Parliament opens in virtual city gridlock

The Second Session of the Eighth Parliament opened amid virtual gridlock yesterday, as the security measures taken by the police for the Abu Bakr inquiry at the city’s Magistrates’ Court caused a shutdown of the  streets around the Parliament, leaving  dignitaries stuck in standstill traffic.

Before President Professor Max Richards addressed the half-empty chamber, House Speaker Barry Sinanan announced almost apologetically: “Because of the heavy traffic surrounding the Red House some MPs are yet to arrive. It is hoped that they will be here shortly.” The bulk of these people came late. Senior Members of Parliament, like Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Deputy Speaker Hedwidge Bereaux, St Augustine MP Winston Dookeran and Labour Minister Larry Achong could be seen scurrying to their seats. “Many of my colleagues were struck in traffic, and then the distance we had to walk (to get to the Parliament,” Persad-Bissessar said.

Barriers went up on streets around the precincts of Parliament and the Hall of Justice without warning, disrupting the parking system for MPs. Already late, MPs found that they could not park  on Knox Street, the usual parking point, but had to walk from provided space on Hart St, which was the closest parking site. Many resented the inconvenience, but realised that that their fate was better than that of several invitees who found themselves, sitting, waiting in their cars,  when the voice of President Richards came over the radio. House Speaker Barry Sinanan said that despite the traffic problems, he thought the opening of Parliament went well. In fact the only thing which marred the opening was the late arrivals, caused by the traffic jam.

Stressing that “our communities” could not thrive without law and order, President Richards yesterday called for the “full force of the law,” even for minor infractions. As he delivered his maiden speech to the ceremonial opening of the Second Session of the Eighth Parliament, Richards stressed that he was not advocating a police state, but believed that the time had come to “rigorously” apply order and discipline, “in defence of our nation.” As he stood in one of the most important institutions — the Parliament — the President lamented that “all of us” were “witnessing deterioration tending to anarchy in many of our institutions.” He added that the solution lay not in new legislation, but in the law enforcement agencies ensuring that the law was enforced. The President attempted to do a balancing act, but at times, seemed to want to stand and be counted. In what some perceived to be an indirect criticism of the Opposition’s stand of civil disobedience and non-cooperation, Richards called for a mature understanding of the rules of conduct for leaders. “Our nation needs healing. In this Parliament, we must demonstrate far-sightedness. We must know when to put on battle gear and when to call a truce. We must be able to criticise and to congratulate. We must defend our interests and support the common good.”

Pointing to the experience of “our predecessors” who took us from colonialism to independence, Richards noted that while “picong,” “a cherished national gift” and “adversarial positions” were there “without a doubt,” they “did not allow themselves to forget the requirement of respect for the representative role that was given to them.” Looking to his left (the Opposition) and his right (the Government), Richards urged that “for the sake of our children, we need to take a look at the path that we have been travelling and see whether some adjustments to our modus operandi are necessary.” While Prime Minister Patrick Manning thought President Richards’ speech was a “good speech” and that the President was free to address the Parliament on any topic of his choice, (“It is his discretion,”), he did not hold the same sentiment about the prayers given by Reverend Cyril Paul. “I would have preferred if the prayer was different,” Manning stated.

In a prayer which raised some eyebrows; Paul asked for forgiveness for what he saw as some of the failings of the politicians. “We pray for Your forgiveness when through our speech, attitude and actions, we fail to acknowledge to Your presence and we bring dishonour and disrepute to the good name of Parliament. We ask your forgiveness for the times when in our desire to score points we make statements and say things which we know are not true and responsible. We ask Your forgiveness as Parliamentarians for the times we fail to do our work conscientiously and well, and when we depend on charisma, clout, bluff or exaggeration to save the day for us. We ask Your forgiveness for the many times we speak without thinking or speak for the sake of speaking,” he said. Some thought that the politicans who were slapped on one side of their cheek by the President, turned the other (cheek) in true Christian style, only to be slapped by Paul. However, like all the other religious representatives, Paul prayed for the President, Prime Minister, House Speaker, Senate President and  Leader of the Opposition.