ear to what the people are saying about it during the week.”

Hodge clarified how and when the run-off proposal arose.

“Up until Friday, August 8, 2014, at 10.17 a.m., the purported ‘adden­dum’ which contains the run-off proposal was an internal doc­ument, tagged ‘Private and confidential. NOT FOR CIRCULATION’. That document did not then bear the title ‘Addendum to the Constitution Reform Report’.

“It had grown out of a meeting held on April 30, 2014, at which the CRC discussed and agreed to some proposals selected from the report to be taken to Parliament. The run-off proposal was not there because it was not in the report.

“Further discussions were held at a meeting on July 9, 2014. Myself and another commissioner were absent from that meeting. I had other longstanding commitments for the July-August period.

“Notes from that meeting were cir­culated on July 13 for review and com­ment. That was my first introduc­tion to the run-off idea.

“I did not warm to the idea of thousands of votes being cancelled, and I pointed to this as part of my feedback. I did not see the red flags at the time for the idea was developed with cogent arguments supported by concrete evidence (Sections 46-57). I don’t know where the run-off idea came from, but I have never had any reason not to trust the expertise and the good intentions of the CRC member who was our resource person in constitutional matters (Dr Hamid Ghany). Again, I gave my consent to the document, and again, I take responsibility for all of its contents.

“This confidential document, addressed exclusively to the Prime Minister in mid-July 2014, is the one that became, on the morning of Friday, August 8, the ‘Addendum to the Constitution Reform Report’. It was never published and dissem­inated as the report was.”

Hodge said since the Govern­ment’s strategy includes “trying to make me a liar by putting out this ‘addendum’ story”, she has had to reluctantly forget honour and breach confidentiality in order to clear her name.

“My concern with the run-off pro­posal is not so much where it first appeared; at this point, I don’t care. My concern is how the population has reacted to it. Many people are offen­ded and alarmed by this particular item, and a democratic Government would take heed, rather than respond with bad-john defiance to a week of widespread objection.”

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #23 on: August 10, 2014, 09:12:58 PM »
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/zQJG21_coFU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/zQJG21_coFU</a>

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #24 on: August 10, 2014, 11:01:41 PM »
How does establishing term limits to the office of the prime minister increase the resources of power available to the citizens via the Executive? It simply does not. The prime minister is an individual. The Executive is an institution. And it really does not matter how long the tenure of any individual in the executive role may be if the power of the Executive remains unchanged and unlimited. So when dealing with Constitution reform we must focus on what is important!
« Last Edit: August 10, 2014, 11:03:52 PM by Sando prince »

Offline asylumseeker

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #25 on: August 11, 2014, 02:17:41 AM »
‘We weren’t paid to be silent on dishonesty’, says Constitution Reform commissioner
By Sheila Rampersad (Express)


Hodge defends against AG’s attack

Dr Merle Hodge yesterday fired a fierce blow at Attorney Gen­eral Anand Ramlogan, asking if Constitution Reform commis­sion­ers were “handsomely paid” to be silent on dishonesty, and describing his criticisms of her as “convoluted gossip”.

“Were we ‘handsomely paid’, Mr AG, for us to be silent on this kind of dishonesty?” Hodge questioned in a statement entitled Government Dis­honesty About Run-Off Proposal. “Very unfortunate comment, Mr AG, for it suggests that your Government pays professionals not for their work, but to buy their acquiescence. You must know that you will never be able to buy everybody.

...

Talk done!

Offline Deeks

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #26 on: August 11, 2014, 06:22:56 AM »
2 terms for PM and out. No run off!

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Rally round ‘Soul of the Nation’
« Reply #27 on: August 11, 2014, 09:14:28 PM »
Rally round ‘Soul of the Nation’
By Joel Julien joel.julien@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created:  Aug 11, 2014 at 10:26 PM ECT (T&T Express)


Gypsy - Soul Of The Nation (1999)
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/R_6M6INQGpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/R_6M6INQGpg</a>

“Somebody thiefing the soul of meh nation

Somebody gone with the love that we had

Somebody thiefing the soul of meh nation

Somebody driving this country mad

And we, yes, you and me

We have to stop this conspiracy

Ah telling you, we, yes you and me

We have to stop this conspiracy”.


So sang calypsonian Winston “Gypsy” Peters in his 1999 song  “Soul of the Nation”.

Ironically, this song was yesterday used as a rallying cry by opponents to the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill 2014 brought by the People’s Partnership of which Peters is a member.

Debate on the controversial bill which proposes a term limit for the office of the Prime Minister, a recall provision and a run-off poll in elections for the House of Representatives began at Tower D of the Waterfront Complex in Port of Spain yesterday.

The Lower House sitting started around 10.30 a.m. Citizens were kept abreast of the Parliament’s proceedings via a large screen television located on the Waterfront near the Femmes du Chalet.

On this end of the Waterfront the majority of those opposed to the government’s constitutional amendments, in particular the run-off provision, gathered.

A microphone and speakers were also set up in that area. Music was  supplied. When Peters’ song “Soul of the Nation” was played those nearby sang along, clapped and raised clenched fists.

“Ah telling you, we, yes you and me, we have to stop this conspiracy,” one dreadlocked man sang with his eyes closed.

National flags were waved. Those hoping to show their patriotism could have bought a flag from a nearby vendor. Several did. Reggae icon Bob Marley’s classic “Get up, Stand up” was also used as a rallying cry.

“Get up stand up, stand up for your rights!” a woman shouted.

One woman who claimed to be a worker with the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) said she was defying her boss’ orders by being present with those opposed to the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill 2014.

She claimed she got a call from her boss in the morning telling her as part of her job function she would have to be present outside the Parliament wearing a yellow jersey.

She would be paid $50 for it, the woman claimed.

“I couldn’t do that. I is a PNM (People’s National Movement). And I not supporting that bill,” she professed.

A white paper was passed along the crowd calling for those present to sign a petition calling for the debate on the bill to be halted until proper consultation was done. Somewhere along the lines the paper got lost.

Many of those present claimed they were outside the Parliament to lend support to Dr Merle Hodge, a member of the Constitution Review Commission.

In front the entrance to the Parliament was a sea of yellow.

Closer to that end of the Waterfront were those in support of the  bill.

The mood there was more sombre.

“We are here to support the government. The constitution needs to be amended but people are just afraid of change,” a woman told the Express.
« Last Edit: August 11, 2014, 09:30:36 PM by Socapro »
De higher a monkey climbs is de less his ass is on de line, if he works for FIFA that is! ;-)

Offline AB.Trini

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #28 on: August 12, 2014, 08:25:08 AM »
No
2 terms for PM and out. No run off!

Allyuh is joke we- feeding into one of the biggest political distractions to take away from the corrup ministers thT falling down one at ah time NEXT fire Finance Minister


NO TERM for mismanagement incompetence and for anyone voting like H chupidness and supporting blindly because ah race band them fromVOTING.  Loo



I would like to believe that change  sometimes comes about in order to improve upon what is currently in existence . I am not oppose to challenging the status quo simply because that is the way it has been does not always make it the right way. If. Change could reduce flaws and foster efficiency then why not?
 Now having said this,  I put forth a challenge that structural changes is merely cosmetic and could be ineffective if the same human practice  continues. Therefore I am proposing that there be  some constitutional. Hangers implemented for  which ever party that is victorious in an election .

Prior to appointing elected officials to ministries  or individuals to a public office:

Said individuals must possess  and have demonstrated expertise , competences in the area to which they will be appointed
Said individuals if they do possess degrees must substantiate that these are indeed legitimate
SId individuals must be  without any matters pending in any court of law or free from any unethical practices that may contradict with public office
Said individuals must have a strategic plan and or shared vision to be shared with the public prior to being elected
Parties must ensure that nominations criteria in leu but not limited to people who has a desire to serve but to do so with the best of the public interest and not with a partisan political view
any said individual with a racial prejudicial and or discriminatory   bias should be  barred from public office

Yes changes to structure may have some impact but in mu opinion elected parties government ought to carefully examine the manner in which ministers are given appointments.

« Last Edit: August 12, 2014, 08:27:27 AM by AB.Trini »

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Kamla wants sweeping constitutional changes.
« Reply #29 on: August 12, 2014, 01:25:24 PM »
"Errol Mc Leod holds the office of President General of OWTU for 21 years, and now advocates succession planning, term limits, and making way for younger people. Then he takes up residence in the safe seat of Pointe-a-Pierre blocking another "young" person, having had a stint before in the safe seat of Oropouche." - Clarence Rambharat

I have the same opinion as this man after listening to Mc Leod contribution in Parliament yesterday
« Last Edit: August 12, 2014, 01:28:19 PM by Sando prince »

 

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