Congress of the People political leader Winston Dookeran has warned that Trinidad and Tobago's independence is being threatened. He equated the threat to the 1990 coup. Dookeran stressed that he stood up against that attack 20 years ago, and said he would do the same thing in 2010. "In 1990, I had to defend the democracy of this country. It could have gone either way. In 2010, I am back here to defend the freedom of this country. It can go any way and I stand up here with you today to defend the freedom of Trinidad and Tobago," Dookeran said. He was speaking at the COP public political meeting at the Arima dial in Arima on Friday night. Dookeran acted as T&T's Prime Minister in 1990 after the incumbent, ANR Robinson, was held hostage in a failed coup staged by the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen where more than 20 people had died.
According to Dookeran, present threats to T&T's freedom were being shaped through Prime Minister Patrick Manning's constitutional reform proposal. "I want you to view this election as a rejection of what Mr Manning is trying to do by curtailing your freedom. We are free people in Trinidad and Tobago...We shall not trade our freedom for Mr Manning's own desire for an executive presidency in Trinidad and Tobago," Dookeran said. He described Manning's attempts to establish an executive presidency and "con" Trinidad and Tobago into accepting a new constitution as "a dagger" in the constitutional democracy of this country.
"We, the people of Trinidad and Tobago, must consider this election a referendum on those proposals that he has been parading throughout the country," Dookeran said. "Let us reject Manning's constitutional proposals on May 24 in a resounding way. If we do not, we will be subjecting ourselves to a level of repressive politics in our country." Dookeran cited Manning's role in impeaching former Chief Justice Sat Sharma as an example of his abuse of power. Dookeran also drew reference to Manning's role in the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd (Udecott) fiasco as another example that questioned Manning's abuse of power. "He has something coming for him. The people are not going to allow him to forget Calder Hart and the Uff Commission report." Dookeran said.
Constitutional reform was the sixth pillar in the People's Partnerships' manifesto. Among the ideas the People's Partnership proposes to introduce on Constitutional reform are:
1. A right of recall for non-performing parliamentary representatives.
2. Fixed election dates for national and local elections.
3. Mechanisms for a referendum process.
4. Limiting the Prime Minister to two successive terms as head of Government.
5. Rules governing the conduct of the Government and political parties during an election period.
6. A stronger Integrity Commission.
7. Local government reform.
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