Senior Reporter
jesse.ramdeo@cnc3.co.tt
Changes to the country’s governance structure, as well as the return of capital punishment, were among the various recommendations discussed during the first consultation on constitutional reform.
The public discussion held in Sangre Grande on Tuesday, included members of the business community and other groups, who suggested implementing term limits for prime ministers. They suggested that rotating the leadership role after two terms could lead to greater transparency and accountability.
One participant stated, “Maybe we reduce the terms of politicians, so instead of five years you have to come back to us every four years. Five years I think is too long and I think our politicians get too comfortable. In the last year of an election is when all the sweeteners come, all the goodies and all the promises, so we need a right time to keep them on their toes.”
At present, a prime minister has no limits on how many times he or she can run for office.
There were also recommendations for stronger penalties for criminals, as well as consideration for reversing existing laws about marijuana use.
One attendee suggested, “We need to reverse the laws that allow marijuana or drugs to be used in the open or used in homes, put it somewhere else.”
Numerous calls were made for the Constitution to be introduced into the school curriculum as a means of ensuring greater public awareness about the laws governing the land.
Committee chairman Barendra Sinanan, SC, said public participation from young people was key to the exercise.
“We are trying to get our views which we will crystallise into terms of reference. Our objective is to get those terms and have the powers that be listen to you. The young people, this country is yours to gain tomorrow and young people must make the difference,” Sinanan said.
In January, the advisory committee was appointed and includes former House Speakers Barendra Sinanan and Nizam Mohammed, former deputy Central Bank governor Dr Terrence Farrell, retired THA chief administrator Ray Sandy, accountant Hema Narinesingh, retired Permanent Secretary Winston Rudder and attorney and former clerk of the House Jacquie Sampson-Meiguel.
The committee has been mandated by the Government to collect views from the public on constitutional reform and make recommendations for a national consultation in June. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley noted that reform of the Constitution had been a matter for quite some time and there had been previous attempts to reform it.