Speech delivered by President Paula-Mae Weeks at the Ceremonial Opening of the Third Session of the 12th Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, 12 September 2022.
Madam President of the Senate, Madam Speaker of the House, honorable deputies.
Parliament exists for the primary purpose of making laws for the “peace, order and good government” of Trinidad and Tobago. We gather today in these august rooms to renew our efforts towards the fulfillment of this lofty objective. King Charles III put it this way as he addressed your counterparts: “Parliament is the living, breathing instrument of our democracy.” While in my capacity as head of state, I have already conveyed on behalf of the people of Trinidad and Tobago and on my own behalf, our condolences to King Charles III, the members of the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. and Northern Ireland, it would be remiss of me, as I stand here today, not to put on record my sincere condolences to all of them on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
In the 60 years since the House of Representatives and the Senate first sat in this very building and just celebrated 60 years of Independence, we have seen three independent parliaments and 12 republican parliaments in which the interests of the people should have been aired, The executive was held to account and critical laws were vigorously debated. We’ve also survived a violent and deadly attack and experienced divisive shouting matches, chaotic debates, no-confidence votes, walkouts, expulsions, and even accusations of pot in the air.
These ups and downs have brought us to this point—the 3rd session of the 12th Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago—and while I thank Madam Speaker for her kind invitation to address you today, I ask you to consider whether 60 years of Independence have brought us significantly closer to the core mission of these distinguished Houses.
Parliament is the source of laws affecting the man and woman on the street. Another of its roles is to scrutinize and scrutinize the work of the government, and since August 18, 2006, when the Parliament Channel was first launched, citizens have also been able to scrutinize and scrutinize the work of the Assembly, more specifically, decorum, dedication . and the temperament of its members. Every gracious concession and compromise is witnessed by the population, as is every insult, humiliation and lie that contributes to the negative perception of what should be a valued and respected institution. To the common citizen, Parliament sessions seem more opportunities for finger-pointing, ‘gallery’ and ‘kicking’ than forums for the conscious drafting of laws that would directly affect and improve their lives.
“We all know what Parliament is and we are all ashamed of it”
Parliament and its members have long been the object of public ridicule. People view these processes with resignation, despair, or worse, contempt. The respect, trust and confidence that once characterized the relationship between parliament and John Q Public have been squandered and diminished, leaving little but disdain, suspicion and doubt about the abilities and motives of the elected and appointed to run the affairs of the nation. . Let us not, please, find ourselves having to identify with the sentiments of the Scottish novelist Robert Louis Stevenson, who wrote in 1887, regarding the British House of Commons, “We all know what Parliament is, and we all shame on that.”
Citizens want parliamentarians to put aside their selfish agenda and work to ensure the welfare and well-being of all. You are at the vanguard of preserving our democracy, tasked with representing the interests of your constituents, debating key issues that matter to Trinbagonians and making relevant and useful laws that will contribute to national development. Challenges, old and new, must be met head on and with wisdom, industry and cooperation.
None of this can be achieved if the starting point is ugly party politics or a party agenda. If unnecessary quarrels, the exchange of wild accusations and insults, and sudden withdrawals are the order of the day, how and when will the work of the people be done? An old African proverb is apt here, “when elephants fight, the grass is trampled.” Whether you represent Diego Martin West or Siparia, St Ann’s East or Barataria/San Juan, Arima or Fyzabad, it is your constituents who feel the heat and suffer the consequences of your inability or refusal to work together for the common good. The people of Trinidad and Tobago, whom you offered and were chosen to serve, deserve better—much better.
You promised to bear true faith and allegiance to Trinidad and Tobago, to uphold the Constitution and the law, and to discharge conscientiously and impartially the responsibilities to the people of Trinidad and Tobago into which you entered. You made solemn and significant promises to the nation, promises that you are bound to keep and hold in high regard. No dispute or grievance should ever take precedence over your oath and role as deputies and servants of the republic.
“Not a short and furious burst of emotion, but the calm and steady devotion of a lifetime”
These chambers are not a place for participation, but for patriotism that transcends cultural, racial, and political boundaries—the only truly bipartisan effort. Patriotism, according to former American politician Adlai Stevenson, “is not a short and furious burst of emotion, but the calm and steady devotion of a lifetime.” Therefore, it includes dedication, focus, selflessness, determination, passion, cooperation – values that promote peace, order and good governance.
Trinidad and Tobago is just emerging from two long years of a crippling pandemic that crushed the hopes and plans of many and shook our economy to its core. As we continue to face the ever-present ills of crime and criminality, racism, unemployment, environmental disaster and, most recently in the public eye, child abuse, there is a desperate need for some reassurance that things will get better and people have right to demand and do more from their representatives.
Not two weeks ago, the nation jubilantly celebrated its Diamond Jubilee. Congratulatory messages poured in from many quarters, local and foreign, to mark this historic moment. The common themes of hope, joy and national pride contained in those messages were reflected in the national mood as people enjoyed and participated in the program of events. Anniversaries—always appropriate occasions for reflection, celebration, and breaking new ground—speak of new beginnings and offer the opportunity to renew vows and promises.
In this 61st year, it is time to inject some faith and optimism into our population, not just with words, but with actions. This is a new session of Parliament, a chance for a fresh start, a tabula rasa, so to speak. It is a golden opportunity to offer our nation, perhaps as a gift of independence, fresh perspectives, attitudes and behaviors as you strive to fulfill the oaths you took upon assuming office as an MP. Why not use this new session of parliament to present an alternative to a sorry status quo? Decide to leave behind petty quarrels and divisions and work together for the good of all.
We are a young nation, for sure, but that does not prevent a maturity of approach when it comes to politics and making decisions that affect the lives of our people. In no way am I suggesting that we put on rose-colored glasses and pretend that our problems don’t exist. I’m just advocating a different approach; a cooperative effort by members of these noble Houses. After all, that’s what proper representation is all about. Whether in the government, opposition or independent, as an MP, your job is to represent the interests of the citizens, pass laws and monitor the actions of the government. These are the hallmarks of development and progress that can only be achieved when you put aside animosity and embrace cooperation.
This 12th Parliament has so far produced about 45 acts from 71 sessions of the House of Representatives and 69 of the Senate. There is still much to do. Your presence today in these august rooms is understood as an indication that you have an interest in realizing your basic objectives. Renowned scholar and author CS Lewis opines that “The state exists simply to promote and protect the ordinary happiness of human beings in this life.” And after giving some examples of such happiness, he concluded that, “if they do not help to increase, prolong and protect such moments, all laws, parliaments, armies, courts, police, economy, etc., are simply waste of time. “.
Make sure history does not judge this 3rd session of the 12th Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago harshly.
God Bless Our Nation.
