Deosaran: Parliamentarians failing TT

CHARGING THAT Trinidad and Tobago’s parliamentarians on both sides of the political divide are failing in their responsibilities to the population, Independent Senator Prof Ramesh Deosaran called for the establishment of a code of conduct  that will ensure that all MPs take their duties to Parliament and the people seriously. Addressing a news conference at the Red House yesterday, Deosaran warned that the gap between TT’s Parliament and the people was too wide and if this breach was not healed quickly, “people will take to the streets much more often than they are beginning to take in this country.”

Observing that the academic qualifications for anyone to become an elected MP were inferior to those required for a police officer or a teacher but an MP’s responsibilities were “monumental”, Deosaran lamented that many MPs were “too easy going” and took their parliamentary duties for granted. “We need to tighten the code for parliamentarians that is intendant on the Executive. We need code of conduct, not just only on the matter of financial corruption but on the matters of responsibility as a parliamentarian,” Deosaran declared. The senator also lamented that under TT’s existing system of governance, the Executive’s grip on Parliament is too tight. He said Parliament should have a level of authority which is parallel to the Executive.

On the 2005 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) which saw TT’s score fall for the fifth consecutive year since 2000, Deosaran said it seemed the politicians were failing to deal with the corruption and the potential for corruption was very real given the recently passed $34 billion 2005/2006 Budget and rapid expansion of TT’s economy. Explaining that the CPI dealt only with perceived corruption, Independent Senator Mary King said Government has signed the UN Convention Against Corruption and is in the process of fleshing out an Anti-Corruption Commission in keeping with the convention’s provision and this entity would free up the Integrity Commission to deal exclusively with all matters that fall under the purview of the Integrity in Public Life Act.

While saying that parliaments were either controlled by the executive or were deficient opened the door to corruption in a country, Global Association of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) chairman John Williams said he could not say whether this was the case in TT and GOPAC will meet later this year to discuss whether parliamentarians against whom corruption charges have been made should resign until matters against them are resolved. He had no comment on any such matters in TT. Noting the numerous unresolved corruption cases currently before the courts, King said steps should be taken to expedite such matters and properly working parliamentary Joint Select Committees (JSCs) were effective safeguards against politicians and public officials engaging in “opaque” activities.

She said the large number of government MPs on the JSCs did not compromise their effectiveness but it was often difficult to get a quorum because many of those MPs were Cabinet ministers and put those duties ahead of their parliamentary duties. Agreeing with King on this issue and that greater resources were needed for JSCs, Deosaran urged the press to forge a closer partnership with the JSCs in promoting the long term health of TT’s democracy.