Independent senators should be independent

THE EDITOR: In his column titled “Democracy in Action” Anand Ramlogan writes: “The Independent bench is at the end of the day, appointed with the indirect or tacit support of the government. Realistically, no president will appoint Independent senators who are not acceptable to the PM.” Anand may have information not widely known, but it is not a view which I share. Were he correct, it is a serious indictment of all those who served as President, as well as those who served as Independent senators. Like all human institutions there are weaknesses, but much depends on the personal character of the persons appointed, which is a reason why non-political presidents and senators should be selected as Independents who could not be accused of being in the pocket of the PM.

I could think of past presidents who would never have considered the prime ministerial factor in appointing Independent senators. They knew what the Constitution expected of them, and their integrity was their guide. Independent senators however do not always live up to expectations. Some turn to government for favours in exchange for their support, and some are compromised by government. When in the 70s the PNM was assailed by the population for its poor performance in the utilities, when Eric Williams threatened to throw his telephone into the sea, when TTECs blackouts were replaced by “outages”, and when WASA was more famous for it sewerage than its water, Independent senator Dr Krishna Bahadoosingh accepted a brief from government to chair “Accounting to the People” meetings throughout the country. Could Bahadoosingh then criticise  government in Parliament?

Former public servants who are appointed Independent senators, often have difficulty in projecting their independence. True enough they bring to the Senate a great knowledge of government affairs, acquired during three or four decades of public service. As public servants however, they have had to maneuver for promotions and political favours, and follow government’s policies and instructions without question. They cannot easily break that mould of obedience to the government in power. Anand should however rethink his blanket assertion that all Independent senators are chosen and appointed with Prime Ministerial blessing. 

MICHAEL J WILLIAMS
Maracas