Panday backs Sir Ellis on Constitution change

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday has supported the call made by former President Sir Ellis Clarke for the Constitution to be amended to shift power from the Prime Minister to the President to appoint a Tribunal to investigate the question of the removal of a Chief Justice. However, Panday said Sir Ellis should have gone further. “The former President has not gone far enough,” he remarked. Panday said that while he agreed with Sir Ellis’ call for the offending clause to be amended, there was also a need for a much broader reform of the  Constitution.

“I’ve been calling for constitutional reform for a long time.” He wanted constitutional reform that was not just done on a piecemeal basis. Did Panday believe that Government would bring an amendment to heed Sir Ellis? “I don’t think they will,” he said. “They are not interested in constitutional reform at all. This Government is interested in accreting unto themselves more and more power.” Was the Opposition likely to raise Sir Ellis’ concerns in Parliament? Panday said, “The Opposition has been making a call for an extremely long time, but not just piecemeal, but a fundamental.”

He was asked about a recent warning to Members of Parliament by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Barendra Sinanan, on leaking questions to the media which they intended to raise in the House. Panday declared, “Have they given reasons? Why are they afraid of that?!” He said in contrast to the Speaker’s chastisement, both the Government and the police often leak information about innocent people. “Aren’t they concerned about that?!” he declared. “This is hypocrisy!”