Principal welcomes tribute

Sankat gave the assurance shortly after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced the creation of the chair in honour of the country’s first president Sir Ellis Clarke, who was laid to rest yesterday.

Persad-Bissessar made the announcement when she paid tribute to Sir Ellis at yesterday’s State funeral for him at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port-of-Spain.

Speaking with Newsday following the State funeral, Sankat said, “ I am sure that the Government would be working with the university to put the nuts and bolts to this.”

He disclosed that he had only been made aware of this decision when some Cabinet ministers called him yesterday morning before the State funeral.

“When they made the offer, I accepted with glee. It was a very fitting tribute to Sir Ellis who spent much of his life treating with matters pertaining to the Constitution.” Sankat added that the creation of this chair was also a positive for UWI since it gives the university the ability to expand its focus in the study of constitutional law.

Former prime minister Basdeo Panday and former House Speaker Barry Sinanan all welcomed the creation of the chair, but felt Government should do more to honour Sir Ellis. “In his honour, the Constitution should be reformed,” Panday said.

Persad-Bissessar has promised the People’s Partnership would reform the Constitution to limit a prime minister to two terms in office, and give citizens the right to recall non-performing MPs.