PRESIDENT Paula-Mae Weeks yesterday urged members of parliament to abandon partisanship, adversarial politics and embrace a new spirit of cooperation.
In what could be her swan song – her current term ends in March 2023 – the President in her address at the ceremonial opening of the third session of the 12th Parliament yesterday lamented the respect, trust and confidence that once characterized the relationship between the parliamentarian and the public John Q had “disintegrated and diminished, leaving little but indifference, suspicion and doubt about the abilities and motives of the elected and appointed to conduct the affairs of the nation”. “Parliament and its members have long been the object of public ridicule. People look at these processes with resignation, despair or worse, contempt,” she said.
Painting a bleak and gloomy picture, the President said: “To the ordinary citizen, the sessions of Parliament seem more opportunities for finger-pointing, ranting and ‘kicking’ than for the conscious making of laws that would directly affect and improve their (citizens’) lives.
The president, who came under fire from the opposition (over the Police Service Commission issue and the high-profile police fiasco) culminating in a motion of impeachment in October last year (which failed), said the chambers of parliament should not be countries and partisanship, “but for patriotism that transcends cultural, racial, and political boundaries—”the only true bipartisan effort.”
She said that patriotism, according to former American politician Adlai Stevenson, was not a short and furious burst of emotion, but the calm and steady commitment of a lifetime” and included commitment, focus, selflessness, determination, passion and cooperation for to promote peace. , order and good governance.
“Please do not 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 are ashamed of it. “
Forget selfish agendas
The President’s audience at the joint session included MPs from both houses, as well as former Speakers – Barry Sinanan, Nizam Mohammed, Michael Williams and Timothy Hamel-Smith, former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday and former MP Mickela Panday, former MP Tim Gopeesingh; members of the diplomatic corps, including US Chargé d’Affaires Shante Moore and British High Commissioner Harriet Cross.
The President told the MPs that they were in the vanguard of preserving the democracy of this country and issuing relevant and useful laws that will contribute to national development. “Challenges, old and new, must be tackled head on and with wisdom, industry and cooperation. None of this can be achieved if the starting point is ugly party politics or the 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 gets trampled,’ she said.
“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 that you offered and were elected to serve deserve better – much better,” she added.
She said citizens want parliamentarians to put aside their selfish agenda and work to ensure the welfare and well-being of all.
“Trinidad and Tobago is just emerging from two long years of a crippling pandemic, which destroyed the hopes and plans of many and shook the 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 the right to demand and do more from their representatives”, said the President.
She said the new session of Parliament offered a “golden opportunity” to offer new perspectives, attitudes and behaviors as MPs tried to fulfill their oaths. “Why should we use this new session of parliament to present an alternative to a deplorable status quo? Resolve to leave behind petty quarrels and divisions and work together for the good of all,” she urged.
No rose colored glasses
Emphasizing that she was not being naive, the president said: “I am by no means suggesting that we make rosy spectacles and pretend that our problems do not exist. I’m just advocating a different approach; a cooperative effort” in addressing problems. “Whether in the government, opposition or independent, as a deputy your duty is to represent the interests of the citizens, approve 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 hostility and embrace cooperation,” the President said.
Reflecting on the post-independence period, she said: “In the 60 years since the House of Representatives and the Senate sat in this building, we have survived a violent and deadly attack and experienced loud fights, chaotic debates. , vote no. trust, departures, departures, even allegations of pot in the air’, a veiled reference to the now famous teacup row (involving Keith Rowley and former MP Chandresh Sharma).
She noted that the 12th Parliament had produced approximately 45 acts from 71 sittings of the House of Representatives and 69 of the Senate. “There is still much to be done,” the President said, adding: “Make sure history does not judge this 3rd session of the 12th Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago harshly.”
The President began her speech by offering condolences to King Charles and members of the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom on the death of Queen Elizabeth 11.
