PM, Ramadhar no show at signing of election code
Renuka Singh
Published:
Friday, September 5, 2014
Archbishop Joseph Harris is greeted by founder of ILP Jack Warner and chairman of COP Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan after the signing of a code of conduct of political parties yesterday at the archbishop’s residence, Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain. Looking on, from left, are co-ordinator of the Network of NGOs of T&T for the Advancement of Women Hazel Brown, CWU president Joseph Remy, acting chairman of the UNC Kadisha Ameen, Anglican Archbishop Claude Berkley, PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley, deputy chairman of COP Nicole Dyer Griffith and PNM chairman Franklin Khan. PHOTO: ABRAHAM DIAZ
Leader of the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) David Abdulah yesterday challenged his political colleagues to verbally agree to ratify party financing in order to stop political favours to financial supporters. Abdulah’s call came after yesterday’s signing of a Code of Ethical Political Conduct by all the major political parties and civil groups. The code is the result of a union of church, state and civil groups and is expected to be used as guidelines for politicians. “We came up with a voluntary agreement before the 2015 election to address party financing, if not in general at least in campaign financing, voluntarily. It can become law sometime thereafter. It is a challenge that I am throwing out,” he said.
The charter, officiated by Archbishop Joseph Harris and co-chaired by T&T Transparency Institute head, Deryck Murray, was signed by representatives of all the major political parties at the residence of the Archbishop, Queen’s Park West yesterday. PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley, who has just returned from London, attended and signed the charter on behalf of his party as did Independent Liberal Party (ILP) leader Lyndira Oudit. Oudit, during her short contribution, criticised the absence of the leaders of the Government’s major coalition partners, the United National Congress (UNC) and the Congress of the People (COP).
Though both parties were represented, Oudit said while Rowley and Abdulah attended the important meeting, UNC leader Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and COP leader Prakash Ramadhar were noticeably absent. “What this signifies is that we are taking ownership of the governance procedure and the process of governance. We are no longer leaving it in the hands of few electives every five years,” Oudit said. She described the code as “significant.” She added: “I find it very instructive that two political leaders, while the representatives are here, I think it is instructive that at this time the significance of the political leader signing at this time would have signaled a synchronisation of genuine effort going forward.”
The five-part charter outlines a prohibited code of conduct that includes:
• No use of State resources for political campaigning.
• Not offering any inducement or reward to anyone joining a political party.
• Not use language to provoke violence or make false or defamatory allegations.
Section Three refers to the media and all parties agreed to refrain from using State advertising to induce media support and also to ensure that all parties participated in at least two live, televised public debates. Each of the represented parties will nominate one member which will form a council. Those nominees are expected to be named by September 26 when Archbishop Harris returns to T&T. The council is expected to oversee and enforce the code.
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