what has become a trademark of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s leadership style, she listened to the views and proposals put forward by Independent Senators and made changes to the draft legislation to take those views into account. · The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was passed in the Upper House with 18 voting for, while 12 voted against. · It comes as no surprise that the Opposition voted against a Bill that gives more power to the people. · Dr Keith Rowley and the PNM are concerned only with grabbing and holding on to power. · During the committee stage, the Government agreed to the following changes proposed by independent senators: - Reduce the time frame for commencing a recall of MPs from three years to two and a half years, - Increase of the threshold for making an application for a petition from 10 per cent to 20 per cent - Permit third party candidates who earn 25% of the votes cast and also within 5% of the votes of the second placed candidate to be eligible to run in second vote · In winding up the debate, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar noted that the passage of the Bill will not be a victory for the Government; it will be a victory for 1.3 million Trinidadians and Tobagonians. · “This Government,” she noted, “is the first in many years to advance from promise, to concerted effort, to the present moment, where we are keeping promises made to the people.” · During the Committee stage, the Prime Minister stated that politics and policy making is about seeing the views of others. “We have always said we listen and then we lead, and so we accept the proposal put forward by the Senator (Dr. Dhanayshar Mahair).” · In the revised bill, where no candidate gets more than 50 per cent of the vote in the first round of voting the first two candidates will go forward to a second ballot. And a third candidate may qualify for the second ballot
Posted on: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 15:24:52 +0000
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