Archie commented on a document in the public sphere, not a legal Constitution. To sit with the Government now to discuss this is erroneous, as if it eventually becomes law after proposed modifications, his position is tainted, and thus void. What a way to get rid of the CJ.

Criticising it in its present form is where this should end.

I hope that the CJ does not fall for the bait and fall into the trap, although I know his wisdom is beyond his age. He has commented and expressed his concerns and should now leave it to people like the Law Association, Law Society, political parties, and other enlightened individuals and groups to carry the ball.

If the Gov't was serious, they would have allocated some more funding to the Judiciary to help unclog the blockages in the judicial system. You can't administer justice by vaps like how you govern the country by vaps.

This business about Manning's so-called programme of educating the country on his draft constitution, draft working document, call it what you may, is only propaganda to be lapped up by those who wear political blinkers and blinded by tribal loyalties and the gimme-gimme syndrome. At the end of the day he has already made up his mind and is seeking post facto legitimacy. What he is seeking is absolute power and control, a raw kind of constitutional dictatorship which must be resisted at all costs, if not for ourselves, at least for the sake of our children and our children's children and theirs. They will be unforgiving, if we don't do our duty.

And the Opposition must bear their full responsibility for the mess we are in through their own irresponsible behaviour. Hopefully, if an election is called and Manning wins because of the absence of a credible alternative Government in waiting, Manning would not be given any absolute majority to persevere in his attack on our democracy. After all, it was no less a person than a close associate of Manning, Ken Valley, coming straight out of the bowels of the PNM, who raised the red flag warning of dictatorship and pleading to the country not to give Manning a big enough majority and licence to mash up the country, albeit the warning was issued only after Valley was unfairly sidelined as a candidate for re-election.

All this criticism of the draft constitution or what ever they want to call it is a necessary part of reform. We all clamored for reform of the constitution and now that we have began talks at what we want, let us not loose faith in the process. Please remember that there is need for a special majority in parliament for its passing. The Opposition will have to give their support to it and I do not think the UNC will accommodate the PNM in anything that the public oppose.

Let us talk, but where? Behind closed doors? Let the discussions be held publicly where other interested people can attend.
Rik Hansel

.....no harm in talking your Lordship, but please watch your back!!!....

Do not discuss anything with this corrupt government,maintain the separation of powers,although they using leverage by holding back funds from the judiciary.

“It will help erase the idea that politics is a second-rate profession and a dirty business.”

“Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator. And change has its enemies.”

“What is objectionable, what is dangerous, about extremists is not that they are extreme, but that they are intolerant. The evil is not what they say about their cause, but what they say about their opponents.”

Robert Francis Kennedy quotes ( U.S. attorney general and adviser, 1925-1968)

http://guardian.co.tt/news/general/2009/07/16/embattled-ag-offer-olive-b...

No new ideas only old reinvented ones, so we can use the old quote and articles to address this. There is nothing to talk about on here when it comes to the Government. I always hate repeating myself.

People there is only one solution to the problems we have in Trinidad and Tobago, if we can address this problem any party can run the country, the solution is to put equal opportunities laws that work in place, look at most countries they have these laws, where the hiring process is set up to hire an equal amount of each race within their country, this way no one party can have more supporters in the system than the other, if this can be done, the ruling parties will not be able to control the system, but only govern the system. Remember the System will be their long after the ruling parties are gone.

The System is just like a Enterprise Corporation.

That is what would make us a develop nation, not Manning MegaVision.

"Let's Talk Mr. C.J.":-

NOT SO FAST NOW!

Our Chief Justice Ivor Archie, being a citizen of integrity, is of the belief that he could not sit quiet and allow this "PNM Administration" to 'take us down the path of distruction and no-return'.' Thank you, Sir, for going PUBLIC and for being another one of our voice of reason; as a matter of fact, our most powerful voice to date. You bring honour to the Office which you hold.

You have thrown down the 'gauntlet' and scared the daylights out of Mr. Manning. You have now gone and upset his apple cart. You see, he was so confident that he had everythings ready and waiting for the final STAMP OF APPROVAL. Poor Mr. Manning: He knows that he is cornered, and there is no way out for him now that you have put him and his 'inner circle' on notice in the full view of the nation, and even the big wide world.

Beware of this 'Call to Meeting' invitation from the Manning's Administration. They are like the WOLF in disguise, in the Brothers Grimm story. When Little Red Riding Hood exclaimed "My, what big teeth you have!" the wolf responded "The better to eat you with," A hunter rescued the little girl. We, the public represent the hunter here, and we will fight to keep this counry a true democracy.

Our Archie, I am confident that you do not need our words of warning, but we believe that it is good for you to know that we will give you our full support, all the way. We wiil make our presence known and be there while the going is good, and will stick around if and when the going is not so good. You have our word on this.

Mr. Manning has been disrespectful to the people of my country. He slams presentations from qualified persons who have expressed serious concerns with this his Draft Constitution. He went so far as to state that he did not want 'academia' to meddle as they are incompetent.

This Prime Minister slams the media for doing their job, and accuses them of being bias and anti-government; that they should be educating the public a role he claims they have neglected. He took it upon himself to educate our people on the Draft Constitution and God knows what else; starting from Woodford Square and taking his dog-and-pony show across the country to 'educate' the people. But when all is said and done, he did not 'educate' anyone, but rather was on a propaganda spreading stint gaining support for the PNM Party. This exercise of his was simply a 'dumbing down' of our people, and a political rally. His purpose was quite visible; he desires to keep the publc ignorant by speaking down to them and praising the virtues of governance under his reign, while at the same time damning anyone who opposes him.

We have been warned by many over the years, even some prominent PNM members that Mr. Manning was heading to Dictatorship. Any politician who did not glorify him or follow blindly were rejected and cast aside. Prior to the last election we saw his handiwork, where older experienced and qualified politicians were cast aside, in favour of persons who had no idea what it meant to be in government, running the affairs of our country. Mr. Rowley was the last statistic.

We were advised on the Sept. 6th 2009 that a team headed by Prof. Hamid Ghany wold be touring T&T engaging our people in consultation. But we have not seen nor heard anything further on this proposal. We need to know when it will start; who will be on the team with Prof. Ghany and the details of their consultation process.

Perhaps, Mr. Archie, you may wish to delay this invitation, until and unless the Manning Administratioon is able to provide you with more details on their consultations. Or you may take up his offer, and attend with your qualified team to listen, and only listen, to what they are offering. I know you will certainly make the right decision.

The future of our country is literally hanging over a cliff. The right move will save us; the wrong will send us to the bottomless pit. We will not only have to fight for ourselves, but we have a responsibility to make this country a better place so that the generations coming after us can inherit a country where they can live with all freedoms within a true democracy.