Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:15 hours 7 min ago
Collaborating for a safer country
Published: 5 Nov 2009
The hope must be that Tuesday’s discussions between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition would result in meaningful efforts, certainly in the first instance to counter the criminal activity that has been making life hell for all of us.
Previous attempts at co-operation between the team in government and the party in opposition have had some measure of success, at least on the basis of passing legislation in the Parliament. This time Prime Minister Patrick Manning has put forward a package of six bills, including legislation to suppress gangs, money laundering, wiretapping and to place the Special Anti-Crime Unit on a completely legal basis. The Prime Minister told reporters after the meeting with Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday that the bills would need special majorities which the Government does not have in Parliament and therefore the support of the Opposition is vital. Mr Panday is too canny a politician, too long experienced to make anything like an outright commitment to supporting the legislation. And commonsense would dictate that he could not blindly support legislation before it is presented, studied and debated in the Parliament.
However, by his own indication, Mr Panday understands the importance of the passage of bills to make it possible to apprehend and prosecute criminals. That therefore means that Mr Panday should be disposed to working with the Government in the Parliament to fashion the legal framework. But beyond the legislative measures, Mr Panday proposed what we think could be a useful approach, that of a committee comprising people from all sectors of the society to come up with a variety of solutions to the crime problem. That there is wisdom in all sectors of society is beyond doubt and that coming together in the national interest can be a useful strategy to decimate the criminal menace. It goes without saying that whatever the party in government, solving and penalising crime, and tackling the deep social problems which encourage mostly young people into a life of crime, has to be a main priority of the Government, Opposition and the entire society. The evidence therefore is that playing political games over crime is of little benefit to any of the parties functioning in local politics of the time. And there is good precedent of this kind of approach in the past between the two leaders and parties and the willingness of significant individuals and sectors of the society to work together on such a committee.
The other major issue discussed between the leaders, the decade-old attempt to reform the Republican Constitution, is a vital matter. There is generalised agreement between Prime Minister Manning and Opposition Leader Panday on this need. Mr Manning embarked on a series of public meetings some months ago, arguing the benefits to the country of adopting certain changes to the Constitution that could make for higher quality governance. Mr Panday mentioned in the post-meeting briefing with the media that constitutional reform will not only bring greater equity and justice to governance, but is also essential to fighting crime. On the elements of the reform to be pursued, however, it is well known that the two leaders and their parties are at opposite ends on several matters, chief among them being the system by which a government is elected. The opposition UNC is for a form of proportional representation and the governing PNM, going back to Dr Williams, has argued that PR will break up the party’s majorities and cause even greater divisions in the society. Constitutional reform is therefore a matter not only for the two but for the entire society and the ground is now set for such dialogue to take place.
THERE WERE MANY MEETINGS
THERE WERE MANY MEETINGS -
There were many meetings up and down the length and breadth of the country. DR Ghanny is on the road again. All parties discussed it at their meetings and Congresses. Parties put forward position papers stating their positions. NGO's held several meetings on the issue. There were many publications in the press on the various drafts. Political commentators wrote extensively on the subject. As usual few Trinbagonians attended the meetings, or engaged the subject meaningfully, myself included. At the last minute you are hearing that their voices were not heard. We are sometimes a lazy people who want to be spoon fed. Only at Carnival time we do not have to be pushed for national involvement.
Safer Country -
Safer Country - Collaboration:
The Editor - Excellent commentary.
When we have reached a stage in our lives where everything appears to have failed us, we are left to hang on to HOPE. If we elect not to, then we will be liable to loose all that we had laboured for, and remain empty and even destroy ourselves and our country. We cannot afford to go down this road.
The 'Summit' between Mr. Panday and Mr. Manning was a step in the right direction. We do realise that the behaviour of Mr. Manning leaves much to be desired, but Mr. Panday is not lagging too far behind. We are in a period in our history where criminal activities are destroying our people and country.
Mr. Manning has come to the realisation that if he is to pass a number of Bills in Parliament he would need a majority vote to do so and without the support of the Oposition his goals would be defeated. He is extending an 'olive branch' to the Opposition in the hopes that he could get what he so desires. But Mr. Panday, the old silver fox that he is would not give his approval until and unless he sees the entire package, have it dissected and analysed in Parliament with the utmost transparency and ethics. We would expect nothing less from him.
We have seen instances in the past whereby the Governing Party has offered to work with the Opposition and has been somewhat successful. When we look at the precedent that has been set, we do realise that collaboration can work in our favour in this nation. Yes, we accept the fact that neither would like to give credit to the other, but to the citizens, we are concerned only with the outcome, nad let the credits go where they may.
Mr. Panday's proposal to have a Committee comprising of a wide cross-section of society to work on crime solutions is a progressive one. I am certain that it will produce more positive solutions than any of those foreign consultancy agreements we have entered into, or those multi-million dollars spent on high-tech objects we have purchased over the years. Crime is our problem and we have to fix it ourselves; and we can certainly do so.
Both Mr. Manning and Mr. Panday desire to have Constitutional Reform so it is simply the logistics that must be worked out. We have consultations taking place under the Chairmanship of Prof. Ghany, and also submissions from qualified and knowledgeable persons and groups. All intelligent and progressive ideas and information must be considered as at the end of the day, we desire to have a Constitution that would be beneficial for the entire nation, now and for decades to come.
Mr. Panday is proposing for the introduction of Proportional Representation. This is a progesssive move and one that should be considered now, as the time is right. T&T is somewhat unique with the make-up of our population and this form of government will be able to serve all the peoples without bias.
There is a missing link here. Even though the COP have no seat in Parliament, they received a huge number of votes from our citizens in the last election; and are still an actively functioning party; and as such I believe that members of this party should be included in future discussions in the interest of our people and nation. It may be a tough sell form Mr. Panday and Mr. Manning, but the people's voice should be listened to. This is not a personal collaboration taking place, it is a public and political one wishing to serve this nation.
This meeting was just the beginning, and the doors have been opened, and we would like to see these individuals rising above party affiliations and working in the interest of the people and country. We are in a period in our histroy where we can no longer point fingers and lay blame, but must recognise the dangerous situation we have to face on a daily basis, and have no other alternatives available to us but to work on aspiring for "higher quality governance".
Gardenia