RYAN BACHOO
ryan.bachoo@cnc3.co.tt
“The powers you think I have, I do not. The powers you think I do not have, I do.”
Nothing summarises the powers of the T&T presidency quite like this quote from the sixth president of the Republic, Anthony Carmona.
With the process to select T&T’s seventh President now well underway, the discussion on the purpose and powers of the presidency has reignited nationally.
Yet, while those powers may be limited compared to that of an Executive President that exists in other parts of the world, there are roles and functions that are essential to the office in T&T.
As the debate heats up on the confirmed nomination of Senate President Christine Kangaloo as the next President of T&T, political analyst Dr Bishnu Ragoonath yesterday pointed out to Guardian Media that although the Office of the President is an independent one, the selection process is not.
“We’ve never truly had an independent president. While we would say that the president should be as independent as possible and non-partisan, the Constitution suggests that the president must have the support of the ruling party at that point in time, and in that context, there is that normal perception the president is whoever the prime minister chooses,” he said.
One of the most important decisions a President makes is the appointment of independent senators. While the government appoints 16 senators and the opposition has six, the President appoints nine senators and can do so without consultation.
However, other appointments and entities, such as at the service commissions and the Office of the Ombudsman, don’t offer the President such independence.
The President must consult with both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition before making decisions on selecting members and chairs of such offices.
Dr Ragoonath explained, “Whereas the President must consult, consultation does not necessarily mean the President has to accept the nominations of the respective persons.”
However, he said here is where the issue of the independence of the office now lies with the nomination of Kangaloo.
“In the context where we now have Christine Kangaloo, one would say that in the case of consultation, whoever the Prime Minister suggests to the President, the President may very well go along with it and may not necessarily give any credence to what the Opposition suggests and that’s where the independent thinking of a President becomes critical,” Dr Ragoonath said.
The service commissions’ positions are all filled by the President in consultation with the PM and Opposition Leader.
One of the criticisms outgoing President Paula-Mae Weekes received, for example, was not being vocal enough on local issues.
Dr Ragoonath says while the President cannot intervene in the day-to-day affairs of the country, he/she can speak out on matters of national interest anytime they wish to, and that goes beyond messages on special occasions and religious holidays. He added that if a President wishes to remain silent on issues, it is also accepted.
The political analyst said there are many grey areas when it comes to the powers of a presidency in this country. But he said now is the ideal time to make it clearer for the country to understand.
“This is probably one of the things a new president should do; clear up to the population what are the things a president could do and cannot do. Christine Kangaloo, when she comes in as President-elect, before she takes the Office of President, having served in the lower house as well as the upper house, and having acted as President, should be able to clear up some of those things. If, however, she decides to maintain the status quo, as we have it as at this time, the country may very well continue whether we really need a president or not.”