Manning calls on officers to reject political bias

The impartiality of parliamentary presiding officers (speakers of the house of representatives and presidents of the senate) seemed to be a major issue on the minds of speakers at the opening ceremony of the 13th Biennial Conference of Presiding Officers and Clerks of the Caribbean, the Americas and the Atlantic Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, at the Hilton Trinidad yesterday. Speaker of the House of Representa-tives, Barendra Sinanan, inaugurated the ceremony. In his address, he compared “the modern clerk” to a chief executive officer, saying that they had the “power and authority to effect positive change.” He proffered these reforms in the context of the new century, which he hoped would engender the “development of democracy” in resolving conflict.

In commending the “timely” holding of the conference to address the changing roles of parliamentary officials, Sinanan spoke of situations where different administrations come into power and challenge “certain conventions.” In introducing Prime Minister Patrick Manning, chairman of the proceedings, Clerk of the House Jacqui Sampson Jacent, described him as the “father of our house.” Manning maintained that presiding officers must reject political biases in order to effectively discharge their duties. He asserted that on assumption of their offices at Parliament, the presiding officers “must relinquish all party affiliations” in an attempt to be impartial.

Manning paid tribute to Parliament-ary officials, saying that they were “unsung heroes of the Parliament” who, “in contradiction to ranting and raving parliamentarians, proceed placidly amidst the noise and haste.” He perpetuated the fair application of rules and procedures, and stressed that “this conference must do enough to ensure this is well understood and that the impartiality of the presiding officers of our region’s parliaments is underscored.” He also outlined the fact that Parliament did not only consist of the Government, but also an Opposition, and in the case of TT, independent senators. Having spent “long enough in Opposition,” Manning said, “it is nowhere true that the legislature is to be a rubber stamp of the Executive” and “the Government of Trinidad and Tobago fully recognises the importance of a well-meaning Opposition.”

Manning added that Government is committed to the “separation and independence of every arm of the State,” and asserted his desire to “incorporate more women into our legislature.” The premise of discussions over the next few days will focus on the theme, “Enhancing Parliamentary Process.” The conference is set to address issues such as relations between the presiding officers and the Executive, integrity in public life, the adequacy of legislative support systems, the importance of networking and regional inter-parliamentary cooperation, as well as current procedural issues. Senate President Dr Linda Baboolal echoed Manning’s assertions on the subjects of impartiality and increasing the role of women in the legislature. She agreed that impartiality is essential since presiding officers are “accused by both sides of bias.” In addition, she endorsed Manning’s call for more women in the Legislature, noting that there were four female senate presidents at the conference.